Minn. lawyer denied access to terror suspect
A Minnesota law professor and advocate for Somali immigrants in the state says he was denied access to a Minneapolis man who is being held on terrorism charges in the Netherlands.
William Mitchell College of Law professor Peter Erlinder says he traveled to the Netherlands last week with hopes of meeting with 43-year-old Mohamud Said Omar, who is being held in isolation at Vucht prison.
Erlinder says he was told after he arrived that he would not be given access due to the nature of the case. Omar is accused of financing the purchase of weapons for Islamic militants and helping others travel to Somalia in 2007 and 2008.
Erlinder is now home. He says before he left he arranged for Dutch lawyers to represent Omar. Erlinder says he will return once he's guaranteed access.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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