4 terrorists arrested in shocking plot to destroy JFK airport via fuel line explosion

[hellokeith]

Link

By ADAM GOLDMAN, Associated Press Writer
June 02, 2007
3:42pm ET

NEW YORK - A suspected terrorist cell planned a "chilling" attack to destroy John F. Kennedy International Airport, kill thousands of people and trigger an economic catastrophe by blowing up a jet fuel artery that runs through populous residential neighborhoods, authorities said Saturday.

Three men were arrested and one was being sought in Trinidad on Saturday. In an indictment charging the four men, one of them is quoted as saying the foiled plot would "cause greater destruction than in the Sept. 11 attacks," destroying the airport, killing several thousand people and destroying parts of Queens, where the line runs underground.

One of the suspects, Russell Defreitas, a U.S. citizen native to Guyana and former JFK employee, said the airport was a symbol that would put "the whole country in mourning."

"It's like you can kill the man twice," Defreitas said, according to the indictment.

The plot never got past the planning stages. It posed no immediate threat to air safety or the public, the FBI said Saturday.

"The devastation that would be caused had this plot succeeded is just unthinkable," U.S. Attorney Roslynn R. Mauskopf said at a news conference, calling it "one of the most chilling plots imaginable."

Defreitas was in custody in Brooklyn and was expected to be arraigned Saturday afternoon.

Two other men, Abdul Kadir of Guyana and Kareem Ibrahim of Trinidad, are in custody in Trinidad. A fourth man, Abdel Nur of Guyana, was still being sought in Trinidad.

The pipeline, owned by Buckeye Pipeline Co., takes fuel from a facility in Linden, N.J., to the airport. Other lines service LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.

Kadir, a Muslim and former member of Parliament in Guyana, was arrested in Trinidad for attempting to secure money for "terrorist operations," according to a Guyanese police commander who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Kadir left his position in Parliament last year. Muslims make up about 9 percent of the former Dutch and British colony's 770,000 population, mostly from the Sunni sect.

Isha Kadir, the Guyanese suspect's wife, said her husband flew from Guyana to Trinidad on Thursday. She said he was arrested Friday as he was boarding a flight from Trinidad to Venezuela, where he planned to pick up a travel visa to attend an Islamic religious conference in Iran.

"We have no interest in blowing up anything in the U.S.," she said Saturday from the couple's home in Guyana. "We have relatives in the U.S."

Buckeye spokesman Roy Haase said the company, which moves petroleum through pipelines in a number of states, had been informed of the threat from the beginning.

"Given the nature of Buckeye business and the importance of this transportation network, we have an intense and ongoing communications relationship with the Port Authority, the New York City fire and police departments, the federal Department of Homeland Security and the FBI," he said.

The arrests mark the latest in a series of alleged homegrown terrorism plots targeting high-profile American landmarks.

When will the anti-war crowd and libs realize this is Global War on Terror?
When will the anti-war crowd and libs realize the benefits and little harm done by domestic spying programs?
When will "mainstream" Muslims stand up and vocally denounce violent radical Muslims?
Why are so many people stuck in a pre-9/11 mentality?

The USA has enemies, therefore it has a right to defend itself. It's far passed time to be politically correct and panzy about dealing with these threats.

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: hellokeith
When will the anti-war crowd and libs realize the benefits and little harm done by domestic spying programs?

Yeah, constitution be damned. Why should anybody be required to get a warrant before spying on people?

Why are so many people stuck in a pre-9/11 mentality?

:roll:

What changed on 9/11 that suddenly made the world a different place? Terrorist attacks were happening long before that. 9/11 was just a well planned and executed one. It was not some revolutionary, history altering event just because politicians say so.

 

[Rainsford]

I realize asking questions goes against the hellokeith mentality, but several obvious ones spring to mind.

