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.

Initial Review of Data From Raid Links Bin Laden To Ongoing Plots and Plans

Considering that Osama bin Laden was living in relative comfort and luxury in the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, it is not surprising that he was up to his eyeballs in ongoing plans to carry out terror attacks around the world.

With Bin Laden’s whereabouts and activities a mystery in recent years, many intelligence analysts and terror experts had concluded that he had been relegated to an inspirational figure with little role in current and future Qaeda operations.

A rushed examination of the trove of materials from the compound in Pakistan prompted Obama administration officials on Thursday to issue a warning that Al Qaeda last year had considered attacks on American railroads.

The documents include a handwritten notebook from February 2010 that discusses tampering with tracks to derail a train on a bridge, possibly on Christmas, New Year’s Day, the day of the State of the Union address or the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, officials said. But they said there was no evidence of a specific plot. An Obama administration official said that documents about attacking railroads were among the first to be translated from Arabic and analyzed. The materials, along with others reviewed in the intelligence cache, have given intelligence officials a much richer picture of the Qaeda founder’s leadership of the network as he tried to elude a global dragnet.

“He wasn’t just a figurehead,” said one American official, speaking only on condition of anonymity, who had been briefed on the documents. “He continued to plot and plan, to come up with ideas about targets, and to communicate those ideas to other senior Qaeda leaders.”

The crash program across the intelligence community to translate and analyze the documents has as its top priority discovering any clues about terror attacks that might be in the works. Intelligence analysts also were scrubbing the files for any information that might lead to identifying the location of Al Qaeda’s surviving leadership.

Since Sunday night, when President Obama announced the killing of Bin Laden in a daring raid, counterterrorism officials have been alert to the possibility of new attacks from Al Qaeda to avenge its leader’s death and prove its continuing relevance.

Department of Homeland Security officials have reviewed potential terrorist targets and deployed extra security at airports. And in response to the new evidence seized at the Bin Laden compound, the Transportation Security Administration issued a bulletin to rail companies.

But officials emphasized that the information was both dated and vague. “It looks very, very aspirational, and we have no evidence that it developed beyond the initial discussion,” said Matt Chandler, a spokesman for Homeland Security.

The initial data may not end up being accurate and the review may yet turn out to be an incomplete or completely different interpretation..

Still, it does raise questions on how bin Laden was able to maintain operational security for all these years and goes to show just how capable he was in being able to maintain contacts with other al Qaeda through his trusted couriers.

That bin Laden lived in Abbottabad means that far from being cut off from the rest of al Qaeda, he was much more likely to be in control and providing guidance and plotting further attacks.

The intel from the raid also appears to have uncovered plots to blow up trains or tampering with rails. It's all about causing mass casualty attacks and doing the most damage - perhaps in connection with the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Railroads have long been targeted by al Qaeda and several plots have been disrupted in the past in the US, including plots to blow up the PATH tunnels to New York, subway bomb plots, and unfortunately al Qaeda successfully carried out deadly attacks against railroads in Madrid.

Investigators Looking For Who Planted Pipe Bomb at Colorado Mall

Investigators are searching for whoever planted a pipe bomb among propane gas tanks at the Southwest Plaza Mall in Littleton, Colorado shopping mall on the 12th anniversary of the Columbine massacre.



The bomb and propane tanks were discovered after the fire department responded to a small fire at the mall. The bomb squad was called to defuse the bomb. The FBI has identified a person of interest, based on surveillance video:

The FBI has released these surveillance pictures of the man they are looking for. The subject is describe as a white male, with graying hair, a silver mustache, wearing a dark colored cap with a light colored logo on the front, gray and white horizontally striped shirt, dark jacket with silver buttons, blue jeans, and dark colored shoes.

Anyone with information about this man is asked to call Jefferson County Sheriff's Office tipline at (303) 271-5615.

Members of the Jefferson County Bomb Squad found two propane tanks and a pipe bomb inside the mall after a fire broke out near the food court. The mall is expected to remain closed until Thursday.

The fire started at about 11:50 a.m. Wednesday. By 11:59 firefighters had extinguished the fire. Firefighters found a suspicious device at the origin of the fire, including two propane tanks and what was later revealed to be a pipe bomb.

