Three San Diego residents named in terrorism indictment

By Dana Littlefield
Originally published November 2, 2010 at 4:12 p.m., updated November 2, 2010 at 4:36 p.m.

SAN DIEGO — Three San Diego residents are charged with providing money to a Somali militia group described by U.S. authorities as a violent terrorist organization, according to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday.

The men — Basaaly Saeed Moalin, Mohamed Mohamed Mohamud and Issa Doreh — face several conspiracy charges related to their alleged involvement with the group, called al-Shabaab. Moalin, 33, is accused of being in direct contact with one of al-Shabaab’s a prominent military leaders in 2007 and 2008.

Moalin was arrested Sunday at Lindbergh Field shortly before he was to board a flight. Federal agents arrested Mohamud, 38, and Doreh, 54, the next day, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy.

Moalin appeared in federal court Tuesday morning and pleaded not guilty to charges that could send him to prison for life, if convicted. Mohamud, who is also known as Mohamed Khadar, and Doreh are expected to be arraigned Wednesday.

According to the indictment, al-Shabaab has used violence and a variety of intimidation tactics — including assassinations, automatic weapons and suicide bombings — in its war against Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government and those who support it. The U.S. Department of State designated the militia group as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2008.

Prosecutors contend that Aden Hashi Ayrow, one of al-Shabaab’s military leaders, asked for several thousand dollars from Moalin in December 2007. Moalin then coordinated fundraising efforts and money transfers with his two co-defendants. Moalin also provided a house in Somalia, which authorities said was intended to be used to carry out a conspiracy to kill people.

Ayrow called for foreign fighters to join al-Shabaab in a “holy warâ€