Federal Grand Jury in New York Indicts Six American Citizens

A federal grand jury in New York has indicted six American citizens. They are accused of forming a terrorist cell linked to Al-Qaeda and supporting a foreign terrorist organization, and are set to be officially arrested in Buffalo on Tuesday. The individuals, approximately 20 years old and of Yemeni descent, were arrested last month. U.S. officials state that they received training at an Al-Qaeda terrorist camp in Afghanistan prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks. The defendants, who have denied any connection to Al-Qaeda, could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. In the latest news, the six American citizens of Yemeni descent, accused of operating an Al-Qaeda terrorist cell in Buffalo, declared their innocence in court. Prosecutors on Tuesday charged these six individuals with two counts of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Prosecutors claim that the six received training at an Al-Qaeda camp in Afghanistan before the September 11 attacks. Their defense attorneys argue that their clients were engaged in religious studies in Pakistan and had no ties to Al-Qaeda. If convicted, the six face 15 years in prison. On another note, the U.S. Department of Defense stated that a small group of Pakistanis detained in Afghanistan and held at a U.S. naval base in Cuba will be returned to their country, as they are no longer considered a terrorist threat.