New Yorker convicted for helping Hezbollah find terror targets

A New York man was convicted Thursday of providing material support to Hezbollah by seeking targets in New York City for terrorist attacks.

By Associated Press

A jury returned its verdict against Ali Kourani in Manhattan federal court after a week-long trial, convicting him of of providing material support to the Lebanon-based Hezbollah terror group.

Kourani, 34, could face life in prison at a sentencing scheduled for Sept. 27 for seeking targets in New York City for terrorist attacks.

His lawyer, Alexei Schacht, said he’ll appeal the verdict on the grounds that statements his client made to the FBI were made involuntarily in response to false promises of confidentiality.

The Bronx man has been held without bail since his June 2017 arrest on charges he sought to support Hezbollah’s Islamic Jihad organization.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said Kourani surveilled terrorism targets in New York City, including Kennedy International (JFK) Airport and law enforcement facilities including the building housing the FBI.

“Ali Kourani was recruited, trained, and deployed by Hezbollah’s Islamic Jihad Organization to plan and execute acts of terrorism in the United States. Kourani’s chilling mission was to help procure weapons and gather intelligence about potential targets in the U.S. for future Hezbollah terrorist attacks,” Berman said in a release.

Authorities said the Lebanon-born Kourani received sophisticated military training overseas at least twice, including in 2000 at age 16. They said he was trained in the use of a rocket propelled grenade.

Authorities said he came to the U.S. legally in 2003, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering in 2009 and a master’s degree in business administration in 2013.

Prosecutors said Kourani was recruited by the terrorist organization after a residence belonging to his family was destroyed during the summer 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Kourani was convicted of providing material support to Hezbollah, a terrorist organization that maintains a vast criminal network involved in narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and violent acts of terrorism.

Kourani also was convicted of other terrorism, sanctions, and immigration offenses.