Eyad Ismoil
Encyclopedia
Eyad Ismoil also transliterated as Eyad Ismail, (born circa 1971) is a Jordan
ian citizen who, for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, was convicted by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
of conspiracy in 1997.
in Manhattan
, New York
. The van exploded at 12:18 p.m., killing six people, causing numerous injuries, and inflicting an estimated five hundred million dollars worth of damage to the WTC. Ismoil fled the United States that night, as did Yousef, on a separate flight.
In August 1995, Ismoil was captured by Jordanian authorities in Amman
and extradited
to the United States
to stand trial in New York for his role in the bombing.
According to Ismoil's attorney, Louis Aidala, Ismoil was tricked into cooperating with the others, and had in fact loaded the explosives into the van, thinking they were cleaning supplies. However, prosecutor David Kelly noted the fingerprints of both men which had been found in a Jersey City, New Jersey
apartment where the bomb had been manufactured, telephone records, and automatic teller machine surveillance videos linking both Ismoil and Yousef to the purchase of chemicals used to create explosives.
On November 12, 1997, Ismoil, Yousef, and several other co-defendants were found guilty of conspiracy.
On April 3, 1998, Ismoil was sentenced to 240 years in prison, fined $250,000, and ordered to pay $10,000,000 in restitution. Throughout the trial, Ismoil continued to maintain his innocence, saying:
Ismoil is currently imprisoned at ADX Florence
, the United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum (ADMAX) Facility in Florence, Colorado
(inmate no. 37802-054). His scheduled date of release is August 30, 2204.
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
ian citizen who, for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, was convicted by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is a federal district court. Appeals from the Southern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (in case...
of conspiracy in 1997.
World Trade Center bombing
On February 26, 1993, Ismoil, accompanied by Yousef, drove a van packed with explosives into the parking garage below the World Trade CenterWorld Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The van exploded at 12:18 p.m., killing six people, causing numerous injuries, and inflicting an estimated five hundred million dollars worth of damage to the WTC. Ismoil fled the United States that night, as did Yousef, on a separate flight.
In August 1995, Ismoil was captured by Jordanian authorities in Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
and extradited
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to stand trial in New York for his role in the bombing.
According to Ismoil's attorney, Louis Aidala, Ismoil was tricked into cooperating with the others, and had in fact loaded the explosives into the van, thinking they were cleaning supplies. However, prosecutor David Kelly noted the fingerprints of both men which had been found in a Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
apartment where the bomb had been manufactured, telephone records, and automatic teller machine surveillance videos linking both Ismoil and Yousef to the purchase of chemicals used to create explosives.
On November 12, 1997, Ismoil, Yousef, and several other co-defendants were found guilty of conspiracy.
On April 3, 1998, Ismoil was sentenced to 240 years in prison, fined $250,000, and ordered to pay $10,000,000 in restitution. Throughout the trial, Ismoil continued to maintain his innocence, saying:
"Jail me and you will add one number to the wrong list. But don't think that you will ever rest because tyrants always end up in trouble."
Ismoil is currently imprisoned at ADX Florence
ADX Florence
The United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility is a supermax prison for men that is located in unincorporated Fremont County, Colorado, United States, south of Florence. It is unofficially known as ADX Florence, Florence ADMAX, Supermax, or The Alcatraz of the Rockies...
, the United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum (ADMAX) Facility in Florence, Colorado
Florence, Colorado
The City of Florence is a Statutory City located in Fremont County, Colorado, United States. The population was 3,653 at the 2000 census.ADX Florence, the only federal Supermax prison in the United States, is located south of Florence in an unincorporated area in Fremont County...
(inmate no. 37802-054). His scheduled date of release is August 30, 2204.