US man accused of plotting Al-Qaeda attacks in Europe

CHICAGO: An Ohio man has been accused of helping to train fellow Al-Qaeda agents to carry out bombings in Europe and the United States, US officials said on Thursday.   

Christopher Paul was indicted on charges of providing material support to terrorists and conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction.   

Paul stored a large stock of items that could be used in a terrorist attack, including a laser range finder, night vision scope, books and literature on explosives, remote control items, and other survival gear, at several homes in Columbus, the indictment said.   

He also began researching on commercial flight simulator programs as well as remote-controlled boats and helicopters in 2006, prosecutors said.   

The indictment said that the man born in Columbus, Ohio traveled to Germany in 1999 to provide explosives training and help recruit Al-Qaeda agents.    

He is also accused of traveling to Pakistan and Afghanistan in late 1990 or early 1991 to join Al-Qaeda in a "commitment to violent jihad."