Hacker Disables More Than 100 Cars Remotely

Threat level reports more than 100 drivers in Austin, Texas found their cars disabled or the horns honking out of control, after an intruder ran amok in a web-based vehicle-immobilization system normally used to get the attention of consumers delinquent in their auto payments.

Police with Austin’s High Tech Crime Unit on Wednesday arrested 20-year-old Omar Ramos-Lopez, a former Texas Auto Center employee who was laid off last month, and allegedly sought revenge by bricking the cars sold from the dealership’s four Austin-area lots.

“We initially dismissed it as mechanical failure,” says Texas Auto Center manager Martin Garcia. “We started having a rash of up to a hundred customers at one time complaining. Some customers complained of the horns going off in the middle of the night. The only option they had was to remove the battery.”

The dealership used a system called Webtech Plus as an alternative to repossessing vehicles that haven’t been paid for. Operated by Cleveland-based Pay Technologies, the system lets car dealers install a small black box under vehicle dashboards that responds to commands issued through a central website, and relayed over a wireless pager network. The dealer can disable a car’s ignition system, or trigger the horn to begin honking, as a reminder that a payment is due. The system will not stop a running vehicle.

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Crude Bomb Found On Board Flight In S India

A security alarm was triggered Sunday when an explosive, suspected to be a crude bomb, was found on board a private airline flight in the southern state of Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram, a senior police official said.

“The crude bomb was inside a ball-shaped package found wrapped in a newspaper in the cargo compartment of Kingfisher flight IT 4731 which arrived from the neighboring city of Bangalore. Airlines staff spotted the explosive during a routine security check-up after all the 27 passengers on the small aircraft had deboarded,” the official said.

He said that the aircraft was immediately moved to the isolation bay and the bomb disposal squad was called in which defused the crude bomb by putting it in water.

A statement from Kingfisher Airlines said that the unclaimed package was found during a routine security check.

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Mumbai – Terror Attack Thwarted, Two Arrested

Indian police have arrested two men suspected of plotting a series of terror attacks in Mumbai. The pair aimed to attack a market, a shopping center and a state-owned gas facility, according to anti-terrorism officers. Police said the men had links with terror groups in Pakistan and were acting on directions from handlers there.

Vinesh Agarwal, an inspector with Mumbai’s anti-terrorism squad, said: “We believe they were taking instructions from across the border to attack three or four targets in Mumbai.”

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From CBS News

Indian police said Sunday they prevented a major terrorist strike in Mumbai by arresting two men who were preparing to attack several targets in the city, the country’s financial and entertainment hub.

K.P. Raghuvanshi, chief of Mumbai’s anti-terrorism squad, said the two Indian men – both residents of the city – had targeted a popular shopping mall, a market and a state-owned gas facility. He said Abdul Latif Rashid and Riyaz Ali were arrested late Saturday in Mumbai’s Matunga suburb.

Source

Gunman Kills One, Injures Two at Ohio State

A gunman shot three university employees early Tuesday morning on the Columbus campus of Ohio State University, killing one, Ohio State University Police told NBC News.

University police said a suspect was taken into custody after heavily armed campus officers searched the area, just east of Ohio Stadium.

via Source.

Sheppard Air Force Base On Lock Down

Wichita Falls TX – Sheppard AFB Police have confirmed to KAUZ Newschannel 6 that Sheppard Air Force Base is under lock down, and all entrances and exits have been sealed until further notice.

George Woodward, Sheppard’s Public Information Officer, tells Newschannel 6 that police apprehended a man carrying a shotgun on base.

There were no shots fired or hostages taken, he said.

All airmen have been accounted for as Sheppard continues to operate under lock down until further notice.

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CIRA and RIRA Join Ranks in Ireland – Raises Threat Level

CIRA and RIRA Join Ranks in Ireland: Threat at Highest Level Since 1998 – Jenni Hesterman

Hidden in the news last week – a 250 pound bomb exploded in front of a court house in Newry, Northern Ireland on 23 Feb.

Reminiscent of a period known as “The Troubles” when IRA bombings were a regular occurrence in the UK, police received a message from the bombers and were able to clear the area just minutes before the device went off.

