DAR AL HARB - U.S.A. - FLORIDA: PADILLA, HASSOUN, ATWELL & THE MUJAHEDEEN

Ex-con says he knew Padilla, Hassoun at Florida mosque
BY CURT ANDERSON
AP LEGAL AFFAIRS WRITER

MIAMI -- An ex-convict testified Thursday that he knew both alleged al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla and purported terrorism supporter Adham Amin Hassoun while attending a Florida mosque, and even considered becoming a mujahedeen fighter himself for Islamic groups overseas.

Herbert Atwell, 38, said that Hassoun frequently gave speeches at the mosque about Muslim causes and sought to raise money and identify recruits. Hassoun also brought in mujahedeen fighters from Chechnya, Palestine and elsewhere in the world to talk to men at the mosque, Atwell said.

"He would talk about giving to mujahedeen fighters all the time," Atwell testified.

"At a certain point in time, the brothers didn't want him to get on the podium any more, because it was the same message over and over and over."

Atwell's testimony came at a hearing to determine what he will be permitted to say in front of the jury in the trial of Padilla, Hassoun and Kifah Wael Jayyousi on charges they were part of an Islamic extremist support cell. U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke ruled that most of his testimony could be repeated for jurors, who will return Monday.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Ex-con says he knew Padilla, Hassoun at Florida mosque