Pakistani Plotted to Bomb Florida Power Plants, Officials Say

New York Times ^ | 3/26/02 | JUDITH MILLER

[kattracks]

ASHINGTON, March 25 — Federal immigration officials have arrested and are seeking to deport a young Pakistani immigrant who they say plotted last spring to blow up power plants and other sites in South Florida, law enforcement officials said today.

The officials said the Immigration and Naturalization Service, supported by the police in Florida, arrested the immigrant, Imran Mandhai, 19, about a month ago as he was returning to his apartment from an Islamic center in Hollywood, Fla. They said Mr. Mandhai, who lives in Hollywood with his parents, conspired last March and April with others, whom they declined to identify, to acquire guns and explosives for a jihad against the United States.

It is unclear whether he obtained such weapons. Patricia Mancha, the immigration service spokeswoman in Miami, confirmed that Mr. Mandhai was in custody, but she would not say when he was arrested or whether the agency would start deportation proceedings.

The man's father, Muhammad Farooq Mandhai, an accountant, said in an interview over the weekend that his son had done nothing wrong. He said his son was in the Krome Detention Center in Miami, where illegal immigrants are often held. He described his son as an excellent student who was in his second year in computer science at Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale.

Law enforcement officials and associates of the son painted a more ominous portrait of him. The local police and other law enforcement officials said Mr. Mandhai became disenchanted with American life and was attracted to militant Islamic politics soon after he arrived in the United States in April 1998.

Last spring, the officials said, a Federal Bureau of Investigations informer reported that Mr. Mandhai was trying to organize a jihad in South Florida to bomb electrical power stations and other sites. Mr. Mandhai, they said, told some associates that he had received training from a man he identified only as "the marine" on how to make bombs.

Officials said that last April, Mr. Mandhai discussed the importance of jihad with seven Arab men, whom they refused to identify, at a meeting in neighboring Miramar. That month, they said, he also tried to buy an AK-47 assault rifle at a gun show in Fort Lauderdale for $300 but his credit card was rejected.

The officials said that one of Mr. Mandhai's targets was a large Florida Power and Light plant near Fort Lauderdale Airport and that he had planned to bomb it on April 27, 2001. They declined to say why the plot failed. It is not known whether Mr. Mandhai succeeded in making a bomb or whether he even bought components for one.

A spokesman for the F.B.I. in Miami declined to discuss the case, or to say whether anyone else had been detained or questioned.

Bureau officials in Washington suggested that the Justice Department might still bring charges against Mr. Mandhai or others, but officials in Florida said the case had been turned over to the immigration agency after Justice Department lawyers declined to prosecute Mr. Mandhai because of "technical" problems with the case.

One official said nothing indicated that Mr. Mandhai or his purported plot was connected to Osama bin Laden's Qaeda or the Sept. 11 attacks. The official said investigators spent months following Mr. Mandhai's movements and associates before his arrest.

The elder Mr. Mandhai said his family immigrated from Karachi about four years ago.

The father and others confirmed that the son attended the Darul Uloom Islamic Institute, in an industrial section of Hollywood.

Imran Mandhai's lawyer, Nashid Sabir, did not return calls seeking comment.

In another matter, federal law enforcement agencies continued today to search for four Pakistani sailors who disappeared last week after being allowed ashore in Norfolk Va., apparently in violation of visa rules.

Attorney General John Ashcroft has ordered an investigation of the incident, which he has described as "maddening," as part of a larger inquiry into the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which has been the target of intense criticism for lapses since the Sept. 11 attacks.

Despite initial reports that one of the Pakistani sailors may have been on a federal terrorist watch list, officials said today that none of the men were on any criminal watch list and that there was no reason to believe they posed a danger.

On Sunday, Mr. Ashcroft said he had ordered the inquiry into the disappearance of the four Pakistanis, who had no visas but were apparently allowed ashore in violation of the immigration agency's rules.

"I tell you, what's happened in the I.N.S. is enough to drive a man to drink," Mr. Aschroft said in an appearance on Fox News. "I believe we will find these individuals, and I believe we will be able to correct this situation. But it's part of the need to renovate the I.N.S."

[brat]

John, it's time to SEAL THE BORDERS until you get things under control. By their record, I'd expect the INS to be out of business for 20 years.

[happygrl]

BUMP

Agreed

[livius]

Mr. Mandhai became disenchanted with American life and was attracted to militant Islamic politics soon after he arrived in the United States in April 1998.

