January 20, 2000
Web posted at: 11:08 p.m. EST (0408 GMT)

From CNN Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A federal grand jury in Seattle on Thursday charged bomb-smuggling suspect Ahmed Ressam and another Algerian man with conspiring to commit international terrorism.

According to the indictment, Ressam and Abdelmajid Dahoumane conspired to "destroy or damage structures, conveyances or other real or personal property within the United States."

The indictment does not specify the location of potential targets. Law enforcement officials suspect Ressam was part of an Algerian terrorist cell planning a millennium-related attack.

Ressam was arrested on bomb-smuggling charges on December 14 after U.S. Customs Service inspectors discovered a trunk full of explosives in his car at a remote border crossing in Washington state.

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Dahoumane is believed to be an accomplice and is still at large.

A number of other suspects has since been arrested, including men in New York and Montreal. Sources tell CNN that investigators and prosecutors are trying to develop evidence that would bring these suspects under the same terrorism conspiracy charges.

The new charges against Ressam were issued as part of nine-count superseding indictment. Ressam had previously faced a five-count indictment.

In addition to the new terrorism conspiracy charge, Ressam was also indicted for alleged "reckless disregard for the safety of human life" by placing an explosive in proximity to a cargo ship terminal.

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