The right-hand man of the terrorist known as “Hook” pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court on Monday.
Haroon Aswat, of Yorkshire, England, copped to providing material support to al Qaeda and conspiring with prosthetic-hand-wearing criminal Abu Hamza al-Masri in 1999 and early 2000. He faces a maximum of 20 years.
Aswat, 40, said at his plea agreement that he conspired with Hamza and others to create a training camp in the rural area of Bly, Ore., in the fall of 1999.
“I traveled to Bly, Oregon, to assist Oussama Kassir in the creation of a training camp, and the training of others, who wanted to participate in jihad on behalf of a terrorist organization,” Aswat mumbled.
Aswat further testified he provided support to Hamza and other jihadists knowing they were involved in terrorism.
“At the time I understood that Abu Hamza and Kassir were associated with an Arab organization that was engaged in terrorist activity,” Aswat said. .