US arrests Somali terror suspect

Abdi had military training in Ethiopia, says the US authorities

A Somali immigrant has been arrested in the US charged with plotting with al-Qaeda to attack American targets.

Nuradin Abdi, 32, had planned to blow up a shopping mall in Columbus, Ohio, US Attorney General John Ashcroft said.

He is accused of conspiring with admitted al-Qaeda member Iyman Faris and others to carry out the bombing.

Mr Abdi, who has been in custody since November, is also charged with fraud and misuse of documents for falsely applying for asylum in the US.

Mr Ashcroft used the occasion of announcing Mr Abdi's arrest to warn the American public once more that they still face a threat from al-Qaeda.

"Current credible intelligence indicates that al-Qaeda wants to hit the United States, to hit the United States hard," he said.

Guerrilla training

The charges against Mr Abdi include one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and one of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organisation, in this case al-Qaeda.

Ashcroft warned that the threat from al-Qaeda still remains

According to the US authorities, Mr Abdi also travelled to Ethiopia where he allegedly underwent military training in the use of guns and bombs.

It is claimed that when in April 1999 Mr Abdi applied for the documents which would allow him to travel he deliberately misled visa officials about his destination and the nature of his visit.

He said he was going to Germany and Saudi Arabia to visit Mecca and relatives.

But, according to the indictment against Mr Abdi, he in fact "planned to travel to Ogaden, Ethiopia, for the purpose of obtaining military-style training in preparation for violent jihad (holy war)".

Bridge attack

US officials say that when Mr Abdi eventually returned from Africa in March 2000 he was met at Columbus airport by al-Qaeda member Faris.

Faris is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after pleading guilty last June to providing material support to al-Qaeda.

He admitted to plotting to derail trains in New York and Washington and destroy the Brooklyn Bridge by severing its support cables.