An Ohio man suspected of joining al Qaeda and conspiring to bomb targets in Europe and the United States has been indicted and appeared in court today, the US Justice Department said.
The FBI arrested Christopher Paul, a 43-year-old US citizen, late last night after a four-year investigation of his alleged involvement with al Qaeda in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Germany, the Justice Department said in a statement.
Mr Paul joined al Qaeda in 1991 and later trained and supported German co-conspirators planning to bomb European tourist resorts frequented by American citizens, as well as US embassies, consulates and military bases overseas, according to the indictment.
He also targeted a person in the United States, it was claimed.
Mr Paul, a native of Columbus, Ohio, made a brief appearance in US District Court in Columbus on Thursday to hear the charges. His lawyer, Don Wolery, said Paul would plead not guilty at an arraignment tomorrow.
"He's not guilty, that's his position," Mr Wolery said in a telephone interview. He declined further comment.
The FBI said it had no evidence that the attacks planned by Paul were ever carried out, but could not rule out that Paul had been involved with co-conspirators who committed attacks overseas.
"There were no attacks in the United States," Cincinnati FBI special agent Michael Brooks told Reuters. "The indictment against him charges that he has conspired with others both here and overseas to engage in terrorist acts.