Yesterday we reported how the mastermind of the 2001 Sbarro Pizzeria bombing, Ahlam Tamimi, might be brought to justice in the U.S. for the killing of two American citizens (among a total of 15 people killed).
Tamimi currently lives in Jordan, where she is a TV announcer, after being released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange in October 2011.
She continues to brag about her role in planning the suicide bombing, including scouting the location, which she chose because of the crowds and presence of religious Jews. She helped guide the suicide bomber to the location. Her only regret is that she didn’t kill more people.
For more details, including videos, see our prior post, U.S. to seek extradition of Ahlam Tamimi, the Savage of Sbarro Pizzeria bombing.
We have obtained copies of the original Criminal Complaint and supporting Affidavit (pdf.), which are embedded in full below. In response to our inquiry, DOJ declined to comment on whether an extradition request has been made.
Of interest is that Tamimi not only planned the Sbarro bombing at the request of Hamas, she also planted a bomb in a supermarket that detonated without injuries:
7. In or about July 2001, Conspirator A contacted TAMIMI and asked her to detonate an explosive device, concealed in a beer can, somewhere in Jerusalem. TAMIMI agreed to do so.8. On or about July 27, 2001, TAMIMI travelled to Jaffa Street in downtown Jerusalem to scout a location for detonating the explosive device. When she surveilled the street in person, she decided it would be a good location to carry out an attack because it was centrally located and had a high volume of Jewish pedestrians. Ultimately, TAMIMI picked a Super Co-op supermarket on King George Street, near its intersection with. Jaffa Street, for the attack because she believed that placing the beer can explosive device on a shelf in the supermarket would not cause suspicion.9. On or about July 30, 2001, Conspirator A delivered an explosive device concealed in a beer can to TAMIMI. TAMIMI travelled to Jerusalem and, at approximately 11: 15 a.m., placed the beer can containing the explosive device on a shelf at the Super Co-op supermarket located on King George Street in Jerusalem.10. On or about July 30, 2001, the explosive device placed by TAMIMI detonated, causing substantial property damage to the Super Co-op, but no human casualties.
The Affidavit provides more details on the suicide bombing, and how Tamimi suggested putting the explosives in a Western-style guitar case:
11. In or about late July or early August 2001, TAMIMI offered her assistance to Conspirator A in carrying out a suicide bombing operation in Jerusalem. Conspirator A instructed TAMIMI to assist the suicide bomber in transporting an explosive device into Jerusalem, and to aid him in finding an appropriate target for the suicide bombing. TAMIMI agreed to do so.12. During this conversation, Conspirator A indicated to TAMIMI Conspirator A’s intent to conceal the explosive device within an Oud, which is a traditional Arab musical instrument. TAMIMI refused to assist in the attack if the explosive device was to be concealed in an Oud, explaining that because an Oud was an Arab musical instrument, it might raise suspicion among the Israelis. TAMIMI suggested that the explosive device instead be concealed inside a Western guitar. Conspirator A agreed.13. On or about August 9, 2001, at approximately 12:00 noon, Conspirator A called TAMIMI and requested that she come to Ramallah to carry out the planned attack. In Ramallah, she met the suicide bomber, Conspirator B, who was in possession of the explosive device, which was concealed within a guitar. TAMIMI and Conspirator B travelled together via taxi to Jerusalem.14. On or about August 9, 2001, TAMIMI led Conspirator B, who was carrying the explosive device in a guitar case on his back, to the intersection of King George Street and Jaffa Street in downtown Jerusalem, a crowded area with substantial pedestrian traffic. TAMIMI instructed Conspirator B to detonate the explosive device somewhere in the area, and indicated to Conspirator B that he could also choose another location on King George Street if the opportunity arose to cause more casualties. TAMIMI then left Conspirator B and returned to Ramallah.15. On or about August 9, 2001, at approximately 1 :55 p.m., Conspirator B entered the Sbarro pizza restaurant on Jaffa Road, near the intersection of Jaffa Road and King George Street. Conspirator B detonated the explosive device, killing himself along with 15 civilians, including seven children and two United States nationals, Judith Lillian Greenbaum and 15-year-old M.R. It left at least 122 injured, including four United States nationals: David Danzig, Matthew Gordon, Joanne Nachenberg, and two-year-old S.N.
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US v Ahlam Al-Tamimi – Criminal Complaint (Sbarro Pizzeria Bombing) by Legal Insurrection on Scribd
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