Al-Sayegh, 30, says he was not involved in the Khobar Towers bombing

October 11, 1999
Web posted at: 7:53 p.m. EDT (2353 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A suspect in the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing, which killed 19 U.S. servicemen, has been expelled from the United States to face charges in Saudi Arabia, where, if convicted, he could be executed.

Hani Al-Sayegh arrived aboard a U.S. government aircraft in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday where FBI agents handed him over to Saudi authorities. His expulsion comes one week after Attorney General Janet Reno decided to remove him and appellate courts in Washington and Atlanta denied motions to block his deportation.

For two years Al-Sayegh had fought expulsion, arguing he faced torture and certain death. U.S. diplomatic officials said they have received Saudi assurances he won't be tortured.

'Tried according to Islamic law'

In Riyadh on Monday, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef told the Saudi Press Agency, "The suspect is now in the hands of Saudi justice and he will be interrogated just like any other suspect. He will be tried according to Islamic law."

Prince Nayef said his government has "specific evidence and information that confirm the involvement of Al-Sayegh in the unjust terrorist act in the city of Khobar about three years ago."

Other Saudi officials said they have evidence Al-Sayegh was the driver of a car that signaled a truck carrying the bomb to pull into position for detonation outside Khobar Towers.

The 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia killed 19 U.S. military personnel and injured more than 500 people

Alleged links to Iran

Al-Sayegh has denied involvement, but U.S. law enforcement officials have considered for years that he might be a key figure in unraveling a conspiracy with alleged links to Iran. However U.S. officials never developed enough evidence to charge him.

When AL-Sayegh was expelled from Canada in 1997, he agreed to cooperate with U.S. investigators in connection with another alleged terrorism plot against the United States.

AL-Sayegh allegedly told investigators he had been trained by a senior official in the Iranian military, but after arriving in the United States he reneged on the deal -- and since then he's been fighting expulsion.

He was flown to Saudi Arabia from Atlanta where he had been detained for the last two years.

Saudi lawyers back away from case

Meantime, Al-Sayegh's family was having trouble finding him lawyer in Saudi Arabia.

"We are still looking," his wife, Hakima Al-Qatri, said Monday by telephone from her home in the eastern Saudi city of Qatif.

She said Al-Sayegh spoke with her and their two children, Sukeina, 7, and Mustapha, 5, last week. His daughter asked him to bring back a Barbie doll. His son asked for a motorized remote-control car, Al-Qatri said.

"He asked me to buy the presents for them and tell them it was a gift from their father," she said. "Hani said, `Don't worry about me. We'll be together soon. I am innocent, and God will take care of things."'

Al-Qatri has not seen Al-Sayegh since July 1996, when they lived in Iran. That year, Al-Sayegh went to Kuwait, while his wife and children visited relatives in Saudi Arabia. Al-Sayegh later moved from Kuwait to Canada.

Saudi lawyers said Al-Sayegh's case is politically sensitive and, unless the authorities ask or their services, they do not dare get involved.

Correspondent Pierre Thomas and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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