Papers from Dublin raids link suspect to al-Qaida cell in city
The documents are understood to link French national Zacarias Moussaoui, facing charges in connection with the September 11 conspiracy, to a cell operating here.
They also link the cell in Ireland to one of Osama bin Laden’s money men who has supplied cash to terrorists in transit.
People operating in Ireland are suspected of providing false travel documents and cash to al-Qaida members, according to reports.
US government sources said an investigation into dozens of people, and involving Irish, US and British authorities, was ongoing.
It is not the first time claims have been made of an Irish link with Osama bin Laden’s terror network.
However, the latest reports reveal the strongest evidence of a direct connection between those who carried out the suicide attacks and individuals here.
Garda sources, while stating that the force had co-operated with the FBI in its international investigation of the attacks, are playing down the Irish links.
But in the US, before and after September 11, investigators had named Dublin as a European al-Qaida base.
Allegations first surfaced after the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
It was alleged in court papers that a charity with nominal headquarters in Dublin, the Mercy International Relief Agency, was involved in the bombing conspiracy.
It was claimed that money was channelled through Dublin to those who carried out the bombings, which killed 200 people.
It is thought the charity was used as a front and that most involved with the group had no idea it was being used for purposes other than aid.
Then, in late 1999, gardaí acting on a tip-off from the FBI, raided the south Dublin home of an Algerian man who shared a flat in Canada with Ahmed Ressam.
Ressam was arrested in December 1999 and subsequently convicted of a conspiracy to bomb Los Angeles Airport.
He had been caught trying to smuggle explosives into the US from Canada.
Then, in November last year, four people were arrested at addresses in south Dublin.They were released after questioning.
