U.S. charges man in 1994 bombing at Argentina Jewish center that killed 85

Federal prosecutors have indicted an alleged member of the Hezbollah terrorist organization who is accused of helping to orchestrate the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Argentina that killed 85 people, officials announced Wednesday.

The attack at the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) in Buenos Aires is considered the worst act of terrorism in Argentine history.

Samuel Salman El Reda, a 58-year-old dual Colombian Lebanese citizen, allegedly held a key role in the organization, leading terrorist operations over the course of decades, the indictment says. He also allegedly helped recruit and train operatives, deploying them to places including Thailand, Panama and Peru so that they could help plan attacks and stockpile explosives and chemicals such as ammonium nitrate.

El Reda remains at large in Lebanon, and the odds of him being captured or turned over to U.S. authorities are low. The indictment was filed in New York. Because the United States has designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization, federal prosecutors have the authority to indict members of the group for certain crimes even if they did not take place in this country.

“This indictment serves as a message to those who engage in acts of terror: that the Justice Department’s memory is long, and we will not relent in our efforts to bring them to justice,” Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, who heads the department’s national security division, said in a statement.

Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim political party and militant group in Lebanon that is backed by Iran. According to the indictment, El Reda started establishing roots and developing relationships in Buenos Aires in 1987. He is accused of relaying information to Hezbollah leaders that was used to help plan and execute the deadly bombing at the Jewish center.

The investigation into the bombing has been controversial in Argentina, which accused Iran’s leaders of planning the attack and having Hezbollah carry it out. Both Iran and Hezbollah have denied involvement.

Throughout, Argentina is accused of bungling the investigation — including when it struck a deal with Iran to form a “truth commission” to probe what happened.

“The evil and horror wrought by terrorism reaches all corners of the globe,” James Smith, the FBI assistant director in charge of the New York field office, said in a statement. He said El Reda was allegedly involved in carrying out terrorist activity on Hezbollah’s behalf “throughout the world.”

El Reda is charged with conspiring to provide and providing material support to Hezbollah, aiding and abetting the receipt of military-type training from Hezbollah, and conspiring to receive military training from the terrorist organization.