Uzbek Man in Idaho Is Held in Bomb Plot

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/17/us/uzbek-man-in-boise-is-charged-in-bomb-plot.html

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WASHINGTON — Federal authorities arrested an Uzbek man on Thursday in Boise, Idaho, on charges that he provided a foreign terrorist group with help in building an explosive device.

The man, Fazliddin Kurbanov, was also charged in connection with possessing parts to create a bomb, federal officials said.

The authorities said in a statement that Mr. Kurbanov’s “activities were closely monitored by federal agents” and “any potential threat posed by Kurbanov was contained.”

Mr. Kurbanov is scheduled to appear Friday in Federal District Court in Boise.

“Today’s arrest and these indictments underscore our commitment to aggressively and thoroughly investigate those who conspire to engage in unlawful terrorist activities,” said Wendy J. Olson, the United States attorney for Idaho.

Federal authorities from Utah also filed charges against Mr. Kurbanov.

Between last August and May, Mr. Kurbanov provided computer software and money to members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, an American-designated terrorist group, to help carry out “an offense involving a weapon of mass destruction,” the authorities said. His efforts were focused on helping the terrorists mount an attack overseas, said a law enforcement official.

The authorities also said Mr. Kurbanov was in possession “of a combination of parts intended for use in converting any device into a destructive device.” The parts included a hollow hand grenade, a hobby fuse, aluminum powder, potassium nitrate and sulfur.

Mr. Kurbanov is also accused of teaching others how to build devices.

“The defendant showed Internet videos, conducted instructional shopping trips, provided written recipes and gave verbal instructions on where to obtain the necessary components to construct and use improvised explosive devices,” the authorities said.