Islamic fundamentalists suspected of sending bombs

From State Department Correspondent Steve Hurst

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- FBI agents, backed by intelligence and other law officers, pressed on several fronts Friday to determine who is behind at least eight letter bombs mailed to the United States from Egypt.

Four of the bombs were discovered at the moderate Arab newspaper Al-Hayat's Washington offices in the National Press Building Thursday. A fifth, intended for the paper's news bureau, was intercepted at a central postal facility in Washington. Three more were sent to Leavenworth Prison in Kansas.

Law enforcement sources say it is too early to jump to conclusions, but acknowledge initial suspicions center on Islamic fundamentalists in Egypt who oppose the government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Editor suspects extremists

Experts say they could be the work of any one of dozens of radical Arab groups.

"You can take your pick," said Middle East expert Hisham Melhem. "Because it's well-read, obviously, they may have angered some governments and/or movements in the Middle East that may find it in their own interest to intimidate Al- Hayat."

The Al-Hayat newspaper, nominally owned by a Lebanese family but leased for 20 years to a Saudi prince, has deeply angered Islamic radicals, some of whom feel the journal has been co- opted by the West.

The editor of Al-Hayat also suspects Arab extremists. "The only thing that came to mind was extremist groups in the Arab world," said Al-Hayat's Jihad Khazen.

"We've been reporting their affairs as fairly as possible, but editorially we've been critical of their operations. We condemned all their terrorists attacks in Arab countries."

Newspaper has supported moderates

The newspaper has supported moderate Arab governments in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which angers radical groups throughout the region, particularly supporters of Mohammed Salameh.

Salameh, who rented and drove a bomb-laden truck to the World Trade Center parking garage, is serving a life sentence at Leavenworth. He was a follower of Egyptian cleric Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, who was convicted of plotting to blow up other New York landmarks.

U.S. officials say they have no evidence of any government involvement in the current incidents and labeled the letter bombs definitely the work of terrorists.

The rash of letter bombs certainly will heat up the search for Abdul Yasin who fled the United States after initial questioning about the Trade Center bombing. The U.S. government has offered $2 million for his capture. And for now, officials think there could be a link to these attempted bombings as well.

Related stories:

• Another letter bomb turns up in Kansas - January 3, 1997
• Letter bombs found in Washington area and federal prison in Kansas - January 2, 1997
• Judge hands down stiff sentences in terror trial - January 17, 1996

Related sites:

• Bombs by mail, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Notice # 71, MARCH 1990
• Package Bomb Indicators

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