InfoAnda - Middle Eastern Money Transfer System Investigated in Times Square Bomb Case

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

San Diego State, basketball coach Fisher agree to four-year extension | 29 August 2011
Critics say Michael Jackson album better than feared | | 10 December 2010
Sudan shootout kills 20, army warns of more clashes | 6 February 2011

Nissan returns to profit in latest quarter | 4 November 2009

Home U.S. World Entertainment Sports Business Health Science Technology Politics Offbeat Environment Travel News Articles Middle Eastern Money Transfer System Investigated in Times Square Bomb Case Email Facebook Digg Twitter Buzz Up! ShareThis May 14, 2010 5:51 p.m. EST Topics: unrest, conflicts and war, act of terror, crime, police, terrorism, crime, law and justice, investigation, United States Tom Ramstack - AHN News Correspondent New York City, New York, United States (AHN) - Police are investigating whether a funding system that dates from the 15th century in the Middle East helped the accused Times Square bombing suspect. Three men arrested Thursday by the FBI are suspected of helping funnel money to pay for the explosives and car bomb that was defused by police in New York last week. They face a first court appearance early next week. They are being held on immigration charges as the investigation continues. They were identified as Pir Khan and Aftab Khan, both of whom were arrested in Massachusetts, and Mohamad Rahman, who was arrested in Maine. All three are natives of Pakistan. Police are investigating whether they helped attempted bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad pay for the bomb and SUV that concealed it by using a “hawala” funding network of brokers who operate under a trust system. The hawala system avoids traditional money transfers that could be traced by police. The system is most commonly used by foreign workers to send remittances home or by parents to send money to their children studying abroad. Law enforcement officials say hawala systems are used increasingly by terrorists to hide their activities. “Hawala is a popular value transfer method that predates the Western financial system and remains less expensive, and at times more widely available, than modern banking for transmitting legitimate funds around the world,” wrote John Rollins, a terrorism expert for the Congressional Research Service, in a March report on crime that crosses international borders. The money transfers begin when a person in one country visits a hawala broker and tells him he wants to send funds to someone in another country. The person ordering the transfer gives the money to the broker plus a 5 percent commission. The broker then contacts a second hawala broker in the other country. The second broker pays the money to the person designated to receive it. No money is transferred between the countries. Instead, the second broker carries the debt until someone in his own country wants to make a money transfer. Then the second broker receives the money plus the commission and the process begins again in reverse. Hawala brokers are supposed to get licenses in the United States but few of them make the effort. Although the three men arrested Thursday do not deny participating in a hawala money transfer that might have been used by bombing suspect Shahzad, they have not admitted participating in a terrorist conspiracy. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said no direct connection has been proven between the main arrested in Maine and Shahzad. Police continue to investigate whether the money transfer originated in Pakistan or another Middle Eastern country. With the net tightening around traditional bank transfers, terrorist organizations have few other alternatives than hawala to fund their operations, according to terrorism experts. “First and foremost, there is al Qaeda, which is now in the worst financial shape it has been in for years,” said David Cohen, the U.S. Treasury Department’s assistant secretary for terrorist financing, in a speech last month to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Private donation and Persian Gulf countries’ funding for al Qaeda has dried up in recent years under intense international pressure, he said. News reports indicate al Qaeda has been making public pleas for money and charging recruits for their weapons. Groups affiliated with al Qaeda rely less on a centralized funding network, Cohen said. “These al Qaeda affiliates instead have taken up independent fundraising activities to sustain themselves, including drug trafficking, kidnapping for ransom and extortion,” he said. However, other alleged terrorist organizations, such as the Taliban and Hamas, are well-financed, Cohen said. Copyright © 2003 - 2010 AHN - All rights reserved.Redistribution, republication. syndication, rewriting or broadcast is prohibited without the prior written consent of AHN.License AHN news for your website, business, digital signage network or publication. Most Popular Stories Aquino, Binay Lead Philippine Election Winners; May Be Proclaimed Within The Day NBC Cancels “Law & Order,” Creator Dick Wolf Reportedly Taking Show To TNT Russian Authorities: Freed Somali Pirates Likely Dead Miley Cyrus Under Fire For Dirty Dancing With 44-Year-Old Man Somali Pirates Release British-Flagged Chemical Tanker After Ransom Payment Elin Nordegren Initiates Divorce From Tiger Woods Brad Pitt Calls Ex-Wife Jennifer Aniston “Pathetic” Kim, Kourtney And Khloe Kardashian Design Bikinis For Beach Bunny "Twilight" Stars Hit "Jimmy Kimmel Live" For "Eclipse" Special Recent Posts Most Popular Comments Recent Comments Popular Threads Home | U.S. | World | Entertainment | Sports | Business | Health | Sci / Tech | Politics | Weird / Offbeat Follow AHN on Twitter AHN Social News connects you with friends and the news Client Login | Submit News | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact | Content Services © 2010 AHN All Rights Reserved

