German Police Seek Terror Suspect In Afghanistan

If this is your first time visiting National Terror Alert you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. The National terror Alert feed features breaking news, alerts and bulletins on demand and it's free of charge..
You will only see this message on your first visit to the site. Thanks for visiting!

Germany’s federal police are reported to have taken an unusual step of distributing posters in Afghanistan, warning of a German terrorism suspect thought to be hiding in one of the tribal areas.

Authorities have identified a 27-year-old German convert to Islam as the al-Qaida associate suspected of traveling to Afghanistan and planning to attack German targets

According to the report, red-framed posters have been placed in the capital Kabul and other Afghan cities, alerting people to the 27-year-old Muslim convert known as “Jan Sch.”, whom the poster describes as possibly “violent and armed”.

The Kazakhstan-born German from Saarland is believed to be hiding in the remote border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan and is suspected of having links to terror network Al-Qaida.

His targets could be German military bases or civilian reconstruction facilities, the report said.

The federal police (BKA) have aimed the posters at international forces in the war-torn country and have therefore put them up mostly at security checkpoints and facilities where foreigners work.

Jan Sch. is regarded by German anti-terrorism officials as part of the so-called “Sauerland group”, led by another convert, Fritz Gelowicz, who was caught along with three co-conspirators while planning a major terrorist attack in Germany in 2007.

via Sourcel.

Brother Defends Alleged Terror Suspect On Facebook

The family of alleged terror suspect Tarek Mehanna is proclaiming his innocence and turning to Facebook to get the family’s message out.

From WCVB TV 5 Boston

Tamer Mehanna said his brother, Tarek, was set-up by federal agents with false and ludicrous accusations because of his constant refusal to tell lies about the Muslim community as an FBI informant.

“Free Tarek Mehanna” is the official and public Facebook site for people who believe in his innocence.

His brother says Mehanna refused a year’s worth of FBI attempts to make the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy graduate a confidential informant.

Read Full Article

The Case Against Alleged Terror Suspect Tarek Mehanna

Alleged terror suspect Tarek Mehanna, arrested earlier this week, plotted to attack Americans at a shopping mall according to the FBI. Failing at that,it is alleged he turned to cyber attacks.

Frustrated at failing in his travels overseas to locate a terrorist training camp, a Massachusetts man returned home in 2003 to begin plotting a domestic terror attack. Thrilled by the 9/11 attacks and impressed by the success of the Washington, D.C., snipers in terrorizing the public in late 2002, Tarek Mehanna and several friends began planning an attack on a shopping mall, a Federal Bureau of Investigation complaint alleges.

In “multiple conversations, discussions, and preparation,” Tarek Mehanna, a student living at home with his parents in Sudbury, Mass., discussed with three other men how to “obtain automatic weapons, go to a shopping mall, and randomly shoot people,” according to the federal criminal complaint filed in a US district court Wednesday.

The trio – Mehanna, Ahmad Abousamra, and an unnamed informant – debated logistics, types of weapons needed, the number of attackers needed, how to coordinate the attack, and how to attack emergency responders, the FBI says.

via Read Full Article.

Najibullah Zazi, From Smiling Face at Coffee Cart to Terror Suspect

To many, Najibullah Zazi was a familiar face on Stone Street in Lower Manhattan, serving pastries and coffee to the morning rush hour crowd near Wall St. No one could have guessed that this was the same person who would one day be an alleged terror suspect in a plot that would possibly rival 9/11, if carried out.

The NY Times takes a look at the background and life of Najibullah Zazi

For many on Wall Street — young, old, all in a hurry, the charging bulls of Bowling Green — his was the first hello of the day. Affable and rooted, he lived for 10 years in the same apartment with his family in Flushing, Queens. His father drove a cab for more than 15 years.

He was, in other words, no brooding outcast, no sheltered, suggestible loner raised in a closed community.

He was the smiling man who remembered a customer liked his coffee large, light and sweet. He had a “God Bless America” sign on his cart. He was the doughnut man.

But prosecutors say Mr. Zazi, 24, who worked blocks from ground zero, was just as furtive an operative as the Sept. 11 hijackers when he traveled to Pakistan last year for terrorism training and returned to the United States with a plan to build bombs using beauty supplies and backpacks.

via Read Article – NYTimes.com.

