Reply #11: Bali bombing linked to Saudi Arabia

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Saudi princes linked to terror funds
March 5 2003
By Mark Forbes
Canberra
The Australian Federal Police is investigating allegations that European organisations helped fund the Bali bombing operations.
The revelation follows a report on the ABC's Foreign Correspondent program detailing claims that Saudi Arabian funds, funnelled through Europe, were used by the Bali bombers.
Washington-based lawyer Allan Gerson told the program he had evidence that Saudi Arabians gave money to terrorists in Europe who visited Bali.
An AFP spokeswoman confirmed that inquiries were being made. "It is possible there could have been a link between the European groups mentioned by Mr Gerson and those involved in the Bali bombings," she said.
She declined to comment on the claimed links to Saudi Arabia......
Dr Gerson, leading a bid on behalf of September 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabian banks, charities and royal family members, said it was likely the European cells funded by Saudis helped fund the Bali attack.
He could not reveal too many details because his evidence had been uncovered through judicial co-operation with European nations. He said the money from Saudi Arabia went to terrorists connected with that country.
Former FBI analyst Matt Levitt, now with the Washington Institute, told the program that one of Saudi Arabia's largest charities, Al Haramain, was set up to fund terrorism and was now a front for terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda.
Confessions of al-Qaeda members revealed that wealthy Saudis had funded Jemaah Islamiah through the Al Haramain foundation, Mr Levitt said. JI is allegedly responsible for the Bali bombings.
Many Saudi charities were directly linked to terrorist activities and several of these had strong links to the Government and the royal family, he said.
The Indonesian and Singaporean governments are expected to resist any efforts by lawyers, acting for September 11 victims, to surrender intelligence material that might assist their civil damages case. A lawyer representing families of 600 people killed in the September 11 attacks said that confidential court documents show a link between Saudi Arabian financial organisations and suspects in the Bali bombings.
The lawsuit has been filed in the US District Court and names as defendants three Saudi princes, seven banks and several international Muslim charities that allegedly gave funds to al-Qaeda.
Diplomatic sources in Washington said there was concern the lawyers may try to use the Bali link to pressure the governments of Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia to disclose intelligence material.