SPANISH
authorities
are
seeking
the
extradition
of
a
German-based
Syrian
businessman
suspected
of
helping
Osama
Bin
Laden
buy
a
ship,
write
Peter
Conradi
and
Justin
Sparks.
Marmoun
Darkanzali,
46,
believed
to
have
been
close
to
several
of
the
hijackers
on
September
11,
2001,
is
alleged
to
have
helped
the
Al-Qaeda
leader
with
the
purchase
of
a
freighter.
A
source
close
to
German
intelligence
named
the
ship
as
Jennifer
and
said
it
had
been
bought
in
1993.
Spanish
authorities
claimed
Darkanzali
had
been
an
important
figure,
providing
logistical
and
financial
support
to
Bin
Laden
in
Britain,
Spain
and
Germany
since
1997.
Darkanzali
was
first
arrested
in
2001
but
released.
He
has
been
under
investigation
for
some
time
by
German
federal
prosecutors.
He
was
arrested
in
Hamburg
on
Friday
on
a
Spanish
international
warrant.
It
was
not
clear
to
what
use
Bin
Laden
would
have
put
the
vessel
but
there
has
long
been
speculation
that
Al-Qaeda
has
been
amassing
a
fleet
to
raise
money
and
for
use
in
attacks.
German
prosecutors
said
Darkanzali
will
contest
the
extradition.
In
the
past
he
has
denied
any
links
with
Al-Qaeda.
He
faces
up
to
12
years
in
jail
in
Spain
if
convicted
of
charges
of
membership
of
a
terrorist
organisation