Quantico Marine Base Targeted By Alleged Terror Suspects

Additional charges were filed today against alleged North Carolina terror suspects Daniel Patrick Boyd and Hysen Sherifi. Indictments were handed sown charging the two with allegedly plotting to kill U.S. Marines at the Quantico, Va., Military base.

DOJ Press Release

Today, a federal grand jury returned a superseding criminal indictment in the Daniel Patrick Boyd matter.

While the superseding indictment returned today includes all of the charges alleged in the original indictment of July 22, 2009, it also includes new charges against three defendants, Daniel Patrick Boyd, aka “Saifullah,” Hysen Sherifi, and Zakariya Boyd, aka “Zak.”

First, the superseding indictment charges Daniel Patrick Boyd, aka “Saifullah,” and Hysen Sherifi with conspiring to murder U.S. military personnel, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1117. The superseding indictment alleges, among other things, that in furtherance of this agreement, Boyd undertook reconnaissance of the Marine Corps Base located in Quantico, Va., and obtained maps of the base in order to plan an attack on Quantico. According to the superseding indictment, Boyd possessed armor piercing ammunition, stating it was “to attack the Americans.” A conviction for conspiring to violate Title 18, United States Code, Section 1117 has a maximum penalty of imprisonment for any term of years or life, and/or a $250,000 fine, followed by five years of supervised release.

Second, Boyd, Sherifi, and Zakariya Boyd, aka “Zak,” are also charged with possession of weapons in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). These section 924(c) charges are separate from, and in addition to, the section 924(c) charges alleged in the original indictment. A violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), carries a maximum penalty of no less than five years in prison nor more than life, a $250,000 fine or both fine and imprisonment, and up to five years of supervised release following imprisonment. If any of the defendants are convicted for more than one of the section 924(c) charges alleged by the grand jury, the minimum term of imprisonment rises to 25 years, to run consecutively to any other sentence.

Third, Daniel Boyd is also charged with the providing a Ruger mini 14 rifle and, on a separate date, .223 ammunition, to a convicted felon, each in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(d). If convicted, Boyd faces up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and three years supervised release on each of these charges.

U.S. Attorney George E.B. Holding commented: “These additional charges hammer home the grim reality that today’s homegrown terrorists are not limiting their violent plans to locations overseas, but instead are willing to set their sights on American citizens and American targets, right here at home.”

“The events over the course of the week should serve as a reminder that there are those at home and abroad who continue to plot to cause harm to U.S. citizens. The FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement and intelligence community partners will continue working tirelessly to prevent that from happening,” said Owen D. Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the Charlotte Division of the FBI.

“NCIS investigative efforts in support of the FBI’s investigation centered on protecting Marine Corps personnel assigned to MCB Quantico during Mr. Boyd’s alleged activities. These efforts were closely coordinated and supported by MCB Quantico Command to insure the safety of military and civilian personnel aboard the base. This case represents the close coordination between NCIS and FBI in addressing terrorism issues that may impact the operational readiness of the U.S. military.”

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

Terror Suspect Had Bomb Guide, Handwritten Notes

The central figure in what authorities describe as a widening inquiry into a possible plot to detonate explosives in the United States had been trained in weapons and explosives in Pakistan and, according to court papers released Sunday, had made nine pages of handwritten notes on how to make and handle bombs.

The court papers, released after the arrests in Colorado of Najibullah Zazi and his father, as well as that of an imam in Queens, showed that during a search in New York of the younger Mr. Zazi’s rental car on Sept. 11, agents found a laptop computer containing an image of the notes. According to a criminal complaint, the notes “contain formulations and instructions regarding the manufacture and handling of initiating explosives, main explosives charges, explosives detonators and components of a fusing system.”

Read Full Article – NYTimes.com.

Najibullah Zazi, Alleged Terror Plot Suspect Arrested By FBI

Fox31 reports an arrest has been made in the FBI terror case that involves Aurora resident Najibullah Zazi. At 9:30 p.m. 15 to 20 law enforcement cars swarmed into the parking lot of Zazi’s Aurora apartment near E. Smokey hill road and E-470.

