Khalid al-Fawwaz Jailed for Life over 1998 US Embassies Bombings

Osama bin Laden’s former aide Khalid Abdulrahman al-Fawwaz has been sentenced to life in jail for aiding in the bombing of US embassies in east Africa in 1998 that killed 224 people.

Saudi national Khalid al-Fawwaz was arrested in London the same year as the bombings, and was extradited to the US 14 years later.

Photo Reuters

He has been called Osama bin Laden’s spokesman and al-Qaeda’s media adviser in London.

Khalid al-Fawwaz was convicted in February of four conspiracy charges.

Prosecutors say he operated an office in London where he disseminated Osama bin Laden’s fatwas, or religious decrees, to media outlets.

Khalid al-Fawwaz was also accused of using the office to send communications equipment, including a satellite phone, to the al-Qaeda leader.

The sentence was read out by a Manhattan jury at a heavily guarded downtown courthouse.

Khalid al-Fawwaz’s lawyers argued that he was a peaceful political dissident and not a violent terrorist.