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UPDATE WITH DETAILS:

PORTLAND - A Hillsboro man is the latest from our area to be charged with terrorism related crimes.
Mike Hawash, 39, an independent contractor who had been working for Intel was charged this morning with "conspiracy to levy war against the United States, conspiracy to provide material support and resources to al Qaeda, and conspiracy to contribute services to al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Federal authorities allege Hawash, who has been detained for more than a month, joined members of the 'Portland Six' in an attempt to enter Afghanistan and take part in a jihad against US troops.

The complaint states that Hawash left the United States on October 24, 2001 and flew to Hong Kong, where he joined Jeffrey Battle, Patrice Ford, Muhammad Bilal, Ahmed Bilal, and Habis Al Saoub, and entered into China.

According to the complaint, Hawash claimed that his travel to China was related to his personal software business.

The complaint alleges that Hawash traveled with other defendants to several provinces in western China and also to Beijing in an attempt to enter Afghanistan.

Federal authorities believe Hawash stayed at the same hotels in China on at least three occassions:

at the Shan Cheng Hotel in Urumqi
at the Chini Bagh Guest House in Kashgar in October 2001
at the Jing Hua Hotel in Beijing.
According to federal officials, Hawash shared a hotel room with Jeffrey Battle while the group stated in Kashgar.

The complaint states that Hawash returned the US in November 2001 after his unsuccessful attempt to enter Afghanistan.

On October 3, 2002, a federal grand jury in Oregon charged Battle, Ford, the Bilal brothers, Al Saoub, and October Martinique Lewis with the same charges filed against Hawash today. All but Al Saoub are in custody, and are scheduled for trial October 1, 2003.

Al Saoub remains a fugitive overseas.

Statement from the Justice Dept.

http://www.katu.com/hawash_release.pdf