Both Zazi and his father were removed from the apartment in handcuffs. Authorities have not indicated what the two men are being charged with. Earlier in the evening Zazi’s lawyer spokesperson Wendy Aiello told FOX 31 “we have not been contacted by the FBI.”

Najibullah Zazi was supposed to report to the Federal Building in Denver Saturday morning but opted not to for unclear reasons.

Read Full Article Fox31

From CNN Wire

CNN is reporting FBI agents late Saturday arrested Najibullah Zazi, a 24-year-old Colorado resident and Afghan national suspected in an alleged terrorist plot in the United States. The report says the arrest came as authorities raided Zazi’s home in Aurora Colorado

Source‘

9News In Colorado Reports:

The FBI has arrested Najibullah Zazi and his father at their apartment. The arrests happened at about 9:40 p.m. Saturday night. NBC justice correspondent Pete Williams tells 9NEWS that the charges will not likely be terrorism charges but may be a lesser charge that involves lying to a federal investigator.

Read Full Article at 9NEWS

Developing….

Terror Suspect’s Computer Shows Sports Stadiums, Fashion Sites

ABC News is reporting that law enforcement officials tell them a computer belonging to alleged al Qaeda suspect Najibullah Zazi showed he had researched baseball and football stadiums and sites used in the recent Fashion Week event in New York City.

ABC News reports officials said they aren’t sure what locations might have been targeted, but information found on Zazi’s computer may provide a window into what he might have been planning. They reportedly also found a text message that said “wedding cake is ready,” which may have been a signal about preparations for an attack.

Source – Fox News

Zazi, 24, had been scheduled to spend a fourth day today being questioned by the FBI but his lawyer, Arthur Folsom, canceled the session , according to the news report.

“He has taken the day to consult with his client,” said Wendy Aiello, a spokeswoman for the lawyer. Zazi is not in custody, she said.

While officials say they do not know the targets of the alleged plot, the contents of Zazi’s computer are considered a valuable insight into what he might have been planning.

Read Full Story

Top Terror Suspect Freed Over Secrets Fear – UK

The Home Secretary has released a man regarded as one of Britain’s most dangerous terror suspects from virtual house arrest to avoid disclosing secret evidence against him, The Times has learned. The man, known only as AF, has been subject to a controversial “control order” since 2006 because of his alleged links with Islamic terrorists. He has never been charged, however, and the evidence for the allegations has never been heard in a public court.

The control order was revoked last week and the suspect’s electronic tag removed, setting him free in spite of the Government’s claim that he remains a threat.

Lord Pannick, QC, who led the legal team acting for the man in the House of Lords, said: “The Home Secretary has some explaining to do. Does he now accept that there was no need for the control order which imposed severe restrictions on AF . . . or does he still think there is a need for controls but is unwilling to provide details of the allegations against AF? If the latter, does he accept that the control order regime is defective and should be scrapped?”

AF, who has dual Libyan and British nationality, was one of three terror suspects who won a landmark ruling from nine law lords in July that their detention under the control order regime was illegal. The law lords ruled that the suspects had been denied a fair hearing prior to detention because they had not been told sufficient details of the case against them.

The ruling paved the way for up to 20 men held under the regime to challenge their detention and to seek to know the basis of the case against them.

via Top terror suspect is freed over secrets fear – Times Online.

FBI Seeks Publics Help In Locating Terror Suspect

The FBI is asking for the public’s help in finding the eighth person in a suspected terrorism ring working out of the Raleigh area.

The feds say Jude Kenan Mohammad has been indicted on charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.

The 20-year-old Mohammad, and seven other men were indicted on July 22nd.

Documents say Mohammad is a U.S. citizen and North Carolina resident who went to Pakistan in October 2008 “to engage in violent jihad”.

Mohammad’s name had been redacted from court papers when the documents were released earlier this month. Prosecutors have said they hope to have Mohammad in custody soon.

The indictment says eight North Carolina men plotted terrorism and traveled over the past three years to Jordan, Kosovo, Pakistan and Israel “to engage in violent jihad.”

If you have any information please call 704-377-9200

Bomb Plot Terror Suspect Confesses In German Court

The main defendant in a trial of four Islamic militants accused of planning major bomb attacks on U.S. targets in Germany confessed to the charges in court on Monday.
Fritz Gelowicz, a German convert to Islam, said his group planned attacks in Europe as early as 2006 while training along the Pakistani-Iranian border, and chose targets in Germany as it was the country with which they were most familiar.

