Alleged Terrorist Responsible for Death of Five GIs Extradited to U.S.

Posted on January 23, 2015
courtroom_02BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – An alleged terrorist charged with killing five American servicemen was extradited to the United States,  federal authorities said Friday

Faruq Khalil Muhammed Isa, aka “Faruq Khalil Muhammad ‘Isa,” “Sayfildin Tahir Sharif,” and “Tahir Sharif Sayfildin,” allegedly aided a suicide bomb attack on the U.S. base in Iraq, officials said.

The defendant will have an initial court appearance on Saturday. He is  charged with conspiring to kill Americans abroad; and providing material support to a terrorist conspiracy to kill Americans abroad.

Isa was extradited to the United States from Canada.

According to court documents and a criminal complaint filed in 2011, the defendant is charged in connection with his support for a multinational terrorist network that conducted multiple suicide bombings in Iraq.

Here are the alleged facts and circumstances surrounding this case:

The defendant assisted in orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Military’s Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq, on April 10, 2009.

A truck laden with explosives drove to the gate of Base Marez and exchanged fire with Iraqi police officers guarding the base and then with an American convoy exiting the base.

The truck detonated alongside the last vehicle in the U.S. convoy, leaving a 60-foot crater in the ground.  Five American soldiers were killed in the blast.

The following servicemen were killed:

  •  Staff Sergeant Gary L. Woods, 24, of Lebanon Junction, Kentucky
  • Sergeant First Class Bryan E. Hall, 32, of Elk Grove, California
  • Sergeant Edward W. Forrest Jr., 25, of St. Louis, Missouri
  • Corporal Jason G. Pautsch, 20, of Davenport, Iowa
  •  Army Private First Class Bryce E. Gaultier, 22, from Cyprus, California.

“Today’s extradition demonstrates to those who orchestrate violence against our citizens and our soldiers that there is no corner of the globe from which they can hide from the long reach of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch.

Adding, “We will continue to use every available means to bring to justice those who are responsible for the deaths of American servicemen and women who paid the ultimate price in their defense of this nation.”

Isa is presumed innocent until proven guilty.