Cleric's Upstate Followers Seen as Threat

New York Post ^ | 1/30/02 | Adam Miller

[livius]

February 1, 2002 -- A secluded Muslim settlement in upstate New York is an outpost for a terrorist group founded by Sheik Mubarak Ali Shah Gilani, the radical Islamic cleric Daniel Pearl was trying to interview when he disappeared, according to a published report.

[livius]

Many of the residents work as toll collectors at New York City's bridges and tunnels. Others work at one of the area's largest firms, Deposit Computer Services, in nearby Deposit.

I found this last sentence particularly alarming. From what I have gathered from other articles, many members of this group (or their "mother church," Muslims of America) are former members of the Black Muslim movement who have moved on to yet another, more radical form of Islam.

The bad news about this is, of course, that they blend in with other Americans and it is much easier for them to go unnoticed in situations where a non-native born person might stand out. They seem to have little colonies scattered all over the US, Canada and the English-speaking Caribbean. I wonder what sort of employment other members of this group have found? (Guarding nuclear power plants?)

[livius]

Another odd connection, possibly related to the Pearl kidnappers.

[livius]

al Fuqra bump - this group's connections are odd indeed.

[mombonn]

That group preaches Islamic study and urges its members to live in rural enclaves "free from the decadence of a godless society," members say.

I would invite these people to leave our "godless" country, and find one closer to their "peaceful" way of life. sheesh

[sneakers]

My sister lives in Deposit, NY. Her friend lives not too far from that compound and hears machine gun fire off and on. It is very well protected. An electrician who went into the compound said that he had to go through two "checkpoints" before he could get to the main compound. Very strange, very suspicious. Also located very near the Canonsville dam - which serves New York City.

[piasa]

Well, they do seem to have an affinity for government employment. Probably because of the job security... it's virtually impossible to get fired. Being toll collectors they probably have ways to skim some cash off of the take. Any government job involving cash handling is probably up their alley.

Knowing the feds, these folks would also be high up the list for airport screener jobs.

[Asclepius]

That group preaches Islamic study and urges its members to live in rural enclaves "free from the decadence of a godless society," members say.

Great. Muslim Amish. Or Amish Muslims. I hope they keep their damned buggies on the shoulders.

[livius]

Machine gun fire! I'd be worried about that, personally. I hope your sister or some other Deposit resident has mentioned this to the FBI.

Of course, the article rather casually mentioned that the FBI doesn't seem to have anything on this group, although that seemed like a bit of disinformation, to me. The group's activities have been reported off and on in the press both in the US and Canada, so I should think even reading the newspapers would give the FBI a hint.

But it wouldn't hurt to give them another nudge.

[syriacus]

I wonder what sort of employment other members of this group have found? (Guarding nuclear power plants?)

How about running gas stations? Imagine the harm that could be done by people who hate America, especially along the interstates and especially if the "action" were co-ordinated.

[sneakers]

My sister said there were helicopters flying over the compound after the first WTC bombing. Yes, the FBI is well aware of that group. She said many people have notified the FBI but apparently, since the muslims haven't done anything illegal (that they can prove anyway), they haven't been able to do anything. I think that, now that President Bush is in charge, he should sic the hounds on them. I guess some reporter from Binghampton has been doing a lot of investigating and has uncovered quite a bit of suspicious activity. She's supposed to send me a copy of the article. Perhaps that's one of the articles mentioned above.

[livius]

That's a relief! Make sure you post the article when you get it. (And ping me so I don't miss it...) Thanks!

[Rustynailww]

sounds as if children could be in danger in this islamic "compound".

[aruanan]

Of course, Janet and Bill would never have attacked a really dangerous compound such as this.

[rebdov]

Working at the tunnels. Hmmm...

[piasa]

Yipes, I missed the tunnel part completely. That brings some possibilities up.

[lsee]

My word, this sounds like a cult compound or an extermist militia camp. I hope "our" people continue to monitor these communities. Secluded communities are not in themselves suspicious, but when they develop such secrecy and security, I have to believe there is some subversive activity going on. If it looks like a duck.....

[Catspaw]

Shermy and I dug up some information about al Fuqra on this thread. I got the shivers after reading what they did in Colorado.

[bytesmith]

machine gun fire

Are machine guns legal to possess in Upstate NY? Seems like the BATF frowns on weapons violations when the weapons are in the vicinity of Waco, TX.

[SauronOfMordor]

Many of the residents work as toll collectors at New York City's bridges and tunnels. Others work at one of the area's largest firms, Deposit Computer Services, in nearby Deposit.

Looking up the web page for Deposit Computer Services, I notice that they do credit-card processing, data-entry, image scanning, microfilming, data conversions, etc for various companies

This would be an excellent place to be in, if you wanted to gather intelligence on US companies, or get info that would be useful in identity theft (for providing cover identities for illegals)

[SauronOfMordor]

Seems like the BATF frowns on weapons violations when the weapons are in the vicinity of Waco, TX.

Remember how the BATF ran when they unexpectedly faced return fire at Waco.

Don't hold your breath for F-Troop to go looking for trouble with "people-of-color" who they already know are likely to shoot back. When was the last time you heard of BATF raiding a Crips or Bloods HQ in South-Central LA?