Verdict
rendered in the trial of four individuals associated with
the 1998 bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania
FBI Director Louis J. Freeh
today issued the following statement:
I am extremely pleased with
the verdict rendered in the trial of four individuals
associated with the senseless and cowardly 1998 bombings
of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The jury
members diligently considered a great amount of testimony
and related evidence and returned a just and appropriate
verdict.
The verdict represents a
significant development in a massive investigation that
involved the deployment of personnel from 38 of the 56
FBI field offices to East Africa. Through skill and perseverance,
FBI personnel overcame major logistical challenges, which
are inherent to crime scenes located in foreign countries,
to conduct a thorough investigation that led to the verdict
rendered today. The investigation will continue as 13
of the 22 defendants in this matter, including Osama Bin
Laden, remain as fugitives.
The FBI commends the Kenyan
and Tanzanian governments and their law enforcement officials
for their important, continuing cooperation with this
complex investigation. The FBI's active investigation
of this crime could not have been maintained without the
superb assistance of the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments
and law enforcement officials.
I also wish to express my
sincere thanks to the governments of Morocco, Pakistan,
Germany, the United Kingdom, and others for their invaluable
assistance during this massive investigation. The liaison
and investigative efforts by the personnel of over 20
FBI Legal Attache offices, who were closely involved with
this matter from the outset, also have my highest praise.
The New York United States
Attorney's Office headed by Mary Jo White and the entire
prosecution team of Assistant United States Attorneys
Pat Fitzgerald, Ken Karas, Mike Garcia, and Paul Butler
have my congratulations for the verdict and thanks for
their devotion and commitment to the prosecution of these
terrorists. The Special Agents of the New York Field Office
who worked closely with the prosecution team are to be
highly commended for their exhaustive efforts.
The FBI shares the sorrow
of the families of the 12 American and 200 Kenyan and
Tanzanian citizens killed in the bombings. The continued
patience exhibited by these brave families during the
investigative process is greatly appreciated as the FBI
and its foreign law enforcement partners continue to address
this matter.
