8/3/2019 Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz on the Arrest of _Dirty Bomb_ Suspect

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uty Secretary Wolfowitz on the Arrest of "Dirty Bomb" Suspect

//www.fas.org/irp/news/2002/06/ag061002.html[1/25/2012 12:59:17 AM]

Transcript of the Attorney General John AshcroftRegarding the transfer of Abdullah Al Muhajir (Born Jose Padilla)

To the Department of Defense as an Enemy Combatant06/10/02

I am pleased to announce today a significant step forward in the War on Terrorism.We have captured a known terrorist who was exploring a plan to build and explode aradiological dispersion device, or "dirty bomb," in the United States. I commend theFBI, the CIA, the Defense Department, and the other federal agencies whose cooperationmade this possible.

Yesterday, after consultation with the Acting Secretary of Defense and othersenior officials, both the Acting Secretary of Defense and I recommended that thePresident of the United States, in his capacity as commander in chief, determine thatAbdullah Al Muhajir, born Jose Padilla, is an enemy combatant who poses a serious andcontinuing threat to the American people and our national security.

After the determination, Abdullah Al Muhajir was transferred from the custody ofthe Justice Department to the custody of the Defense Department.

Following serving in prison in the United States in the early 1990s, Jose Padillareferred to himself as Abdullah Al Muhajir. Subsequent to his release from prison, hetraveled to Afghanistan and Pakistan. On several occasions in 2001, he met with seniorAl Qaeda officials.

While in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Al Muhajir trained with the enemy, includingstudying how to wire explosive devices and researching radiological dispersion devices.Al Qaeda officials knew that as a citizen of the United States, as a citizen of theUnited States holding a valid U.S. passport, Al Muhajir would be able to travel freelyin the U.S. without drawing attention to himself.

The United States government was tracking Abdullah Al Muhajir when, on May the

8th, 2002, this year, he flew from Pakistan into Chicago O'Hare International Airport,where he was placed in the custody of federal law enforcement authorities.

In apprehending Al Muhajir as he sought entry into the United States, we havedisrupted an unfolding terrorist plot to attack the United States by exploding aradioactive "dirty bomb."

Now, a radioactive "dirty bomb" involves exploding a conventional bomb that notonly kills victims in the immediate vicinity, but also spreads radioactive materialthat is highly toxic to humans and can cause mass death and injury.

From information available to the United States government, we know that AbdullahAl Muhajir is an Al Qaeda operative and was exploring a plan to build and explode aradioactive "dirty bomb."

Let me be clear: We know from multiple independent and corroborating sources that

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8/3/2019 Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz on the Arrest of _Dirty Bomb_ Suspect

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uty Secretary Wolfowitz on the Arrest of "Dirty Bomb" Suspect

//www.fas.org/irp/news/2002/06/ag061002.html[1/25/2012 12:59:17 AM]

Abdullah Al Muhajir was closely associated with Al Qaeda and that as an Al Qaedaoperative he was involved in planning future terrorist attacks on innocent Americancivilians in the United States.

The safety of all Americans and the national security interests of the UnitedStates require that Abdullah Al Muhajir be detained by the Defense Department as anenemy combatant. In determining that Al Muhajir is an enemy combatant who legally canbe detained by the United States military, we have acted with legal authority bothunder the laws of war and clear Supreme Court precedent, which establish that themilitary may detain a United States citizen who has joined the enemy and has enteredour country to carry out hostile acts.

Once again, I commend the FBI, the CIA and other agencies involved in capturing

Abdullah Al Muhajir before he could act on his deadly plan.

Because of the close cooperation among the FBI, the CIA, Defense Department andother federal agencies, we were able to thwart this terrorist.

To our enemies, I say we will continue to be vigilant against all threats, whetherthey come from overseas or at home in America. To our citizens, I say we will continueto respect the rule of law while doing everything in our power to prevent terroristattacks.

END