Dallas Terror Suspect’s Brother Ordered To Stay In U.S.

Interesting side-note to the Dallas terror plot that recently unfolded.  Husein Smadi, the brother of Hosam “Sam” Smadi, the Jordanian national accused of trying to blow up a Dallas skyscraper, will not be immediately deported, a federal judge has ruled.

U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn has ordered that Smadi’s brother, Husein Smadi, 18, who is in the country illegally, be temporarily detained as a material witness in his brother’s terrorism case.

Lynn issued the order Friday at the request of Hosam Smadi’s federal public defenders, who feared that Husein Smadi would be deported and unavailable to their client at his trial.

“Husein Smadi is a necessary, favorable and material witness for Hosam Smadi in this case,” according to an affidavit written by Dan James, chief investigator for the public defender’s office for the Northern District of Texas.

Although the defense team requested that Husein Smadi be held until his brother’s case is over, the judge ruled that he be detained by the U.S. marshals only through Oct. 27, giving the defense team time to depose him.

Federal Public Defender Rich

via Source.

Alleged Texas Terror Suspect Made Video For Bin Laden

No details yet, however CNN reports alleged Texas terrorism suspect Hosam Smadi recorded a seven-minute video message for al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden sometime before his arrest on charges of plotting to blow up a Downtown Dallas building, according to Monday’s testimony from an FBI agent.

No details of the message were provided in court. But FBI Special Agent Thomas Petrowski said the video was recorded in a hotel room with the assistance of undercover FBI operatives and Smadi intended for it to be delivered to or seen by bin Laden, the fugitive leader of the terrorist network behind the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.

Smadi, a 19-year-old Jordanian living in the United States illegally, is charged with plotting to set off a bomb at the base of the 60-story Fountain Plaza office tower in downtown Dallas. He was arrested September 24 after federal agents said he tried to trigger an improvised bomb attached to a vehicle at the base of the building.

Source.

Contrasting Portrait of Texas Bomb Plot Suspect Emerges

The New York Times takes a look at the contrasting portrait of Hosam Maher Husein Smadi that has begun to emerge. Smadi is the 19 year old Jordanian who was arrested last week for allegedly placing what he thought was a bomb, outside a 60 story Fountain Place skyscraper in downtown Dallas, Texas.

This is an interesting backgrounder. The big takeaway from this regardless of if Smadi is found guilty or innocent, is that those planning terrorist attacks will do all they can to blend in and appear to be just like everyone else.

From The New York Times

When he first arrived in the United States, Mr. Smadi stayed with Hana Elrabodi, a retired Jordanian businessman in San Jose, Calif., who knew his family, said Mr. Elrabodi’s wife, Temina. He stayed with the family for only three weeks, until Mr. Elrabodihelped him find a job at a restaurant. Mr. Smadi slept in a room above the restaurant, Mrs. Elrabodi said.

Friends in Texas said Mr. Smadi had told them that he had lived with his younger brother, Hussein, in California, and had attended school there but dropped out. He told them he had left California after a fire in his brother’s apartment. He came to Texas, friends said, at the invitation of a Syrian-born man, Tamer Kadah, who manages the Texas Best Smokehouse here and offered him a job as a cashier.

Ms. Duron, his wife, said that Mr. Smadi regularly worked 70 hours a week to rack up $500 paychecks and that he received money from his father as well.

David South, Mr. Smadi’s landlord, said the young man arrived in April 2008 and passed a criminal background check. He was a model tenant until about six weeks before his arrest, when he stopped paying rent, Mr. South said. He was to be evicted last week.

Neighbors said Mr. Smadi moved out of the tiny cottage, which looks like a giant overturned bowl, late on Sept. 21, three days before his arrest. In recent weeks, he had visitors late at night who blocked the driveway with their cars. And one day, he would not let his closest friends enter his cottage.

Read Full Article

FBI Arrests Man Trying To Place Bomb Near Fountain Place Skyscraper

Dallas Police have arrested Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, a 19-year-old Jordanian citizen after he allegedly placed a device described as an inactive car bomb near a skyscraper in downtown Dallas. Breaking reports say Smadi was charged with “attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.”

Apparently according to news reports, Smadi had been under FBI surveillance for some time after expressing “his desire to commit violent jihad” numerous times.

FBI says agents arrested Smadi after he placed what he thought was a bomb at the base of Fountain Place, a 60-story skyscraper located in downtown Dallas.

- Updated headline. Device was placed near Fountain Place Skyscraper.

