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Uzbek Refugee Charged With Aiding Terrorists Begins U.S. Trial


Sixteen jurors were selected on July 13 on the first day of a U.S. trial of an Uzbek refugee charged with supporting a terrorist organization.

Fazliddin Kurbanov, a Russian-speaking truck driver who fled Uzbekistan in 2009, was arrested in 2013 by U.S. authorities who said he was teaching people to build bombs to target public transportation and other targets.

Law enforcement say they found a hollow hand grenade, fuse, ammunition, and explosive components when they searched his apartment in Boise, Idaho. Also seized were numerous hard drives, computers, and phones.

Prosecutors say Kurbanov traveled the western United States assisting the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, a militant group in his native country. They say he conspired to provide computer software, money, and other resources to the group, which the United States has identified as a terrorist organization.

The 32-year-old has denied all of the allegations.

Opening arguments in the trial, which is expected to last about six weeks, begin on July 14.

Based on reporting by AP and KTVB.com

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