Canadian authorities linked bin Laden to Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian arrested in December 1999 in the state of Washington, and later charged with plotting a bombing attack against the United States.
Ressam and three other Algerians were arrested at the Canadian-U.S. border, in New York City and Montreal. Investigators say they planned to carry out terrorist attacks during New Year's Eve celebrations in major U.S. cities.
U.S. authorities found military explosives and homemade detonators in Ressam's car and authorities said three of the arrested Algerians had received military training at bin Laden's camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
U.S. federal prosecutors have charged the four with taking part in a terrorist plot in the United States.