
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 5, 1994                   TAG: 9403050128
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Medium

4 GUILTY IN N.Y. BOMBING

Four Muslim extremists were convicted Friday in the World Trade Center bombing, a verdict the government hailed as an unmistakable message that terrorists can't get away with it in America.

"Islam is coming back!" cried defendant Nidal Ayyad, glaring at the jury as it pronounced the four men guilty on all charges. "Injustice!" shouted defendant Mohammad Salameh, pounding on the defense table.

The defendants face life in prison without parole when sentenced on May 4.

The anonymous federal jury returned the verdicts on the sixth day of deliberations, and a year and six days after the blast that killed six people, and injured more than 1,000.

"The signal should go out across the world that anyone who seeks to come into this country to practice terrorism will have the full weight of law enforcement brought against them," President Clinton said.

After the verdicts, the State Department warned Americans overseas of possible attacks by Islamic extremists.

Salameh, a 26-year-old Palestinian, was accused of helping bankroll the attack, building the bomb and renting the van that carried it into the trade center's underground parking garage.

Prosecutors said Ayyad, a 26-year-old chemist, ordered chemicals for the bomb and later told news organizations the motive: to protest U.S. aid to Israel.

Witnesses said Mahmud Abouhalima, 34, frequented the apartment where the bomb was built, while Ahmad Ajaj, 28, provided bombmaking expertise.

Salameh's lawyer, Robert Precht, said he will appeal. He called it a "shameful day" because of pretrial leaks designed to "demonize" his client.

Hassen Abdellah, attorney for Abouhalima, said the verdict came too quickly after a five-month trial that included 207 prosecution witnesses, four defense witnesses and more than 1,000 exhibits.

Also charged with conspiracy in the bombing were Bilal Alkaisi, 28, who awaits trial, and fugitives Ramzi Yousef, 26, and Abdul Yasin, 33.

The government is investing "considerable efforts" to find the fugitives, said U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White. She didn't elaborate.

by CNB