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al-Qaida defrauding European ATM users to raise cash

December 13, 2004

Washington Times: Proceeds from debit card thefts in Europe are funding Muslim terror group al-Qaida, reported the Scotsman newspaper.

Jean-Louis Brugiere, France's top anti-terrorism judge, said radical Islamic cells in Europe are using sophisticated equipment to "clone" the card details of ATM users, then creating fake cards and using them to withdraw hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Authorities have arrested 10 suspected Islamic militants for allegedly withdrawing about $100,000 per month from cash machines in European countries.