Takeaways from this bombing:

- Officials in Ireland know that due to the sophistication of the bomb and other data not released to the public that the CIRA and RIRA are now sharing tactics and have “crossfertilized”.

- Police were told the bomb was set to go off in 30 minutes, the actual explosion was 17 minutes after the call. Whether this was an attempt to also target first responders is unknown, but worthy of noting.

- This is the first large car bomb attack since the deadly Omagh attack in 1998 and the bombing of a police station in 2000.

- Other smaller attacks are taking place across Northern Ireland, including a live mortar left outside of a police station last week, and a car bomb that killed a police officer. The attacks are widespread and persistent.

Why should we care about the increased terrorist activity in Ireland?

Read Full Article To Find Out

Jenni Hesterman - Counter Terror Forum

Jenni Hesterman is a retired Air Force colonel, a contributing editor for The Counter Terrorist magazine, a full professor of counter terrorism studies at American Military University and a senior Analyst for the MASY Group, a global intelligence and risk management firm.

In addition to this, she is the author of the blog: www.counterterrorforum.com and contributor to National Terror Alert.

Her blog, Counter Terror Forum highlights items of interest regarding threats to national security, terrorism, transnational crime, organized crime, and gangs.

The site also serves to support the law enforcement and intelligence community with open source reporting and analysis.

Hamas Leader Was Drugged And Suffocated To Death

The Hamas commander who was killed in his Dubai hotel room was drugged and then suffocated, police have said.

It is believe a sedative was used to relax the victim’s muscles to make his death look more natural.

Major General Khamis Mattar al-Mazeina, deputy commander of Dubai police said in a statement: “The killers used the drug succinylcholine to sedate Mahmoud al Mabhouh before they suffocated him.”

He added: “There were no signs of resistance shown by the victim.”

Mabhouh was found dead in his hotel room on January 20.Read Full Article

Man Acting Strangely On Plane at Montreal Airport Detained

Montreal police were called to Pierre Trudeau Airport after reports of a passenger acting strangely on a flight from Toronto. Montreal police say the man in his 40s was taken into custody and will be questioned by detectives.

He was pulled off the Westjet flight shortly after it arrived in Montreal. News outlet CTV reported all flights from Montreal and Toronto were temporarily grounded. Staff at Montreal airport said the only delay involved the Air Canada flight with the man taken into custody.

A fellow passenger tells LCN TV network that everyone was pulled off the plane as dogs were brought on board to sniff passengers' carry-on luggage.

Police Const. Andre Leclerc says police were hoping the man might explain his bizarre behavior on the flight.

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Woman Overstated Power of Alleged Pipe Bombs

Kimberly Al-Homsi, the Arlington woman arrested earlier this month after police found suspected pipe bombs in her pickup truck exaggerated the capabilities of the explosive devices, a Fort Worth bomb squad official said Wednesday.

Al-Homsi, 45, arrested Feb. 13 in southeast Fort Worth after a chase with police, told members of the bomb squad her truck contained highly explosive devices such as C-4 and pentaerythritol tetranitrate that were attached to pressure switches that would explode once moved.

Also, when Al-Homsi was pulled out of the truck, a remote control — later identified as garage door opener that had an antenna attached to it — fell out of the pocket of her camouflage fatigues, authorities said.Read Full Article

Thefts of 16 Propane Tanks Concern Augusta Police

This falls under the “See Something, Say Something” category. If something seems suspicious, or out of the ordinary, report it. Richmond County authorities are investigating the Sunday night theft of 16 propane gas tanks from two Wrightsboro Road businesses.

“This is something out of the ordinary,” said Sgt. Robbie Silas. “We haven’t had a lot of thefts of these kinds of items.”

Although the thieves might simply try to sell the tanks — which can be used for heating and cooking – for a profit, more sinister motives could include making drugs or using the canisters as explosive devices, Silas said.

“Being that these things are highly explosive, we have to notify Homeland Security,” he said.

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1 Dead in Shooting at Luke Air Force Base

One person is dead after he and another suspect led police on a chase onto Luke Air Force Base, police said. According to Captain Jerry Gonzalez, the suspects, while trying to ditch police, drove to Luke Air Force Base and went through one of the security gates.

