Spanish Police Arrest Canadian Man Allegedly Linked To Islamic Terrorism

MADRID, Spain (AP) _ Spanish police have arrested a Canadian man suspected of helping finance Islamist terrorist activities, authorities said Monday. <br/><br/>Brian David Anderson, 61, is wanted by U.S.

Monday, March 12th 2007, 7:54 pm

By: News On 6

MADRID, Spain (AP) _ Spanish police have arrested a Canadian man suspected of helping finance Islamist terrorist activities, authorities said Monday.

Brian David Anderson, 61, is wanted by U.S. authorities for fraud and is believed to have helped finance a training camp in Afghanistan, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. He was arrested in a Madrid hotel thanks to joint collaboration with the FBI, the ministry said.

It said Anderson is thought to be linked to a New York businessman, Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari, 53, who was charged last month with terrorism financing, material support of terrorism and money laundering. Alishtari has pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said in Washington that his buro worked with international law enforcement and intelligence community partners to locate and arrest Anderson. He added that the investigation is continuing.

Alishtari donated $20,000 in 2003 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the campaign arm for Republican senators, and more than $15,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee, the campaign arm for Republican House members.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee said last month it was donating the money to a foundation that provides housing for families of wounded soldiers on the grounds of military and Veterans' Administration hospitals.

Jessica Boulanger, a spokeswoman for the NRCC, said the committee is awaiting the outcome of Alishtari's case, and if he is found guilty, the money it received would be donated to charity.