Yet Another NYC Terror Plot Busted

The latest terror plot intent upon targeting locations in the New York City metro area was aspirational in nature, and had not reached operational status yet. That's why New York City prosecutors are taking on the case and not the federal prosecutors. It's a case that will be handled under state anti-terrorism laws.



The two men sought to attack synagogues with grenades and assault rifles:

Two men arrested on terrorism charges were plotting to attack Manhattan synagogues with grenades and assault rifles, sources said Thursday.



The alleged mastermind is a Moroccan Muslim born in Queens who has prior arrests for drugs.



He had enlisted a pal and planned to sell drugs in order to finance the purchase of weapons, law enforcement sources told the Daily News.



No specific synagogue had been targeted, and the plot was still in its early planning stages when detected by investigators with the help of an informant, the sources said.



Both men were caught on wiretaps discussing the plot, according to sources, who said the chilling plan had been hatched several months ago and appears to have pre-dated the killing of Osama Bin Laden.



Neither man has any known ties to terror organizations and no other arrests are imminent, the sources said.



The Manhattan district attorney's office is expected to hold a press conference later Thursday to detail the arrests.

This particular plot also wasn't being investigated by the JTTF/NYPD, but rather from the District Attorney's office, which may be the result of following up on leads from the fact that one of those arrested had prior drug convictions and may have been selling drugs to finance the purchase of the weapons.



UPDATE:

The two men have been identified and more details have emerged about how they were caught:

Cops say the ringleader, Ahmed Ferhani, is of North African descent but was born in Queens. He has prior arrests for drugs.



Ferhani had enlisted a pal, Mohammed Mahmoud, who is Moroccan, and they planned to sell drugs to raise cash for the weapons, law enforcement sources told the Daily News.



No specific synagogue had been targeted, and the plot was still in its early planning stages, the sources said.



The men were caught on wiretaps discussing the plot, the sources said, adding that the chilling plan was hatched several months ago and appears to have pre-dated the killing of Osama Bin Laden.