1) When will the pro-police state crowd realize that not every action taken by the government to fight terrorism is a result of sweeping new police powers? The old powers work just fine, it's a matter of changing the views of the police and intelligence services more than anything else. So far as I can tell, nothing about this case says they used anything other than good old fashioned police and intelligence work and their brains...the very tools that could have stopped 9/11.

2) What makes this any different than the SEVERAL overhyped terrorist attacks pushed by the government as evidence that they are protecting us? So far all those "scary" attacks have been revealed to be hugely overblown and far away from what the "terrorists" could actually carry out. Anyone can come up with an elaborate plot, the real question is whether it's possible at all...and whether or not the people in question have the capabilities to do so.

My instincts say this is a dumb plot. While you can certainly blow up a segment of a pipeline using conventional explosives, I very much doubt the actual pipeline could be the source of a huge explosion. As far as I'm aware, jet fuel is like gasoline in that it doesn't explode (or even burn very much) unless it has the correct fuel/air mixture, something I imagine would not be present in the pipeline. It certainly SOUNDS scary, but seems less than plausible upon further examination...further reinforcing the idea that it's a stupid plot that's good for scaring people and not much else. I have no doubt that stupid wannabe terrorists would come up with something like this, but I'm not sure I'd lose any sleep over it.

3) In all the pro-government, anti-terrorism fervor, has anyone actually stopped to consider the danger of being such a knee-jerk "patriot"? All the government has to do is unveil some sort of alleged plot, not matter how unlikely or far fetched, and folks like hellokeith take it as absolute, irrefutable proof that the government is always right in how it fights terrorism and we should never, EVER question their methods or policies and that the alleged plans of a handful of nutjobs should be taken as proof that there is a "global war on terror" which we must fight with all the power of our entire country. Nevermind that this is exactly how tyrannical governments seize power, who wants to be jumping at shadows all the time?

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: BoberFett

Originally posted by: hellokeith
When will the anti-war crowd and libs realize the benefits and little harm done by domestic spying programs?

Yeah, constitution be damned. Why should anybody be required to get a warrant before spying on people?

Why are so many people stuck in a pre-9/11 mentality?

:roll:

What changed on 9/11 that suddenly made the world a different place? Terrorist attacks were happening long before that. 9/11 was just a well planned and executed one. It was not some revolutionary, history altering event just because politicians say so.

Of course it is. You get someone like GWB talking all manly and strong about the "undying threat terrorism poses to western civilization" and people are only too happy to line up behind him like sheep. If history has taught us anything, it's that this is THE most effective way to manipulate people...it has a success rate like nothing else.

 

[Wreckem]

What yall dont realize is, what the Bush admin has been doing is just the expediting of it.

Bush didnt create the secert court. Thats been around since the 1970s. It a rare occassion when it doesnt issue a warrant. It basically rubber stamps them. The Bush admins program just skips the rubber stamping.

 

[jpeyton]

Text

Some of the good parts:

Homeland Security sources said there is no current threat at the airport and that the attack as planned was "not technically feasible."

An official described the suspects as "al Qaeda wannabes."

"There is no credible intelligence to suggest an imminent threat to the homeland at this time, and there are no adjustments to our security posture being made as a result of this plot," a Homeland Security official said.

Feel free to return to your bunkers now :roll:

0 stars.

 

[WiseOldDude]

Sounds like a PR moment for the knuckle draggers in some attempt to keep Dumbya's approval rating from dropping below 20%.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: Wreckem
What yall dont realize is, what the Bush admin has been doing is just the expediting of it.

Bush didnt create the secert court. Thats been around since the 1970s. It a rare occassion when it doesnt issue a warrant. It basically rubber stamps them. The Bush admins program just skips the rubber stamping.

Actually they put the rubber stamp back in place last year.

Why they got rid of it I shall never know.