FBI Press Release

See the Complaint/Warrant Here

James T. Jacks, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, and Robert E. Casey, Jr., Special Agent in Charge for the Dallas Office of the FBI, announced today that Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, 19, has been arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Smadi, who was under continuous surveillance by the FBI, was arrested today near Fountain Place, a 60-story glass office tower located at 1445 Ross Avenue in downtown Dallas, after he placed an inert/inactive car bomb at the location. Smadi, a Jordanian citizen in the U.S. illegally, lived and worked in Italy, Texas. He has repeatedly espoused his desire to commit violent Jihad and has been the focus of an undercover FBI investigation.

“The highest priority of the FBI and the Department of Justice remains the prevention of another terrorist attack within the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Jacks. “In that effort, it is the job of the FBI to locate and identify individuals intent upon carrying out any type of attack upon this country and its citizens/residents. Whether as part of a group or acting alone, persons contemplating such acts need to know that all components of the government are working together to ferret out their activities and to insure that such individuals face the full measure of the law. The identification and apprehension of this defendant, who was acting alone, is a sobering reminder that there are people among us who want to do us grave harm,” Jacks continued.

Special Agent in Charge Casey said, “Today’s arrest of Hosam Maher Husein Smadi underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to bring to justice persons who attempt to bring harm to citizens of this country and significant danger to this community. Smadi made a decision to act to commit a significant conspicuous act of violence under his banner of “self Jihad.” He will now face justice. The many agents, detectives, analysts and prosecutors who helped to bring about Thursday’s arrest deserve special thanks for their efforts. This case serves as a reminder of the continuing threats of terrorism we face as a nation and the FBI’s resolve to meet those threats. The arrest of Smadi is not in any way related to the ongoing terror investigation in New York and Colorado.”

“The criminal complaint alleges that Hosam Smadi sought and attempted to bomb the Fountain Place office tower, but a coordinated undercover law enforcement action was able to thwart his efforts and ensure no one was harmed,” said David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.

Smadi will make his initial appearance tomorrow in U.S. District Court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma C. Ramirez.

According to affidavits filed today with the complaint and search warrants:

Smadi was discovered by the FBI espousing his desire to commit significant acts of violence. Smadi stood out because of his vehement intention to actually conduct terror attacks in the U.S.

The FBI developed an investigative plan to determine Smadi’s true intent while also protecting the public’s safety. Smadi made clear his intention to serve as a soldier for Usama Bin Laden and al-Qa’ida, and to conduct violent Jihad. Undercover FBI agents, posing as members of an al-Qa’ida “sleeper” cell, were introduced to Smadi, who repeatedly indicated to them that he came to the U.S. for the specific purpose of committing “Jihad for the sake of God.” Smadi clarified that he was interested in “self-Jihad,” because it was “the best type of Jiihad.” Smadi was interested in violent Jihad against those he deemed to be enemies of Islam. The investigation determined Smadi was not associated with other terrorist organizations.

Throughout the investigation, undercover FBI agents repeatedly encouraged Smadi to reevaluate his interpretation of Jihad, counseling him that the obligations a Moslem has to perform Jihad can be satisfied in many ways. Every time this interaction occurred, Smadi aggressively responded that he was going to commit significant, conspicuous acts of violence as his Jihad.

In June 2009, Smadi identified potential targets in the Dallas area; but in mid-July, he notified an undercover FBI agent that he had changed his mind regarding the targets. On July 21, 2009, Smadi met with an undercover FBI agent and directed the agent to drive them to a Wells Fargo Bank in downtown Dallas. Smadi and the undercover FBI agent then drove to 1445 Ross Avenue where the Fountain Place office tower is located. A Wells Fargo Bank is located in that building. Smadi went into the building where he conducted his own reconnaissance.

In late August 2009, while meeting with one of the undercover FBI agents in Dallas, Smadi discussed the logistics and timing of the bombing, stating that he would have preferred to do the attack on “11 September,” but decided to wait until after the month of Ramadan, which ended on September 20, 2009. At the conclusion of the meeting, Smadi decided that a vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) would be placed at the foundation of the Fountain Place office tower. Unbeknownst to Smadi, the FBI ensured the VBIED contained only an inert/inactive explosive device which contained no explosive materials.

A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offenses charged, and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge. A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. The offense of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction carries, upon conviction, a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case is being investigated by the FBI in conjunction with members of the FBI-sponsored North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson is in charge of the prosecution. The Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division is assisting in the prosecution.