Other News on Saturday, 15 May 2010
Jewish settlers shoot dead Palestinian youth
US-TECH Summary
Bombers attack soccer game in north Iraq, 8 dead
Jewish settlers shoot dead Palestinian youth: police |
Portugal takes more austerity measures
Google to stop selling smartphone on the Web
Iraq election recount found no signs of fraud
Former UK minister stabbed at his office |
Russia to sell Syria warplanes, air defence systems
Libya crash boy's family blog becomes a memorial
Iran frees Iraqi soldier in border incident |
TiVo win set aside by appeals court; shares drop
Five dead in clash with South Sudan rebel general: army |
Algeria earthquake kills two: report |
Cuban court throws out jail sentence for dissident |
Thai troops battle protesters as crisis deepens
Big Afghan offensive must overcome deadly terrain
Clashes in Kyrgyzstan kill 1, injure more than 60
Timeline of events in Thailand's political crisis
Thai troops, protesters clash in capital; 8 killed
China school attacks highlight mental health
Google to stop selling smartphone on the Web |
Crisis looms in Nepal as political divide sharpens
Protesters say NATO attack killed Afghan civilians
Suspected rebels kill 1 police officer in India
Libya crash boy's family blog becomes a memorial |
Violence surges in Indian Kashmir after decline
Google proposes remedies in Italy antitrust case |
Hauppauge soars on TV streaming app for iPad, iPhone |
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Tokio Hotel guitarist falls ill after taking Viagra
Police uncover plot to kill Indonesia's president
NBC cancels long-running crime show "Law & Order"
Russell Crowe snaps over Irish Robin Hood accent |
NBC cancels long-running crime show Law & Order |
Tokio Hotel guitarist falls ill after taking Viagra |
Five dead in clash with South Sudan rebel general
Russia to sell Syria warplanes, air defence systems
Fighting spreads in Thai capital, 16 dead |
Ruling could have chilling effect on P2P services
Iran frees Iraqi soldier in border incident
Google says mistakenly got wireless data
Clinton says Lula faces uphill climb in Iran
Beer, betrayal, a lost iPhone in Apple device tale
Chinese man sentenced to death for school stabbing |
TiVo win set aside by appeals court; shares drop
Nigeria president pledges better security in delta |
Hauppauge soars on TV streaming app for iPad, iPhone
Middle Eastern Money Transfer System Investigated in Times Square Bomb Case
Chavez orders money changer raids for currency crash |
Google proposes remedies in Italy antitrust case
U.S. Markets Fall On Friday, But Finish Week Higher
IMF board okays $1.13 billion in aid for Pakistan |
China Foxconn worker falls to death, seventh this year |
Study: Hispanic High School Dropouts Lag Behind In Getting GED
Consumer Sentiment Rises Less Than Expected In May
Federal Raid On NY Drug Gangs Nets Dozens
Former Football Star Forbidden From Prom
Fort Lauderdale Police Officer Arrested With Drugs In Patrol Car
J.C. Penney Q1 Profit More Than Doubles
New Album Details Revealed For Kylie Minogue's New Album "Aphrodite"
Mother, Stepdad Of Slain Boy To Be Charged In Utah
Teacher apologizes for recorded beating of student
5 private security guards die in Afghanistan
Australian teen completes round-the-world sail
Beer, betrayal, a lost iPhone in Apple device tale |
Clashes, blasts for 3rd day in besieged Bangkok
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
Google says mistakenly got wireless data |
HK democracy activists make final appeal for votes
New Bangkok street clashes after 16 killed
Big Afghan offensive must overcome deadly terrain
Bangkok battles: 16 dead in clashes, explosions
IMF board okays $1.13 billion in aid for Pakistan
IMF board okays $1.13 billion in aid for Pakistan
Nashville pulls together to weather the storm
Fund-raising sites offer new options to musicians
Hit show "Glee" spreads the joy with stage tour
Rolling Stones revisit their days in Exile |
Minimalist drama "Here and There" right on target
English actress accuses Polanski of abuse in 1980s |
Billboard singles reviews: Eminem, Ozzy Osbourne
Wall Street a powerfully told sequel |
NBC cancels "Heroes," "Mercy" and "Trauma"
Bret Michaels announces May 28 comeback gig
Billboard singles reviews: Eminem, Ozzy Osbourne |
Gene Simmons says KISS costume prevents "grinding"
Hit show Glee spreads the joy with stage tour |
"Wall Street" a powerfully told sequel
Minimalist drama Here and There right on target |
Gene Simmons says KISS costume prevents grinding |
NBC cancels Heroes, Mercy and Trauma |
Sudan army says killed 108 Darfur rebels
Sudan army says killed 108 Darfur rebels |
UK airspace may close due to volcanic ash |
Sole Libya crash survivor returns home to Netherlands |
Atlantis Takes Off In Last Of 3 Missions
Gaza rally raises Palestinian reconciliation hopes |
87-Year-Old Woman Arrested For Selling Crack
UK PM Cameron has talks with Afghan leader Karzai |
US Chamber Of Commerce Chief Blasts Arizona Law, Urges More H1B1 Visa
Bulgarian National In Mulit-million Dollar Money Laundering Scheme
Iran says conditions right for nuclear fuel deal |
Greece pledges corruption clean-up of politicians |
Ship sinking overshadows East Asia meeting |
AP-GfK Poll flashes mixed signals for parties
At least 30 militants dead in Afghan, NATO raids
Univision forum held on Arizona's immigration law
China court sentences to death school attacker
Suspected militants kidnap 60 in NW Pakistan
Militants kidnap about 60 in Pakistan tribal area
Ship sinking overshadows start of East Asia meeting
Medical worker shot, feared killed in Bangkok clash
Clashes, blasts for 3rd day in besieged Bangkok
Indian state to airlift supplies amid blockade
Ruling could have chilling effect on P2P services |
2 suspects still at large in Indonesia terror plot
British director Leigh's Another Year at Cannes |
Fund-raising sites offer new options to musicians |
Nashville pulls together to weather the storm |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01