Man ‘conspired to create violent jihad’
Ali Charaf Damache, aged 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 an act of international terrorism.
Remy Farrell, counsel for the Attorney General, said an investigation by the FBI alleged that, from early 2008 to Jul 2011, Mr Damache and several co-conspirators devised and organised a violent jihad organisation with the intent to target US and Western European citizens.
It is alleged Mr Damache also participated in a conspiracy to transfer a passport stolen from a US citizen to a person in Pakistan whom the conspirators believed to be a member of al-Qaeda.
Mr Farrell said the US government alleged it had evidence that would establish Mr Damache conspired with American woman Colleen LaRose and others to create a terror cell in Europe capable of targeting both US and western European citizens.
He said the US contended this would be shown at trial by the testimony of witnesses as well as corroborating physical evidence.
Counsel said US authorities stated that should Mr Damache be returned to the US for trial, he would be held in the Philadelphia detention centre, and should he be convicted, it would then be decided in what State and in what facility he would be incarcerated.
Mr Justice Edwards yesterday adjourned the case to hear a separate application for leave to seek judicial review of the extradition proceedings.
Mícheál O’Higgins, counsel for Mr Damache, said in essence it was contended the US had “cherry-picked the most American parts” of the alleged offences for their request, whereas a fair reading would conclude that the alleged offences had Ireland as their hub.
In proceedings against the DPP, the minister for justice and equality, Ireland, and the Attorney General, Mr O’Higgins said Mr Damache is seeking various orders, including one quashing the DPP’s decision not to prosecute him.
The judicial review proceedings are expected to continue today.
