Germany Expels Jordanian Said Linked to Zarqawi

Germany has expelled a Jordanian suspected of links to a terrorist group run by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who is wanted for launching several attacks in Iraq, the Bavarian state interior ministry said Friday. The man, identified only as Osama A., was sent to a German prison in late 2002 on suspicion of belonging to Zarqawi's al-Tawhid group, but was released the following January. The Bavarian authorities said he is a danger to public order and safety and was responsible for gathering together donations for al-Tawhid in the area around Munich, southern Germany. He was expelled to Jordan. Al-Tawhid is accused of preparing a number of attacks against Jewish interests in Germany. Its stated aims are to overthrow the state of Jordan and kill all Jews. Osama A. came to Germany in 1996 claiming to be a refugee from Iraq but his real identity was discovered some time later. Zarqawi, also a Jordanian, is suspected of ties to Osama bin Laden but unlike the Al-Qaeda network leader he has not appeared in video tapes. (AFP)