 

[umbrella39]

Originally posted by: hellokeith
Link

By ADAM GOLDMAN, Associated Press Writer
June 02, 2007
3:42pm ET

NEW YORK - A suspected terrorist cell planned a "chilling" attack to destroy John F. Kennedy International Airport, kill thousands of people and trigger an economic catastrophe by blowing up a jet fuel artery that runs through populous residential neighborhoods, authorities said Saturday.

Three men were arrested and one was being sought in Trinidad on Saturday. In an indictment charging the four men, one of them is quoted as saying the foiled plot would "cause greater destruction than in the Sept. 11 attacks," destroying the airport, killing several thousand people and destroying parts of Queens, where the line runs underground.

One of the suspects, Russell Defreitas, a U.S. citizen native to Guyana and former JFK employee, said the airport was a symbol that would put "the whole country in mourning."

"It's like you can kill the man twice," Defreitas said, according to the indictment.

The plot never got past the planning stages. It posed no immediate threat to air safety or the public, the FBI said Saturday.

"The devastation that would be caused had this plot succeeded is just unthinkable," U.S. Attorney Roslynn R. Mauskopf said at a news conference, calling it "one of the most chilling plots imaginable."

Defreitas was in custody in Brooklyn and was expected to be arraigned Saturday afternoon.

Two other men, Abdul Kadir of Guyana and Kareem Ibrahim of Trinidad, are in custody in Trinidad. A fourth man, Abdel Nur of Guyana, was still being sought in Trinidad.

The pipeline, owned by Buckeye Pipeline Co., takes fuel from a facility in Linden, N.J., to the airport. Other lines service LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.

Kadir, a Muslim and former member of Parliament in Guyana, was arrested in Trinidad for attempting to secure money for "terrorist operations," according to a Guyanese police commander who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Kadir left his position in Parliament last year. Muslims make up about 9 percent of the former Dutch and British colony's 770,000 population, mostly from the Sunni sect.

Isha Kadir, the Guyanese suspect's wife, said her husband flew from Guyana to Trinidad on Thursday. She said he was arrested Friday as he was boarding a flight from Trinidad to Venezuela, where he planned to pick up a travel visa to attend an Islamic religious conference in Iran.

"We have no interest in blowing up anything in the U.S.," she said Saturday from the couple's home in Guyana. "We have relatives in the U.S."

Buckeye spokesman Roy Haase said the company, which moves petroleum through pipelines in a number of states, had been informed of the threat from the beginning.

"Given the nature of Buckeye business and the importance of this transportation network, we have an intense and ongoing communications relationship with the Port Authority, the New York City fire and police departments, the federal Department of Homeland Security and the FBI," he said.

The arrests mark the latest in a series of alleged homegrown terrorism plots targeting high-profile American landmarks.

When will the anti-war crowd and libs realize this is Global War on Terror?
When will the anti-war crowd and libs realize the benefits and little harm done by domestic spying programs?
When will "mainstream" Muslims stand up and vocally denounce violent radical Muslims?
Why are so many people stuck in a pre-9/11 mentality?

The USA has enemies, therefore it has a right to defend itself. It's far passed time to be politically correct and panzy about dealing with these threats.

When will fanbois realize THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING? Protecting our OWN soil and spending the money we need to, to take care of our OWN problems of homeland security and first responders. Catching plots like this have nothing to do with the wasted lives and money spent in Iraq if you are somehow trying to justify one for the other. If you can not look at this OP you have just spent your time and energy posting and realize there is a HUGE underfunding problem with protecting our own shores and stop blaming the "libs" and the "dims" for this, then there is no hope for you. We are hardly any safer today than we were 6 years ago and this has absolutely nothing to do with requesting a wire tap before actually tapping someone suspected of trying to pull something like this off. So your rant about "domestic spying" is a big, pftttttt.

 

[palehorse]

Congrats to the FBI and all involved... a job well done!

 

[Jeff7]

Good thing we're fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here.



Oh wait.....

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Good thing we're fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here.



