A 41-year-old American national believed to be affiliated with the terrorist group Al Qaeda was this afternoon put on a plane and sent back to the U.S. State of Washington after being detained in Belize City. Acting on information, sometime around midnight last night police detained 41-year-old Ernest James Thompson also known as Ernest James Ujaama in the area of Faber's road and Central American Boulevard. Police say Ujaama entered the country about 10 days ago with a Mexican passport. Assistant Commissioner of Police Edwardo Wade and U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in Belize Leonard Hill explain Ujaama's detention.
Edwardo Wade, Assistant Commissioner of Police
"This person is wanted in respect to some criminal in the United States, he is a fugitive and also as it relates to his affiliation with some international terrorist activities. Police conducted an investigation and some time around midnight or so last night, or earlier this morning, this fugitive was apprehended here in Belize City and has since been taken out of the country. He entered Belize about ten days or so ago using a Mexican passport."
Leonard Hill, U.S. Embassy
"He was originally arrested in 2002 in connection with plots in the United States to poison water supplies and to do a number of other things. He subsequently pleaded guilty to charges involving dealing with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and providing various kinds of material support to the Taliban as well in Afghanistan. I think he was trying to flee the United States, that much is for certain. Beyond that we don't know."
Alfonso Noble,
Was the U.S. government tracking this man and that is the reason why information came that he was in Belize?
Leonard Hill,
"There some tips that originated from the United States. The police did a lot of excellent police work in following up leads and doing an investigation. They eventually located the gentleman here in Belize City."
Ujaama had served time in the U.S. for his affiliation with the Al Quaeda but was out on parole which he broke. He is expected to receive other charges upon his arrival in the U.S. but those were not disclosed today.
