Minh Quang Pham, Providing Material Support, New York 2012

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara announced yesterday the extradition of Minh Quang Pham, a Vietnamese national and alleged Al Qaeda member, from the United Kingdom.

Pham, also known as 'Amin,' was indicted in 2012 on charges of providing material support to, and receiving military training from, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a designated foreign terrorist organization. He was also charged with possessing and using a firearm in furtherance of crimes of violence, and other violations.

Pham, 39, was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew J. Peck yesterday and will be arraigned tomorrow, March 4, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan.

'As alleged, Minh Quang Pham surreptitiously traveled from the UK to Yemen in late 2010 and received terrorist training by AQAP,' Bharara said. 'During the half year he spent in Yemen, Pham allegedly vowed to wage jihad, swore bayat, and provided material support to high-level AQAP members, almost always brandishing a Kalashnikov rifle.'

FBI Assistant Director Andrew G. McCabe added, 'Today's material support charges outline that Minh Quang Pham received military-style training and possessed weapons to commit crimes of violence on behalf of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.'

According to the Indictment and extradition-related filings, Pham traveled from the United Kingdom to Yemen in December 2010, where he met a person who later became a cooperating witness for the United States. While in Yemen, Pham allegedly received terrorist training and provided material support to high-level AQAP members.

The extradition of Pham is a significant blow to Al Qaeda's efforts to recruit and train members, and a testament to the commitment of law enforcement agencies to bring terrorists to justice.

Bharara's office thanks the British authorities for their assistance in the extradition process.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-announces-extradition-defendant-united-kingdom-providing-material