Lafayette, Louisiana — Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub al-Muhtadi, a person accused of collaborating in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist assault in Israel, pleaded not responsible on Wednesday in federal court docket in Louisiana.
Al-Muhtadi, 33, appeared earlier than a choose for an arraignment in an orange jail jumpsuit, shackled by the hands and ft. As he entered the courtroom, he stumbled barely over his shackles. He greeted his attorneys and interpreter, who had flown in to Lafayette for the listening to, with a “Good afternoon.”
The choose knowledgeable al-Muhtadi he had been indicted by a grand jury on two counts — conspiracy to offer materials assist to a terror group leading to dying and fraud and misuse of visa permits.
United States District Courtroom for the Western District of Louisiana
In court docket paperwork unsealed final week, Al-Muhtadi is accused of being a member of the Nationwide Resistance Brigades, the navy wing of the Democratic Entrance for the Liberation of Palestine, a paramilitary group that has fought alongside Hamas and took part within the 2023 assault.
Prosecutors declare he coordinated a “group of armed fighters” to cross into Israel after listening to about Hamas’ assault. He allegedly informed one man to “deliver the rifles” and one other to “prepare.” Prosecutors say he additionally despatched messages asking for ammunition and a bulletproof vest for an additional man.
Al-Muhtadi submitted a U.S. visa software in June 2024, the place, based on court docket paperwork, he denied being a member or consultant of a terror group, having any abilities or coaching, together with firearm utilization, and ever partaking in terrorist actions.
Al-Muhtadi is among the first to face fees in a U.S. court docket for allegedly serving to Hamas with the assault.
On Wednesday, al-Muhtadi informed the choose he understood the counts earlier than him and pleaded not responsible.
“Within the American prison authorized system, all accused are harmless till confirmed responsible in a court docket of regulation. In calling Mahmoud Al-Muhtadi a ‘monster,’ Lawyer Normal Pamela Bondi appears to have forgotten this basic precept,” al-Muhtadi’s lawyer, Aaron Adams, stated in an announcement. “We should keep in mind that no proof has but been offered in a court docket of regulation supporting the federal government’s allegations. We stay up for addressing these allegations in court docket.”
The prosecution reminded the choose that deportation to Israel can be a doable penalty on this case. The max penalty for the primary depend is life in jail and the max penalty for the latter is 10 years. Each counts are linked to his alleged involvement with the Oct. 7, 2023, terror assault towards Israel. He is additionally accused of mendacity on his visa software kind to realize entry into the U.S.
For now, his lawyer waived his proper to a detention listening to, and al-Muhtadi signed the waiver in court docket. Thus, the choose stated she is issuing an order for detention pending trial.
The prosecution famous to the choose that the case is advanced, involving categorised paperwork litigation, and can due to this fact require sure categorised data protections underneath the Patriot Act. They stated they plan to suggest a protecting order governing discovery within the case.
After the listening to ended, Adams was heard telling his consumer, “up to now so good.” The defendant was heard asking Adams about jail circumstances and the way his household is doing.
Requested about that dialog, Adams stated, “no remark.”
Prosecutors within the case declined to remark and referred all press inquiries to a public relations spokesperson. CBS Information has despatched emails to that spokesperson for remark.
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