Terror Ties at Newark Liberty Int'l Airport

It's nice to see that the Port Authority, ICE, and DHS (and the federal agencies for which they took over after the federal reorganization following 9/11) are all on top of air safety these days.

A band of men linked to Tamil Tiger terrorists - led by a Sri Lankan who used a fake passport to get security clearance at Newark Airport - has been busted in a massive plot to loot city ATMs.

Manhattan prosecutors told the Daily News the eight men had ties to the terror group and were part of a scheme to use stolen credit card numbers to steal $250,000 in New York - and tens of millions from ATMs worldwide.

Six were nabbed in January in a raid at the Chelsea Inn, a reputed lair for the ultraviolent Sri Lankan separatist group.

The other two, including alleged ringleader Sivapalasri Velayuthampillai, 31, of Newark, were busted in July.

Until his arrest, Velayuthampillai worked three jobs at Newark Airport as a security agent and baggage handler with complete security clearance.

Prosecutors said Velayuthampillai entered the U.S. with a fake passport and dubious tale of persecution. He was given political asylum in December 2001 under circumstances still under investigation by District Attorney Robert Morgenthau.

Once again, we have another example of terrorists or those who are affiliated with terrorist groups infiltrating the US and taking advantage of lax immigration laws and enforcement. We then have these individuals obtaining jobs at sensitive locations, like a major metropolitan airport with an intent to do harm.

In this case, these guys were looking to cash in on unsuspecting travelers and the gang was apprehended by NYPD cops who accidentally discovered what this gang was doing:

Velayuthampillai had 30 forged cards on him when he was arrested in midtown in July and more than 400 bogus cards in his rented car, all bearing account numbers stolen from two U.K. gas stations.

The operation was accidentally uncovered in the Chelsea Inn on 11th Ave. when NYPD narcotics detectives raided the hotel and one investigator shouted to everyone in the lobby, "Freeze! I will shoot you if you move!"

That's when one rattled suspect, Ibrahim Abdifatah, 27, dropped 67 blank credit cards on the floor, police said.

The Port Authority and other agencies responsible for air safety must do a better job vetting those working at airports, lest they enable terrorists to gain access to the sensitive inner workings of the facilities.