Third student charged in explosives case

TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 13 (UPI) -- A University of South Florida student faces a federal weapons charge for going to a shooting range with two students charged with transporting explosives.

A complaint filed in U.S. District Court says Karim Moussaoui joined the Shoot Straight Gun and Archery Range in July. Agents said they found pictures at another defendant's home of Moussaoui holding a gun and wearing ear protectors.

Moussaoui's companions at the shooting range, Youssef Megahed and Ahmed Mohamed, both Egyptian nationals, were arrested in August in South Carolina and charged with transporting explosives. Mohamed faces an additional charge for allegedly posting a video on the Internet in which he shows how to use a toy robot as a detonator.

Adam Allen, who represents Megahed, said federal prosecutors had already introduced evidence during bail hearings of trips to the shooting range. He said the three were engaged in completely lawful conduct.

"Hundreds of people lawfully shoot firearms at shooting ranges every day in Tampa and throughout the United States," he said.