Wearing faded jeans, sneakers, and a full beard, Gelowicz told the packed court the group had aimed to strike at U.S. power abroad.

“We wanted to pick targets where there were mostly U.S. soldiers,” said Gelowicz.

Read Full Article

Feds Name 8th North Carolina Terror Suspect

Jude Kenan Mohammad was confirmed this afternoon to be the eighth member of a group of terrorism suspects arrested last week and accused of plotting “violent jihad” overseas.

He is being considered a fugitive by the FBI and is not in the custody of American officials.

Mohammad, 20, a high-school dropout who grew up in Wake County, was arrested last year in Pakistan after he strayed into a tribal area off-limits to foreigners. He had told his family he was going to live and work with his father, who runs a store in Peshawar.

Mohammad’s name was linked to the group immediately after their arrests last Monday and several news outlets reported he was the eighth suspect, resting on unnamed sources. His name was redacted from the indictment under late Monday afternoon when it was unsealed by a judge.

In the indictment, Mohammad is accused of traveling to Pakistan in October 2008 to “engage in violent jihad. No other details are given.

Feds Seek 8th Terror Suspect In North Carolina

New details are emerging after the arrest of what federal officials say was a terror cell in Johnston County.

Federal prosecutors now say an eighth suspect who went to Pakistan last year is still being sought.

Daniel Patrick Boyd, 39, Mohammad Omar Aly Hassan, 22, Ziyad Yaghi, 21, and four others, including Boyd’s sons, were all taken into custody by federal investigators. They are all charged with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and conspiring to murder, kidnap, maim and injure persons abroad.

The justice department says Boyd received military-style training in terrorist training camps and worked to recruit others.

They say some of the men even practiced military tactics and the use of weapons on private property in Caswell County.

Read Full Article

Charity Worker, Orphanage Owner Hunted in Bangladesh For Running Islamic Terror Training Camp

UPDATE: Faisal Mostafa, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, who was acquitted in 2002 of being part of an al-Qaeda bomb plot, was arrested on Wednesday night in Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, an officer said.

Captain Shafiul Alam, of the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), told The Times that Dr Mostafa, 45, who has a chemistry degree and a PhD in metals corrosion, was detained along with his “agent”, a Bangladeshi citizen. “They are charged with illegally keeping arms, explosive and ammunition, and with militancy and terrorism.”

——

A British charity worker twice cleared of terror charges in this country is being hunted in Bangladesh after explosives were seized at an orphanage he founded.
Security forces there claimed last night that the orphanage set up by Dr Faisal Mostafa, from Stockport, was in fact an arms factory and terrorist training camp.
Mostafa ran Green Crescent, a charity that provided humanitarian aid to families in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The Charity Commission, which awarded it charity status in 2004, last night launched an inquiry. Its chief executive, Andrew Hind, said: ‘The matter is of serious concern to us.’Mostafa, who has a PhD in chemistry from Manchester Polytechnic, was known to security forces in Britain, having been cleared of conspiracy to cause explosions with intent to endanger life at Birmingham Crown Court in 2002.

Six years earlier, he had been cleared at Manchester Crown Court of involvement in a bomb plot campaign.In July last year he was caught at Manchester Airport trying to board a plane to Bangladesh with a pistol and bullet parts in his luggage.The father-of-three was given a suspended sentence. On Monday Bangladeshi security forces raided the orphanage Mostafa set up and the attached Muslim school on the remote island of Bhola in South Bangladesh.

In July last year he was caught at Manchester Airport trying to board a plane to Bangladesh with a pistol and bullet parts in his luggage.

The father-of-three was given a suspended sentence. On Monday Bangladeshi security forces raided the orphanage Mostafa set up and the attached Muslim school on the remote island of Bhola in South Bangladesh.

Lieutenant Colonel Munir Haque, from the Rapid Action Battalion, said: ‘We found small arms about nine or 10 in total plus equipment to make small arms, about 3,000 rounds of ammunition, two walkie-talkies, two remote control devices and four sets of army uniforms.

Source

Next Page »