Two charged in prophet Mohammed cartoonist 'murder plot' probe

Two Muslim men have been charged following an international investigation into a suspected plot to murder a Swedish cartoonist who depicted the prophet Mohammed with the body of a dog.

Algerian Ali Charafe Damache and Abdul-Salam Mansour Al-Jehani from Libya were remanded in custody at a special court sitting in Waterford late last night.

Damache, who has been living in Ireland for about 10 years, chanted Muslim slogans as he was brought to the courthouse in Waterford under a heavy garda presence.

The 44-year-old, who swore on the Koran before taking the stand to answer questions over his identity, was charged with sending a menacing text message on January 9.

Al-Jehani was charged with an immigration offence after he allegedly admitted telling investigators he gave a false name when he came to Ireland to claim asylum in 2001.

The men were among seven people arrested by anti-terrorist units acting on intelligence from the CIA, FBI and European agencies during a series of raids last Tuesday.

The were detained as part of investigations into a conspiracy to kill Lars Vilks, whose controversial depictions of the Muslim prophet were printed in a newspaper in Sweden in 2007.

Damache’s American-born wife, Al-Jehani’s wife from Palestine and an Algerian couple who live in Ballincollig, Co Cork, were released from custody during the week. A Croatian man was released yesterday.

Files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The two men sat quietly in the courthouse as they waited for the hearing to begin.

Damache could be sentenced to five years in prison.

Detective Garda Donal O’Donoghue told the court he opposed both men being granted bail as investigators were not sure of their true identities.

He said officers were aware Damache had previously gone by two other names - Thierry Garnier and Alex Garnier – had Algerian and Irish passports and might have access to an American one.

The detective said there was also evidence on Damache’s computer that he had access to a false identity and had plans to travel to Afghanistan and Algeria.

“At this stage we are not sure who exactly Ali Charafe Damache is,” said Det Gda O’Donoghue.

“His fingerprints were sent to Interpol and we are awaiting a response to this.”

After Damache flicked through the Koran, he swore on oath that he had told gardaí his real name and that he only used the only other identities – French derivatives because he came from a French background – during his 10 years in Ireland to get a job.

“I have never had any problems since I came here,” he told the court.

“I studied and worked, The reasons I used Thierry Garnier is because I find it hard to work.

“I’m prepared to work and pay my taxes.”

The men’s solicitor, Brian Chesser, said Damache had a pregnant American wife, a six-year-old son in school and had held down numerous jobs while in Ireland including positions at a prominent auctioneers and as a sales rep for a Government-based firm, both in Cork.

“This is not a serious offence,” he argued.

Det Gda O’Donoghue said Al-Jehani had admitted to gardaí that he gave the false name Salim Almestry to officials when he tried to claim asylum in July 2001.

“He now tells us that is not his true name,” said the officer.

“His known name and fingerprints have been sent to Interpol with a view to getting his application.”

There was no application for bail.

Damache, of John Collins House, High Street, and Al-Jehani, 32, of Johnstown, both Waterford, were ordered to appear again on March 19.

They were both granted legal aid.