The terrorists of al-Qaeda rely mainly on
donations from supporters to operate, not the fortune of the organization's
founder, according to German police intelligence given in evidence Monday at a
trial in Germany, dpa reported.
A federal police officer told the court in Koblenz in Germany's west that the personal fortune, estimated at 200 million to 300 million dollars,
of Osama bin Laden, who founded al-Qaeda in 1989, must have been used up by now.
She was testifying at the trial of a man accused of membership in al-Qaeda.
Aleem N's fund-raising in Germany for the group is a central part of the
state's case. He allegedly recruited fighters, including a Moroccan-born German
national, Bekkay Harrach, who has recited threats against Germany in recent terrorist video messaages.
The trial continues. No date for a verdict has been set.