$5 million reward posted for suspected terrorist Abdelmajid Dahoumane

April 6, 2000
Web posted at: 10:21 p.m. EDT (0221 GMT)

From State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The State Department announced Thursday it is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction in any country of Abdelmajid Dahoumane, a fugitive charged with plotting a New Year's millennium-related terrorist act in the United States.

Officials say Dahoumane has been on the run since mid-December when one of his alleged associates, Ahmed Ressam, a 32-year-old Algerian national, was arrested by U.S. Customs agents in Port Angeles, Washington. Inspectors found a trunk full of explosives materials in a car Ressam was driving after he crossed the U.S.-Canada border aboard a ferry.

Internet: mail@dssrewards.net

Phone:    1-800-437-6371 (USA only)

Mail:     c/o Rewards for Justice
          PO Box 96781
          Washington, D.C.
          20090-6781 USA

The arrest gave rise to fears of bomb attacks in the United States on New Year's Eve. Nearby Seattle canceled many of its millennium celebrations because of the perceived threat, but no such attack took place.

"Mr. Dahoumane is considered to be a potentially dangerous terrorist and is still at large," said State Department spokesman James Rubin in a written statement.

"Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI and Diplomatic Security Service immediately. The United States will ensure complete confidentiality to anyone who provides information on Mr. Dahoumane, to include possible relocation to the United States," Rubin said.

Dahoumane was indicted by the Federal Court in the Western District of Washington on terrorism charges on January 20. U.S. law enforcement officials have been working closely with the Canadian government and Canadian law enforcement authorities in this case.

The Department has released a poster of Dahoumane that will be used to advertise the reward. The poster has been printed in English and French, and will be distributed in the United States, Canada, Europe and the Middle East.

Law enforcement officials suspect Ressam, who remains in U.S. custody, was part of an Algerian terrorist cell planning a millennium-related attack. Dahoumane is believed to be an accomplice in that suspected plot.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Suspect in border smuggling pleads guilty
February 15, 2000
Ressam pleads not guilty on bomb smuggling charges
January 27, 2000
Ressam, other Algerian charged with conspiracy to commit international terrorism
January 20, 2000
2 indicted as alleged conspirators in suspected terror plot
January 19, 2000
Magistrate denies bail for woman arrested in terrorism probe
January 12, 2000
Court to reconsider bail for Canadian woman arrested in Ressam probe
January 6, 2000

Diplomatic Security Service: Rewards for Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security
U.S. State Department
U.S. Customs Service
Terrorism Research Center
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.