FBI handout photos of five U.S. citizens accused of providing material support to Al-Qae'da

WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - U.S. authorities announced during a press conference held late Saturday, September 15, in New York that the five men arrested in Buffalo, New York would be charged with providing “material support” to Al-Qae’da.

U.S. authorities said Saturday that the five men arrested in Western New York were U.S. citizens of Arab origin.

Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson said Faysal Galab, Sahim Alwan, Yahya Goba, Shafel Mosed, and Yasein Taher, arrested Friday in Lackawanna, New York, near the Canadian border, had participated in the same training camp in Afghanistan as John Walker Lindh, the so-called "American Taliban" facing sentencing on charges of aiding the Taliban.

Authorities refused to comment on whether it was information from Lindh that led them to the cell.

Thompson said the five had been part of a "terrorist cell" that received training on how to use Russian assault rifles, handguns and long-range rifles at the al-Farooq camp outside Kandahar in June 2001, but that all five had left Afghanistan before Al-Qae’da attacked the United States on September 11.

"While they were at the camp, Osama bin Laden visited and delivered a speech, instructing the approximately 200 trainees in anti-American and anti-Israeli sentiment, as well as Al-Qae’da doctrine," Thompson said.

The arrests come less than 24-hours after U.S. authorities announced the capture in Pakistan of top Al-Qae’da lieutenant Ramzi bin al-Shaiba, a suspected planner of last year's September 11 attacks and one of the world's most hunted men.

A Federal judge on Saturday arraigned the five accused men five accused men on charges of providing support and resources to the group headed by Osama bin Laden, justice officials said.

The five were arraigned in Buffalo, New York, near the town of Lackawanna where they lived and were detained on Friday, according to U.S. attorney for western New York state Michael Battle.

Battle said they were charged with "knowingly providing and attempting to provide material support and resources to the foreign terrorist organization Al-Qae’da and conspiracy to do so."

In Washington, the officials said the five could face up to 15 years in prison on the charges. They added that the investigation was continuing and authorities hoped additional charges might be made.

"We do not fully know the intentions of those who were charged today, and our investigation is continuing. But as we go forward, to the extent that we can identify others who should be charged, they will be investigated and they will be charged," said FBI Director Robert Mueller.

Thompson also noted that the investigation would now focus on any of the cell's associates, although he underlined that every member of this cell in the United States was in custody.

Thompson, flanked by Mueller and New York Governor George Pataki, also thanked the Muslim communities in Lackawanna and Buffalo, New York for their "invaluable cooperation."

"I don't think there's anybody in America who can stand here and say with absolute certainty there will not be another attack," Pataki said. "But I think you can be very confident that everything that can be done proactively to try to get after those who might be among us before they can launch another attack is being done."

Thompson underlined that there was no evidence of any kind that this cell was working on any kind of attacks in New York or elsewhere in the United States.

"These charges are the result of an intensive investigation conducted by agents of the FBI in coordination with the Joint Terrorism Task Force, other federal, state and local law enforcement and intelligence agencies," Thompson said.

"Terrorism and support of terrorists is not confined to the large cities and metropolitan areas of America; it lurks in small towns and rural areas as well," Thompson said.