Columbus, Ohio – A federal grand jury indicted an Ohio man on charges of joining al-Qaeda and conspiring to bomb European tourist resorts and U.S. government facilities and military bases overseas, officials announced Thursday.
Christopher Paul, 43, a U.S. citizen and resident of Columbus, spent time learning hand- to-hand fighting and how to use grenades and assault rifles at an al-Qaeda camp in Afghanistan in the early 1990s, according to a federal grand jury indictment. He then joined the terrorist group in Pakistan and told al-Qaeda members he was dedicated to committing violent jihad, the indictment alleges.
The investigation into Paul and his activities spanned four years, three continents and at least eight countries, FBI agent Tim Murphy said Thursday, shortly before Paul appeared before a federal judge.
“The indictment of Christopher Paul paints a disturbing picture of an American who traveled overseas to train as a violent jihadist, joined the ranks of al-Qaeda and provided military instruction and support to radical cohorts both here and abroad,” Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kenneth Wainstein said in a statement.
Bill Hunt, first assistant U.S. attorney, declined to say whether any of the alleged plots to attack European and U.S. targets, including government buildings and vacation spots frequented by American tourists, were carried out. People whom Paul associated with in Europe have been arrested, he said.
Paul, who was arrested Wednesday outside his apartment, is charged with providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to provide support to terrorists and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, which carries the most serious penalty of up to life in prison.
In court Thursday, Magistrate Judge Terence Kemp asked Paul if he understood the charges. Paul replied: “Yes, sir.”
Prosecutors asked that he be held without bail, and Kemp set another hearing for today on the issue. Paul’s lawyer, Don Wolery, declined to comment after the hearing.