More Details Emerge About Kevin Harpham and the Spokane MLK Parade Bomb Plot

More details are emerging about Kevin Harpham's background and involvement in white supremacist groups in Idaho and Washington. While the Southern Poverty Law Center claims that Harpham was a member of the National Alliance, one of that group's members claims that he was never a member.

Yet, a member of another white supremacist group, Aryan Nations, claims that he and Harpham spoke quite a bit during the past decade about joining the group, but he never did so:

Erich Gliebe, the acting chairman of the National Alliance, contradicted the Southern Poverty Law Center's claims. Gliebe said he has been a member of the National Alliance since 1990 and didn't recognize Harpham's name. Gliebe added that the National Alliance, "has a zero tolerance policy regarding illegal activity. Anyone who even hints or jokes about illegal activity is not welcome in the organization."

Paul Mullet, the former self-proclaimed leader of the Aryan Nations , said that Harpham expressed interest in joining the Aryan Nations back in the mid-2000s. Mullet said Wednesday afternoon that he had about a dozen conversations with Harpham after he contacted him for information on joining the Aryan Nations. Mullet said that Harpham never joined the group.

It isn't surprising that these white supremacist groups are trying to disavow any knowledge about Harpham or alleged memberships since it could lead to still further law enforcement scrutiny into their actions.

Harpham has a mylife reference page (subscription required).

Arrest Made in Martin Luther King Day Bomb Incident In Spokane

A suspect has been arrested in the foiled bombing of a MLK Jr. parade in Spokane Washington. FBI and law enforcement were converging on a home near Spokane.

The bomb had a remote detonator and the ability to cause mass casualties, according to officials.

The bomb was defused without incident but unnerved residents of Spokane, especially those who took part in a parade whose theme was steeped in peace and nonviolence.

The attempt raised the possibility of a racial motive in a region that has been home to the white supremacist group Aryan Nations.

In addition to the bomb, the backpack contained two T-shirts that authorities analyzed for clues.

Officials praised as heroes the three city workers who spotted the backpack about an hour before the parade was to start on Jan. 17. They looked inside, saw wires and immediately alerted law enforcement.

The bomb was carefully placed on a metal bench with a brick wall behind that would have directed shrapnel toward Main Street, where marchers were expected to pass, investigators said.

Kudos go not only to investigators who broke the case, but the alert individuals who found the backpack and informed law enforcement in time to defuse the bomb before it could detonate to deadly effect.

UPDATE:
KHQ6, which made the initial reports, indicates that at least one person was arrested in connection with the case.

Viewers in Stevens County told KHQ at least nine FBI vehicles sped towards a house near Highway 395 south of Colville. At least two counter-assault vehicles were also at the house, according to the viewer.

City workers found a suspicious backpack along a parade route on Martin Luther King day where thousands of people were scheduled to march.

Additional photos of the device are also at the KHQ6 site.

UPDATE:
Perhaps not surprising, the Seattle Times is reporting that the person arrested has connections to a white supremacist group. White supremacists were considered likely suspects given the target and proximity to the haunts of many white supremacist and hate groups in Washington and nearby Idaho.

UPDATE:
We have a name:

A magistrate clerk at the U.S. District Court in Spokane tells The Associated Press that Kevin William Harpham, who was arrested Wednesday, is scheduled to make an initial appearance Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time.

He's 36 years old. He's being charged with one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and one count of knowingly possessing an improvised explosive device.

UPDATE:
The SPLC has more on Harpham's background (HT: Stanley Sea at LGF), which includes membership in the neo-Nazi National Alliance in late 2004. It isn't known whether he continued to be a member or joined with any other hate groups since then.

UPDATE:
More details about the takedown:

Records indicate Harpham is a registered voter, which suggests he has no prior felony convictions, and could explain why it took so long for a suspect to be identified.

Agents are in rural Stevens County searching Harpham’s home near Addy, which is south of Colville. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion that agents used to breach the front door.

Kevin Coy, who lives near the house being searched, said law enforcement took one of his neighbors into custody this morning as he drove across a bridge over the Colville River. In an interview with KHQ News, Coy described the suspect’s house as a trailer, and said there were lots of dogs around. He also said a blue four-door Honda was put on a trailer and removed by the federal agents.

Previously, federal officials had called the bomb a thwarted attempt at domestic terrorism and said the investigation would likely turn on forensic testing of the bomb, which had been sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation lab in Quantico, Va.

