On Monday, the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations called on the FBI to "confirm or deny" King's claim that Long Island mosques were under law enforcement surveillance. The FBI, while not addressing King's comments, said its investigations target individuals, not organizations. "The FBI does not investigate mosques or other houses of worship," spokesman James Margolin said in a statement Monday.I read that as a nondenial denial. Let that be the case, all while the FBI continues investigating individuals participating in jihad that meet in mosques on LI. The FBI isn't going to jeopardize its investigations into jihadi activities because of King's statements or inquiries into the same.
Meanwhile, why is all of this an issue? Well, it looks like a former Long Island resident who went and converted to Islam went to Afghanistan to engage in jihad:
Bryant Neal Vinas, who converted to Islam at a Long Island mosque, was arrested in Pehsawar, Pakistan after trying to kill GIs in the September 2008 attack.The NY Times reports that he's helping prosecutors with two terrorism cases in Europe.
Court papers also revealed that Vinas provided al Qaeda with "expert advice and assistance" based on his "specialized knowledge" of New York's subways and the Long Island Rail Road.
The documents, filed in Brooklyn federal court, didn't tie Vinas to a specific plot against the transit systems.
But last November -- about the time Vinas was captured -- federal law enforcement officials warned the NYPD and other authorities about a possible al Qaeda conspiracy to blow them up.
An intelligence bulletin warned city officials that the FBI had received "plausible information" that al Qaeda discussed terror attacks on the city subways and other transit systems in September.
Vinas -- who also used the names "Ibrahim," "Bashir al-Ameriki" and "Ben Yameen al-Kanadeea -- has been cooperating with investigators, both American and European, since his arrest.
There's no word on whether Vinas was charged with treason, which might be applicable given the circumstances provided thus far.
UPDATE:
The Bergen Record has some more detail about what Vinas is doing these days.
Authorities revealed Wednesday that an American — charged with giving al-Qaida information on the New York transit system and attacking a U.S. military base in Afghanistan — has been a secret witness in the fight against terror both here and overseas.It certainly sounds like he's singing like a canary to avoid more serious charges.
Court papers unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn identified the defendant as Bryant Neal Vinas, also known as "Ibrahim."
His identity had been kept secret since his indictment late last year. Court papers indicate that he pleaded guilty in January in a sealed courtroom in Brooklyn.
Federal prosecutors refused to discuss his background Wednesday. But a law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the case, said Vinas provided critical information that led to a security alert about the New York City subway system last year.
Federal authorities issued an alert around Thanksgiving last year saying the FBI had received a "plausible but unsubstantiated" report that al-Qaida terrorists in late September may have discussed attacking the subway system around the holidays. The origin of that report, the official said, was Vinas.
UPDATE:
The Jawa Report has much more details, including a possible photo, and a copy of the indictment, which all points to charges of treason, but for the singing like a canary about possible operations against the US and Europe.
Specifically, 18 USC 2339 relates to providing material assistance to terrorists, including details relating to the operation of the LIRR.
It also appears that Vinas got the jihad bug from attending the Islamic Association of Long Island in Selden.
No comments:
Post a Comment