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Former bin Laden aide guilty of U.S. embassy bombings

By Danielle Haynes
NAI98080702 - 7 AUGUST 1998 - NAIROBI, KENYA: Fire and rescue workers are on the scene moments after a blast at the American Embassy in the Kenyan capital early Aug. 7, 1998. Moments later, a second bomb exploded outside the U.S. Embassy in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania. Jurors found Khaled al-Fawwaz guilty of plotting the attacks Thursday. cc/Daily Nation- UPI
1 of 5 | NAI98080702 - 7 AUGUST 1998 - NAIROBI, KENYA: Fire and rescue workers are on the scene moments after a blast at the American Embassy in the Kenyan capital early Aug. 7, 1998. Moments later, a second bomb exploded outside the U.S. Embassy in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania. Jurors found Khaled al-Fawwaz guilty of plotting the attacks Thursday. cc/Daily Nation- UPI | License Photo

NEW YORK, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A former aide to Osama bin Laden was convicted Thursday for plotting the 1998 attacks on two U.S. embassies in East Africa, killing 224 people.

Khaled al-Fawwaz, 52, was convicted on four counts of conspiracy for plotting to kill Americans, conspiring to murder U.S. officials and diplomats, plotting to destroy government buildings, and planning to attack national defense facilities.

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The bombings of the embassies in Kenya and Tanzania caused the deaths of 224 people, including 12 U.S. citizens.

Al-Fawwaz did not actively participate in the bombings, but jurors found his assistance to bin Laden helped al-Qaida pull off the attack.

"Khaled al-Fawwaz played a critical role for al-Qaeda in its murderous conspiracy against America," Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement after the verdict. "Dedicating himself to al-Qaida in the early 1990s, Fawwaz was one of Osama bin Laden's original and most trusted lieutenants."

Al-Fawwaz faces life in prison.

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