trrest a‘iai^ firstsiep
REPAIRING THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, 5A
s to Muslim radicals
By Paul Hurschnann, AP
THE MOSQUE: Mohammed Salameh, arrested in connec-
tion with World Trade Center blast, worshipped at third-
-floor Masjid Alsalam Mosque, above, in Jersey City, N.J.
By Marty Baumann, USA TODAY
THE ROUTE: Officials investigating the New York bombing
%ere pleasantly surprised’ by break that led them to N.J.
1 1hked to the bombing
ieri Sfllameh. the suspect arraigned Thursday in the
ay
I
rig ofthe World Trade Center, was arrested while trying
back his $400 deposit on the Ryder rental van police
irried the explosives. The Ford £350 Econoline van:
6.5 ft.
idle weight empty
imum cargo weight
iimum cargo capacity
2,200 lbs. (the contents of
a two-bedroom aparment)
cubic ft.
COVER STORY
Cleric target
of previous
FBI probes
World Trade
Center seen
as 'symbol
By Judy Keen
and Sam Vincent Meddis
USA TODAY
The
Masjid
Alsalam
Mosque
got
scant
attention
from
its neighbors
in down-
town Jersey
City,
N.J. — a
check-cashing business, toy
store and Chinese restaurant
But
three
Islamic
funda-
mentalists
linked
to
violent
crimes found their way to the
rundown building and climbed two flights of stairs to wor-
ship — and perhaps to talk of violence and revenge.
Mohammed Salameh, arrested Thursday in the World
Trade Center bombing, worshipped there.
it*
of the U.S.'
Following
the clues, 3A
By Bethany Kandel
and Bruce Frankel
USA TODAY
Approved For Release 2D0ygl&
Please see COVER STORY next page
NEW YORK — The FJ
the wake of an arrest T
day,
continues
to seek
i
suspects in the bombing o
World Trade Center.
“This investigation clea
not finished, but a large
step has been taken,” Jim
head of the FBI’s New Yoj
flee, said Thursday night
The bomb exploded
ii
garage
of the
1 10-story
towers a week ago, killinj
people; one, is still missinf
Mohammed Salameh
was arrested after he tri
reclaim a deposit on a n
van that linked him to the
A second man was arr
and charged with obstru
justice
in
connection
wl
search warrant.
Prior to his arraignmen
lice said Salameh is an Is
born Arab and described
as a Muslim fundamental
He was charged with:
> Aiding and
abetting
bombing and fire.
Transportation
of
£
sives across state lines.
He appeared calm but
during the hearing as
charges were read in Ara
The Jersey
City, NJ.,
dent is being held without
“The
hysteria
that
is
rounding this case was
ii
dence
at
the
hearing,"
Robert Precht, Salair
court-appointed lawyer.
Other
suspects
are
i
sought in what prosecute
more Childres called “to
gle most destructive act c
rorism ever committe
American soil.”
Thursday’s arrest was £
expected break; a day
ei
authorities had said toe
might drag on for months
FBI
agents
arrested
meh about 10:30 a.m. at
stop near a Jersey City I
truck rental agency.
He went there to reck
$400 deposit on toe van, \
he had reported stolen to
of toe blast
The FBI said toe van wi
one that carried toe bom
Fragments —
includis
axle with a traceable id
cation number — were r
ered at toe blast site.
Traces of nitrates —
in some explosives — we:
portedly found on papers
meh presented to toe age
Traces of nitrates wen
found at toe blast site.
A telephone number
meh used when he rente
van led agents to an apart
where they found tools, v
id instructions on bomb
w Fox said.
Also: a specially traine
detected explosives in a c