m t w e b

UI student linked to terrorism
Jonalynn McFadden
February 27, 2003
FBI agents arrested a University of Idaho graduate student Wednesday on charges of student visa fraud and making false statements to the United States. Sami Omar Al-Hussayen, 34, a citizen of Saudi Arabia, was working toward his Ph.D. in computer science with an emphasis on computer security and intrusion techniques.
He is accused of misrepresenting his intentions on his visa application, said Chip Burrus, FBI special agent. Burrus said that if Al-Hussayen had disclosed his relationship with the Islamic Assembly of North America, the application would have been denied. Al-Hussayen will be arraigned today at 3:30 in Boise, Idaho.
He is charged with seven counts of visa fraud and four counts of false statements to the United States. Al-Hussayen could face 25 years in federal prison for each count he is charged with.
According to The Associated Press, the IANA maintains Web sites that promote acts of terrorism, including suicide bombings. Al-Hussayen had connections to the IANA, Burrus said. He ran a Web site for the group that featured terrorist messages and filtered about $300,000 to the organization. Burrus said the IANA, located in Detroit, then gave the money to the al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations.
“The FBI had been conducting an investigation into Al-Hussayen since Sept. 2001,” Burrus said. He declined to say what prompted the investigation. “Agents searched Al-Hussayen’s home, car and office, as well as a meeting house Tuesday,” Burrus said.
Al-Hussayen was a student leader and was well-known on campus. He previously studied at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and earned a master’s degree at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.
“We’re very surprised,” said Brian Pitcher, UI provost. “We feel betrayed if these allegations are true.”
In conjunction with Al-Hussayen’s arrest, the FBI made four arrests in Syracuse, N.Y., and searched the IANA office, Burrus said. According to The Associated Press, the four men arrested in Syracuse do not face indictments containing allegations of terrorism.
Burrus declined to comment whether more students from the UI or WSU are being investigated.
“We’re still gathering information,” Burrus said. “We’re going to follow the evidence wherever it goes.”
With the arrest of Al-Hussayen, acts of terrorism against the United States and the looming threat of war are becoming a reality to Palouse- area residents.
“People are always like, It’s Pullman, nothing happens here,” said Megan Engebo, a sophomore speech and hearing sciences major. “This definitely makes it more real. You never expect it to happen in your area.”