Let's see, he's 19 now - that means he became "disenchanted" at 15, and had already met terrorist trainers at his Islamic Center and was trying to blow up a building last year, at 18?

I'm not sure the issue is immigration. The issue is Islam. We have an "Islamic Center" here in Gainesville that has just put up a new sign and appears to have expanded its activities, which are directed primarily at Muslim students at the University here. It is run by the "Islamic Council" here, part of the network set up by the U Tampa prof whom the US is now trying to deport for terrorist activities.

I never thought I'd find myself saying this, but I must admit that I hope it's being watched very carefully. No more teenage (or any other) terrorists!

[Lion's Cub]

FYI

[bvw]

Federal immigration officials have arrested and are seeking to deport

"Seeking to deport"??!!

So then he'll be a hero, a leader in some terrorist org? He'll come back to kill us, or train some to, or motivate some to?

That is ridiculous. Lock him up until he is forty, at least. Then, depending on the situation, deport him.

[FreedomPoster]

The father and others confirmed that the son attended the Darul Uloom Islamic Institute, in an industrial section of Hollywood.

So who's watching this place 24/7? Let's hope someone on our side is doing so. I'd sure like to know more about what are apparently U.S.-based madrasses.

[Lion's Cub]

Heck, an order to deport doesn't mean a darn thing. I believe there were some 500,000 under court-ordered deportation roaming the country at last count.

It's only law-abiding citizens that the government wants to get tough on.

[Madame Dufarge]

but officials in Florida said the case had been turned over to the immigration agency after Justice Department lawyers declined to prosecute Mr. Mandhai because of "technical" problems with the case.

Whew, I feel a lot safer now that the case is being handled by the INS.

I was afraid some agency full of incompetent boobs would be put in charge.

[Lucky]

Probably, the mosques in Florida are encouraging their young men to do damage to the U.S. Remember the young man who flew into a Tampa building. Search the mosques! Keep a watch on those that attend. Deport, deport, deport!

[Aaron_A]

What happenned to all the champions of our chief ally (Pakistan) here on FR?

[Free the USA]

Check the Bump List folders for articles related to and descriptions of the above topic(s) or for other topics of interest.

[browardchad]

"Darul Uloom Islamic Institute, in an industrial section of Hollywood"

Actually, the mosque is on Pines Boulevard in Pembroke Pines, Florida (west of Hollwood, in South Broward Country). Interesting, since Pembroke Pines is also the location of Council on Islamic Relations (CAIR), Florida Chapter, whose mission is to "empower the local Muslim community in Florida through political and social activism."

I guess Mr. Mandhai got a little carried away with that "activism" thing. These people are dangerous -- I wonder, if they finally succeed in blowing up a power plant, or the storage tanks at Port Everglades, will the punishment still be deportation?

These people are mocking us, as we PC ourselves to death -- literally.

[browardchad]

Forgot to add that there is a large Jewish retirement community in Pembroke Pines, which I am almost certain pre-dated the mosque and the CAIR Chapter -- bet all those elderly people are sleeping better tonight, knowing this guy will be "deported" -- maybe.</sarcasm

[PA Engineer]

I was thinking the same thing. The SOB committed a crime. I believe the sequence is suppose to be arrest, trial, punishment and then deportation.

[mikeIII]

Reports of Pakistan-related Islamic terrorism are simply becoming routine. I am convinced Pakistan is the weakest link we have in fighting terrorism.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Federal immigration officials have arrested and are seeking to deport a young Pakistani immigrant who they say plotted last spring to blow up power plants and other sites in South Florida, law enforcement officials said today.

I don't understand why we are deporting these terrorist perps when they should be kept in this country in cells and throw away the key! If we just send them "home" they'll cause more trouble at home, in this case, Pakistan?! Like they need more of this type there to cause problems there too?!

[Aaron_A]

http://www.insightmag.com/news/207335.html

" In a redux of the arrest of Wen Ho Lee two years ago, Insight has learned that federal agents have launched a probe at the University of California's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) involving a Pakistani -- among others perhaps -- and compromises to a supersecret atomic-research project. "The ramifications of this are quite significant," one of two sources confirms. Insight also has learned of previously unknown security breeches at the national labs, including discovery of TOP SECRET documents and fake passports, drivers licenses and photos at a "drop site" outside one of the labs."