British Airways Employee Charged with Ties to Al-Qaida Cleric

Prosecutors in London have accused Rajb Karim, a 31-year-old employee of British Airways, of having close ties to Anwar al-Awlaki, a cleric with alleged connections to al-Qaida plots targeting U.S. interests. The charges stem from Karim's association with Awlaki, who allegedly corresponded with attackers before they carried out their plots. Karim is accused of exchanging messages with Awlaki in 2009 and 2010, and his brother met with Awlaki in Yemen in early 2010. The cleric allegedly instructed Karim to identify "limitations and cracks" in airport security procedures.

Key Takeaways:

• Rajb Karim, a 31-year-old British Airways employee, has been charged with associating with Anwar al-Awlaki, an al-Qaida cleric with alleged ties to plots targeting U.S. interests.
• Karim exchanged messages with Awlaki in 2009 and 2010, and his brother met with the cleric in Yemen in early 2010.
• Awlaki allegedly instructed Karim to look for weaknesses in airport security procedures, potentially for future terrorist attacks.
• Karim admits to volunteering for terrorist operations and supporting terrorist causes, but denies knowing that information gained from Awlaki would be used in plotting new attacks.
• Prosecutors argue that Awlaki told Karim he could play a crucial role in targeting Western interests.
• Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the Yemeni branch of al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for a 2009 plot to blow up a passenger jet over Detroit and for air freight carrier plots in 2010.
• Karim was arrested in February 2010.

Statistics:

• 31: The age of Rajb Karim at the time of his arrest.
• 2009 and 2010: The years during which Karim exchanged messages with Anwar al-Awlaki.
• Early 2010: The time when Karim's brother met with Awlaki in Yemen.
• 2010: The year in which Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for plots targeting air freight carriers.
• 2009: The year in which Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for a plot to blow up a passenger jet over Detroit on Christmas Day.

Sources:

• LONDON, Feb. 2 (UPI)
• CNN International reports
• U.S. interests