Saudi National Studying In Texas College Arrested On Bomb Charges

US authorities have arrested a 20-year old Saudi national who was studying at a college in Texas on charges of plotting to build a bomb and to use it in an attack on former President George W. Bush.

Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, who was born in Saudi Arabia, came to the United States in 2008 on a student visa to attend South Plains College in Levelland, just outside Lubbock Texas. He is accused of trying to obtain parts and chemicals to build a bomb and to attack former President Bush.

The affidavit alleges that on Feb. 1, 2011, a chemical supplier reported to the FBI a suspicious attempted purchase of concentrated phenol by a man identifying himself as Khalid Aldawsari. According to the affidavit, phenol is a toxic chemical with legitimate uses, but can also be used to make the explosive trinitrophenol, also known as T.N.P., or picric acid. The affidavit alleges that other ingredients typically used with phenol to make picric acid, or T.N.P., are concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids.

Aldawsari allegedly attempted to have the phenol order shipped to a freight company so it could be held for him there, but the freight company returned the order to the supplier and called the police. Later, Aldawsari falsely told the supplier he was associated with a university and wanted the phenol for "off-campus, personal research." Frustrated by questions being asked over his phenol order, Aldawsari cancelled his order and later e-mailed himself instructions for producing phenol. The affidavit alleges that in December 2010, he successfully purchased concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids.

According to the affidavit, legally authorized electronic surveillance revealed that Aldawsari used various e-mail accounts in researching explosives and targets, and often sent emails to himself as part of this process. On Feb. 11, 2011, for instance, he allegedly e-mailed himself a recipe for picric acid, which the e-mail describes as a "military explosive." He also allegedly sent himself an e-mail on Oct. 19, 2010 that contained information on the material required for Nitro Urea, how to prepare it, and the advantages of using it.

The affidavit alleges that Aldawsari also e-mailed himself instructions on how to convert a cellular phone into a remote detonator and how to prepare a booby-trapped vehicle using items available in every home. One e-mail allegedly contained a message stating that "one operation in the land of the infidels is equal to ten operations against occupying forces in the land of the Muslims." During December 2010 and January 2011, Aldawsari allegedly purchased many other items, including a gas mask, a Hazmat suit, a soldering iron kit, glass beakers and flasks, wiring, a stun gun, clocks and a battery tester.

Searches of Aldawsari's Residence

Two legally authorized searches of Aldawsari's apartment conducted by the FBI in February 2011 indicated that the concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids; the beakers and flasks; wiring; Hazmat suit; and clocks were present in Aldawsari's residence.

He also apparently put together a list of targets, and emailed himself details about former President Bush's home in Dallas, Texas.

UPDATE:
It's possible that depending on how the chemicals sought were used - or used in combination with other chemicals, that the result could be a WMD.
The The federal crime for use of a WMD is here , and WMD has a specific definition under the US Code, which includes destructive devices under Sec. 921(4).

4) The term “destructive device” means—
(A) any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas—
(i) bomb,
(ii) grenade,
(iii) rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces,
(iv) missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce,
(v) mine, or
(vi) device similar to any of the devices described in the preceding clauses;
(B) any type of weapon (other than a shotgun or a shotgun shell which the Attorney General finds is generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes) by whatever name known which will, or which may be readily converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or other propellant, and which has any barrel with a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter; and
(C) any combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any device into any destructive device described in subparagraph (A) or (B) and from which a destructive device may be readily assembled.
The term “destructive device” shall not include any device which is neither designed nor redesigned for use as a weapon; any device, although originally designed for use as a weapon, which is redesigned for use as a signaling, pyrotechnic, line throwing, safety, or similar device; surplus ordnance sold, loaned, or given by the Secretary of the Army pursuant to the provisions of section 4684 (2), 4685, or 4686 of title 10; or any other device which the Attorney General finds is not likely to be used as a weapon, is an antique, or is a rifle which the owner intends to use solely for sporting, recreational or cultural purposes.

Thus, it includes items commonly referred to as WMD (nuclear, chemical, biological), or any bomb, explosive device, incendiary, or rockets, missiles, etc. that fall under the definition. It's pretty wide-ranging and inclusive (on purpose).