A security forces officer reportedly confronted two men inside the car, previously reported stolen, said Officer Karen Gerardo, the public information officer at the Glendale Police Department.

When the officer got out of his car to try to make contact with the two men, the car drove directly at him. The officer shot at the car, which then crashed, said Gerardo.

Investigators do not suspect terrorism, said Gerardo. They don’t believe the men were anything other than car thieves, said Gonzales.

via 1 Dead in Shooting at Luke Air Force Base – Read Full Article.

Law Enforcement Gets a Lesson from Homeland Security

On the quiet streets of a small town like Jeffersen, South Dakota officials say that’s when the unexpected could happen. Bill McKelvey, Jeffersen Police Chief says, “Just because its a small area, it can happen anywhere anytime.”

Chief McKelvey is talking about terrorism, crime, and weapons of mass destruction. His concern for his community made him jump on the opportunity to have Homeland Security officials spend the day with his officers and other local law enforcement.

Rich Headid, North Sioux City Police says, “It needs to be taken seriously no matter where you are, Midwest, east coast, west coast, and if you’re not prepared its going to be a mess.”

Law enforcement gets a lesson from Homeland Security – Read Full Article

- Many big cities could also learn from Jeffersen’s example.

Cops Track Woman Who Helped Terror Suspect Headley -India

The trail of the German Bakery blast in Pune has led investigators to West Bengal and to a woman who was recruited by a local terror cell to assist 26/11 accused and US national David Coleman Headley. Investigators have found a concrete link between Headley and the Pune blast.

According to officers, Amir Raza Khan, who has been blamed for a spate of serial explosions in the country over the past few years, had teamed up with Headley to engineer the blasts, including that in Pune.

Raza is a resident of Kolkata and founder of the Amir Raza Commando Force. While he is now believed to be in Pakistan, the police say his girlfriend helped Headley establish his terror network. An investigator said the woman is still in India and was seen only two weeks ago.

“We have got information that Raza not only met Headley but also Tahawwur Rana to finalise the strategies for creating terror in India,” an officer said.

According to investigators, Raza had deputed his girlfriend to assist Headley when he was conducting reconnaissance trips across India.

“The woman, too, is from Bengal and is about 26 years old. Over the past two years, she travelled with Headley whenever he visited various Indian cities to establish his terror network. We have information that she was the one who had arranged the accommodation for Headley when he visited Ajmer, Kanpur and Delhi. At all these places, Headley stayed at hotels near local Chabad houses. For instance, in Ajmer, he took a room that was facing the Chabad House there,” an investigator said.

via Cops track woman who helped Headley: India Today – Latest Breaking News from India, World, Business, Cricket, Sports, Bollywood..

Arlington Pair Ordered Held Without Bail In Bomb Incident

A federal judge in Fort Worth has ordered two people to remain in custody without bail who were arrested last weekend in an incident that brought the bomb squad to east Fort Worth. We first reported the story here.

Arlington residents Kimberly Al-Homsi, 45, and Yasinul Ansari, 18, made their first appearance before Judge Charles Bleil on a charge of possession of an unregistered firearm.

Al-Homsi and Ansari, who reportedly is Al-Homsi’s son’s best friend, both waived their right to fight temporary detention and their right to have the charge read Tuesday afternoon in the courtroom of U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Bleil.

Both were dressed in camouflage fatigues and are expected to be held at the Mansfield Jail pending a federal indictment which could occur within the next 30 days, officials said.

On Saturday evening a motorist called 911 to say that a weapon had been pointed at him from a passing pickup truck. Arlington police tried to pull over a pickup matching the description the caller gave, but the driver refused to stop and a chase began, police said.

After about a 20-minute chase, the pickup hit a patch of ice, spun out of control and came to a stop on Rosedale beneath Loop 820 in Fort Worth.

Al-Homsi was in the truck, police said, and told officers that there were three pipe bombs in a bag located in the back seat area of her vehicle, according to a criminal complaint.

The bag was safely removed by the Fort Worth Bomb squad.

via Arlington pair ordered held without bail in Fort Worth bomb incident | News | News from ….

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