al Shabaab – Terror Group Linked To al Qaeda May Target U.S.
October 2, 2009 by Homeland Security NTARC News
Filed under Homeland Security News
al Shabaab, the al Qaeda linked terror group made up primarily of Somali Islamists, appears to no longer be satisfied committing acts of terror in Somalia alone and according to a Fox news report, could be setting it’s sites on attacking the U.S.
From Fox News
They could strike the United States. That grim assessment is the first time the FBI director or any other senior law enforcement or intelligence official has stated on the record that the Al Qaeda-linked group al-Shabaab is no longer content to strike within the East African nation of Somalia.
During a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, FBI Director Robert Mueller was asked if members of al-Shabaab, which translates as “mujahideen youth,” would send American recruits back to the U.S. to launch attacks.
“I would think that we have seen some information that the leaders would like to undertake operations outside of Somalia,” Mueller told the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
Mueller said he is “absolutely” concerned that Americans who traveled to Somalia to train as terrorists would have U.S. legal status and would therefore be able to return to the United States and carry out attacks.
A U.S. counterterrorism official told FOX News that al-Shabaab has exploded since 2006, and it is becoming a full-fledged Al Qaeda affiliate, similar to Al Qaeda in Iraq. Initially the group’s militias fought against the Somali government and Ethopian forces who are against an Islamic state in East Africa, the official said, but now the group’s focus is turning toward the establishment of a “caliphate” or broad Islamic state not limited to Africa.
FBI: Uzair Ali Hashmi Made Up Terrorist Encounter Story
August 15, 2009 by national
Filed under Homeland Security News
A Chicago man has been indicted on charges that he made up a story about being approached and recruited by terrorists. Uzair Ali Hashmi, 20, was indicted Wednesday on three charges of making false statements to the FBI about possible terrorism activity, leading to an investigation that determined it was a hoax, according to a Friday release from the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Hashmi is scheduled to be arraigned at 10 a.m. on Wednesday of next week, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Milton Shadur at the Dirksen Federal Building.
According to the indictment, Hashmi told FBI agents on July 28 that he had been approached by an individual who asked whether he carried a firearm and was proficient with firearms; asked his opinion about “homegrown jihad” in the United States; suggested he join “God’s military;” and asked whether he was familiar with downtown Chicago.
On July 29, according to the indictment, Hashmi told agents a second individual approached him and said he would find something near the trash cans in the alley behind his home. On the same day, the FBI said he gave them a fabricated letter, which read in part:
“[Y]ou are the exact person we have been looking for.”
“Our job here is to carry out ‘the mission’ of giving the nonbelievers what they deserve.”
“You seem to have the drive it will take to inflict damage to where it will hurt most. This is your calling to Jihad my brother. You have a key roles in our Operation.”
“We . . . do not have much time till our operation in completed.”
“We will be in touch with you soon.”
