Amine Mezbar

Born in Algeria, Amine Mezbar is a Canadian arrested and charged with terrorism, following an alleged plot conspiring to blow up the American embassy in Paris in June 2002. It was later determined that he was not guilty of the charge.

Life

Mezbar is alleged to have stolen several passports in 1997 and 1999 after his fingerprints were found on the scene. He lived in a Rotterdam apartment with Jerome Courtailler and Mohammed Berkous, although the latter was arrested two days after the September 11 attacks.

Mezbar came to Canada under the name Adel Tobbichi, and earned permanent resident status in April 2000. He lived primarily in Montreal, [New York Times, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E3DD123EF934A15755C0A9649C8B63 Americas: Canada: Terror Suspect Won't Fight Extradition] , June 27 2002] where was allegedly forging passports and similar documentation to help militants cross European borders. [ANti-Defamation League, [http://www.adl.org/terror/tu/tu_0401_canada.asp Canada and Terrorism ] , January 2004]

Arrest

In July he was extradited to face charges in the Netherlands.Associated Press, Canada Extradited Bombing Plot Suspect; Held in Dutch Jail, July 19 2002] On 28 December, 2002, Mezbar, and his co-defendants, Frenchman Jerome Courtailler, Dutchman Saaid Ibrahim, and Algerians Abdelghani Rabia were all found not guilty of terrorism by a Dutch court. [" [http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/12/18/dutch.terrorism/ Dutch court frees terror suspects] ." "CNN".]

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