Oh wait.....

and Government pansy puppets like the OP.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: hellokeith
Link

In an indictment charging the four men, one of them is quoted as saying the foiled plot would "cause greater destruction than in the Sept. 11 attacks," destroying the airport, killing several thousand people and destroying parts of New York's borough of Queens, where the line runs underground.

When will the anti-war crowd and libs realize this is Global War on Terror?
When will the anti-war crowd and libs realize the benefits and little harm done by domestic spying programs?
When will "mainstream" Muslims stand up and vocally denounce violent radical Muslims?
Why are so many people stuck in a pre-9/11 mentality?

The USA has enemies, therefore it has a right to defend itself. It's far passed time to be politically correct and panzy about dealing with these threats.[/quote]

Oh come on, a lot of Queens is a dump and needed re-building anyway.

Oh that's right, we don't re-build anymore, we just ket it rot like New Orleans, my bad.

 

[techs]

Cr*p. Somehow they followed us home. And we didn't even leave yet.
Oh, you mean these guys were not Iraqis?
I guess the Iraqis have yet to actually produce a terrorist who attacked our homeland.
Unlike our pals, the Saudis.

 

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Good thing we're fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here.



Oh wait.....

yep, it's not working - look at all the attacks we've had carried out on american soil



oh wait...

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: hellokeith
When will the anti-war crowd and libs realize this is Global War on Terror?
When will the anti-war crowd and libs realize the benefits and little harm done by domestic spying programs?
When will "mainstream" Muslims stand up and vocally denounce violent radical Muslims?
Why are so many people stuck in a pre-9/11 mentality?

The USA has enemies, therefore it has a right to defend itself. It's far passed time to be politically correct and panzy about dealing with these threats.

It's far passed time to be non-hostile to our Muslim population. The recruitment and training of attacks against us must be prevented and it happens from within our borders. We know the profile to use, it's Islam, and we need to deal with it before it successfully strikes us again.

We can only prevent so many attacks, more lives will be lost, it?s a question of what we intend to do about it before it happens. Thus far, nothing.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: daveymark

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Good thing we're fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here.



Oh wait.....

yep, it's not working - look at all the attacks we've had carried out on american soil



oh wait...

In February 1993, the WTC was bombed by al-Qaeda; an attack on our soil.

Eight years and five months later, there wasn't another attack by al-Qaeda on our soil.

Then 9/11 happened a month later.

You guys are idiots if you think Bush's strategy (throwing money down the hole in Iraq vs. shoring up domestic security) is keeping us safe. This is June 2007; only six years after 9/11.

These amateurs weren't even al-Qaeda.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
It's far passed time to be non-hostile to our Muslim population. The recruitment and training of attacks against us must be prevented and it happens from within our borders. We know the profile to use, it's Islam, and we need to deal with it before it successfully strikes us again.

We can only prevent so many attacks, more lives will be lost, it?s a question of what we intend to do about it before it happens. Thus far, nothing.

What do you suggest we do? Airstrikes?

 

[Jaskalas]

As for those screaming police state, then join with us in recognizing the radical ideology. Join us in profiling it so we can avoid assaulting the rights of Americans. We can avoid patriot acts entirely if we merely recognize who our enemy is. Yet you deny us this simple truth, you tell us we must not recognize our enemy and so instead of assaulting their rights it?s all American?s whose rights are assaulted.

I stand firmly against Patriot Acts, but we must deal with those in our country who have sworn to wage war. Will you still stand in our way to such extreme extents that we cannot recognize who they are?

 

[UberNeuman]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas

Originally posted by: hellokeith
When will the anti-war crowd and libs realize this is Global War on Terror?
When will the anti-war crowd and libs realize the benefits and little harm done by domestic spying programs?
When will "mainstream" Muslims stand up and vocally denounce violent radical Muslims?
Why are so many people stuck in a pre-9/11 mentality?

The USA has enemies, therefore it has a right to defend itself. It's far passed time to be politically correct and panzy about dealing with these threats.

