12 charged in NY with Colombia terrorism link

By LARRY NEUMEISTER, The Associated Press
10:37 a.m. September 28, 2009

NEW YORK — Authorities in New York say 12 members of a Colombian organization are charged with conspiring to aid a foreign terrorist group and taking a U.S. citizen hostage.

Prosecutors said Monday that only two of the defendants are in custody.
The rest are fugitives.

An indictment unsealed in Manhattan accuses the defendants of aiding Colombia's rebel army, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. It has been designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization.

It says the group kidnapped a U.S. citizen in April 2008. The victim was released in February after the family paid ransom.

The U.S. attorney says in a statement that the charges are an important step to fight terrorism carried out by international drug dealers.

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