Man Linked to Suspicious Bridge Videotaping Released on Bond

The Virginia man picked up after his wife was seen suspiciously videotaping Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Bridge was released from custody Monday after a $1 million bond was posted. Although he was originally questioned Aug. 20 about the bridge videotaping, Ismael Selim Elbarasse was detained until Monday because federal prosecutors have named him as a material witness and an un-indicted co-conspirator in their investigation of Hamas-related terrorist financing operations in the United States. Elbarasse is due to appear before a grand jury in Chicago that has already indicted three individuals for participating in a terrorist recruiting and financing cell. On Aug. 20, Elbarasse and his wife were spotted in their SUV by two Baltimore County, Md., police officers. Elbarasse's wife was reportedly videotaping the 4.3 mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the main span that connects Maryland's Eastern Shore to the Baltimore, Washington D.C. area. The couple also allegedly tried to hide the video camera when confronted by authorities. [more ]