Police think that this van is possibly connected to Ressam

December 19, 1999
Web posted at: 10:27 p.m. EST (0327 GMT)

In this story: Suspicious van cordoned off in Montreal Ressam's name familiar to investigators Law officers on alert RELATED STORIES, SITES

From CNN White House Correspondent Kelly Wallace

SEATTLE (CNN) -- Law enforcement officials are looking for possible links between a man charged with trying to bring bomb-making materials into the United States and a terrorist organization known as the Armed Islamic Group.

Canadian investigators also are trying to determine whether Ahmed Ressam is connected to individuals believed to have been funneling money to radical Islamic fundamentalist groups around the world, according to U.S. and Canadian officials.

U.S. sources told CNN on Sunday that investigators continue to search for links between Ressam and Saudi exile Osama bin Laden, who is accused of masterminding the bombings of two U.S. Embassies in Africa.

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Suspicious van cordoned off in Montreal

Meanwhile, Canadian law enforcement officials have located a van in a residential area of Montreal which may be connected to Ressam.

As a precaution, authorities have cordoned off the vehicle and evacuated some 400 people from nearby homes. Bomb technicians were preparing to search the van for explosives, according to a law enforcement official.

The official said the van was registered to a "Benni Antoine Norris," an alias allegedly used by Ressam.

President Clinton's National Security Adviser, Samuel Berger, told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that a "very full and active investigation" is under way to determine whether Ressam is associated with any terrorist groups including that of bin Laden.

Investigators are looking for similarities between the explosive materials allegedly found in Ressam's car and those used in the embassy bombings. Of particular interest are the timing devices -- which officials say are similar to devices used by some radical Islamic groups and bin Laden.

Ressam, 32, was charged with trying to transport explosives into the United States from Canada. He was stopped on Tuesday at the border, allegedly with a car load of nitroglycerin and other potential bomb-making materials. He is in custody in Seattle.

Ressam's name familiar to investigators

Andre Poirear, a spokesman for the Montreal Police Department, told CNN that Ressam's name came up during the investigation when accused terrorist Karim Said Atmani was extradited to France from Canada earlier this year. But Poirer said that authorities didn't have specific information linking Ressam with Atmani.

He said that Montreal Police arrested Ressam in late 1998 in connection with the theft of laptops and cell phones from cars. Poirear said Ressam was charged and convicted, and spent two weeks in jail.

After he was released, Poirear said investigators received information that Ressam may have been connected to a burglary at a home and two other thefts from cars. Poirear said authorities couldn't find Ressam.

"The next time we heard of Mr. Ressam was when he was arrested at the Washington State border," said Poirear.

Poirear also told CNN that the Montreal Police Department has arrested 11 individuals -- eight of them Algerian natives like Ressam -- over the past few months for thefts similar to those for which Ressam was arrested.

He said Montreal investigators believe the items were sold and that the proceeds may have been funneled to Islamic groups around the world.

"At this moment, we don't have a link between Mr. Ressam and those people," said Poirear. But he said the Montreal Police Department is working with the Canadian Royal Mounted Police, Interpol and the FBI to make "certain links."

Law officers on alert

Berger told reporters that law enforcement officials "are taking extra precautions" and are "on extra alert status to be very vigilant to try to prevent any acts of terrorism in the United States."

He also said that, at this time, U.S. officials have no "credible information of threats against particular targets against the U.S."

"I think as Americans go about their plans, they should be vigilant. Obviously, if they see something that looks suspicious, they should report it to law enforcement," Berger said.

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