[Nettime-bold] Somali ISPs in Big Trouble *8-/

[Bruce Sterling <bruces@well.com>]

U.S. Anti-Terrorism Sweep Nails Net, Phone Companies

By Robert MacMillan, Newsbytes
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A.,
07 Nov 2001, 2:52 PM CST

 President Bush and his top cabinet members today announced that several
small Internet and telephone companies operating in the U.S. have been
implicated as participants in the global terrorist network operated by Osama
bin Laden and suspected of carrying out the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.

The investigation into global terrorism has resulted in evidence seizures
and raids at several businesses across the country and throughout the world.
Bush said that companies operating inside several loose financial networks
have provided secure Internet and satellite phone services, among other
communications facilities.

 The crackdown on bin Laden's network so far has resulted in $24 million in
blocked assets of suspected terrorist organizations and their helpers.

Attorney General John Ashcroft said that law enforcement has made a variety
of arrests across the country, including individuals and businesses
connected with "Al-Barakat" (spelled variously as Barakaat, Barako, Baraka,
etc.), and "Al-Taqwa."

"(In) locations across the country, the Department of Justice, the FBI and
other federal law enforcement agencies are interviewing individuals and
taking other investigative steps in ongoing criminal investigations,"
Ashcroft said, noting that law enforcement agencies have identified and
raided businesses in Massachusetts, Ohio, Washington, Minnesota and
Virginia, as well as other locations.

Ashcroft added that the Justice Department plans to use administrative,
civil and criminal prosecutions to nail the networks' participants.

Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said that the gradual emergence of the
shadowy network of individuals and businesses financing and abetting the
international terrorist efforts of bin Laden's Al Qaeda network shows that
its members operate largely as "undocumented, unregulated financial
networks." 

"Their system isn't perfect," he said. "Somewhere it must always interface
with modern banking and finance. When that connection is made, we have the
wherewithal to intervene ... "

Among the businesses named in a Treasury Department release are Al-Barakat
Global Telecommunications (also known as Barakaat Globetelcompany),
Al-Barakaat Wiring Service, Barakaat Red Sea Telecommunications, Barakaat
Telecommunications Co. Somalia Ltd., Barakat Telecommunications Company ltd.
(BTELCO), Barakat Computer Consulting, Barakat Global Telephone Company,
Somali Internet Company, Somali Network AB (SOM NET).

While some of the companies are located in the U.S., the sweep was
international in scope, with investigations being conducted in
Liechtenstein, Sweden and other locations.

The Somali Internet Company was established as the troubled east African
nation's first Internet service provider, and began operations in August
2000. Al-Barakat Global Telecommunications is one of the telecom companies
that established the Somali ISP.

The Barakaat Group of Companies, which operates several companies including
Barakaat Red Sea Telecommunications, said it was planning to sue the
U.K.-based Daily Telegraph for reporting that it had ties to terrorist
organizations. 

Treasury Department officials were not immediately available for comment.

Reported by Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com .

14:52 CST
Reposted 15:55 CST 

(20011107/WIRES TOP, ONLINE, LEGAL, BUSINESS, ASIA,
TELECOM/ANTITERROR/PHOTO) 

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