‘Dirty bomb’ suspect charged

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – “Dirty bomb” suspect Jose Padilla, a
U.S. citizen held in a South Carolina military brig for more
than three years, was charged with conspiracy to commit murder
and aid terrorists, a federal indictment showed on Tuesday.

The 11-count indictment against Padilla, which also
included four other suspects, was returned by a federal grand
jury in the U.S. District Court in Miami.

“The defendants, along with other individuals, operated and
participated in a North American support cell that sent money,
physical assets and mujahideen recruits to overseas conflicts
for the purposes of fighting a violent jihad,” the indictment
said.

Padilla, a former Chicago gang member and convert to Islam,
had been held as an enemy combatant under suspicion of plotting
with al Qaeda to set off a radioactive “dirty bomb” in the
United States.