Irish citizen accused of al Qaeda training trip

An Algerian-born Irish citizen, wanted in the US on terrorism charges, planned for a group to train in explosives with al Qaeda to support terrorist attacks in the US and Europe, the High Court has heard.

Ali Charaf Damache, 48, who has been living in Ireland for a decade, is wanted in the US to face charges relating to the conspiracy to provide material support for terrorists and attempted identity theft to facilitate international terrorism.

If convicted of the charges against him Damache faces a potential sentence of 45 years in prison.