It's far passed time to be non-hostile to our Muslim population. The recruitment and training of attacks against us must be prevented and it happens from within our borders. We know the profile to use, it's Islam, and we need to deal with it before it successfully strikes us again.

We can only prevent so many attacks, more lives will be lost, it?s a question of what we intend to do about it before it happens. Thus far, nothing.

You'd love to commit to Genocide, wouldn't ya.... You boys keep saying "sumthin' got to be done" - yet, you don't come out and say what you really mean....

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
Will you still stand in our way to such extreme extents that we cannot recognize who they are?

The US Constitution stands in your way.

 

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: daveymark

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Good thing we're fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here.



Oh wait.....

yep, it's not working - look at all the attacks we've had carried out on american soil



oh wait...

In February 1993, the WTC was bombed by al-Qaeda; an attack on our soil.

Eight years and five months later, there wasn't another attack by al-Qaeda on our soil.

Then 9/11 happened a month later.

You guys are idiots if you think Bush's strategy (throwing money down the hole in Iraq vs. shoring up domestic security) is keeping us safe. This is June 2007; only six years after 9/11.

These amateurs weren't even al-Qaeda.

bingo. now apply the same logic to the "we're fighting them over there, so we don't have to fight them here...oh wait" statement. We're not fighting in Guyana or trinidad, plus the fact that they are not Al Qaeda means that statement has nothing to do with the foiled attack.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
As for those screaming police state, then join with us in recognizing the radical ideology. Join us in profiling it so we can avoid assaulting the rights of Americans. We can avoid patriot acts entirely if we merely recognize who our enemy is. Yet you deny us this simple truth, you tell us we must not recognize our enemy and so instead of assaulting their rights it?s all American?s whose rights are assaulted.

I stand firmly against Patriot Acts, but we must deal with those in our country who have sworn to wage war. Will you still stand in our way to such extreme extents that we cannot recognize who they are?

I have no problem profiling our enemies, I just think your idea of a proper profile is really, REALLY stupid. Our profile should be violent extremists who have the means and will to carry out terrorist attacks on the United States, not everyone who prays towards Mecca. The former group is fairly small, and its members have a high probability of at least attempting to carry out terrorist attacks...the latter group is huge, with a tiny fraction of its population being ANY danger to the US in any way. I understand you hate Islam, but from a strictly rational standpoint, your approach is really crummy security.

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
It's far passed time to be non-hostile to our Muslim population. The recruitment and training of attacks against us must be prevented and it happens from within our borders. We know the profile to use, it's Islam, and we need to deal with it before it successfully strikes us again.

We can only prevent so many attacks, more lives will be lost, it?s a question of what we intend to do about it before it happens. Thus far, nothing.

What do you suggest we do? Airstrikes?

Hyperbole to prove your own idiocy?

We wage a campaign on violent religious teachings. We then renounce Islam?s status as a religion on the basis of its violence and its follower?s self declared war against us. We target their recruiting and training. Doing this hinders their foreign agents from operating so freely among their supportive population.

At least if they?re going to kill us it won?t be by our blessing.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
It's far passed time to be non-hostile to our Muslim population. The recruitment and training of attacks against us must be prevented and it happens from within our borders. We know the profile to use, it's Islam, and we need to deal with it before it successfully strikes us again.

We can only prevent so many attacks, more lives will be lost, it?s a question of what we intend to do about it before it happens. Thus far, nothing.

What do you suggest we do? Airstrikes?

Hyperbole to prove your own idiocy?

We wage a campaign on violent religious teachings. We then renounce Islam?s status as a religion on the basis of its violence and its follower?s self declared war against us. We target their recruiting and training. Doing this hinders their foreign agents from operating so freely among their supportive population.

At least if they?re going to kill us it won?t be by our blessing.

wow dude. You really think you can do all that without turning Normal Illinois into downtown Baghdad?