An Ohio man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison over allegations he joined al-Qaida and helped plot terrorist bombings in the U.S. and overseas.

American-born Christopher Paul appeared Thursday in federal court in Columbus, where he pleaded guilty in June to one count of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction in terrorist attacks.

The 44-year-old Paul grew up in the Columbus suburb of Worthington and spent a year at Ohio State as an engineering major.

The Justice Department accused Paul and two other men of discussing terrorist attacks during an August 2002 meeting at a suburban coffee shop. The other two also pleaded guilty: Nuradin Abdi in 2007 in connection with an alleged plot to blow up an Ohio shopping mall, and Iyman Faris in 2003 in connection with an alleged plot to destroy the Brooklyn Bridge.

The government won’t say whether the case is closed or if any of the attacks were carried out.

Source

Originally posted 2009-02-26 12:03:52.

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BAGHDAD — Police say an Iraqi soccer player has been shot dead just as he was about to kick what could have been the tying goal in a weekend game south of Baghdad.

Police Maj. Muthanna Khalid says a striker from the Buhairat amateur team was facing only the goalie during a Sunday match in Hillah when a supporter of the rival Sinjar club shot him in the head in the final minute of play.

Sinjar was leading 1-0 when the shooting occurred. Khalid said a spectator was arrested.

More Iraqis are turning out for sports events now that security is improving. Major matches in Baghdad are heavily guarded but security in amateur games in smaller cities is often lax.

Source

Originally posted 2009-03-16 10:07:51.

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