World Terrorism: News, History and Research Of A Changing World #6 Disinformation, Inc.

VEVAK learned its methodology from the Soviet KGB and many of the Islamist revolutionaries who supported Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini actually studied at Moscow's Patrice Lumumba Friendship University, the Oxford of terrorism. Documented Iranian alumni include the current Supreme Leader (the faqih) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, under whose Velayat-e Faqih (Rule of the Islamic Jurisprudent) apparatus it has traditionally operated. Its current head is Cabinet Minister Hojatoleslam Gholam-Hussein Mohseni-Ezhei, a graduate of Qom's Haqqani School, noted for its extremist position advocating violence against enemies and strict clerical control of society and government. The Ministry is very well funded and its charge, like that of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (the Pasdaran) is to guard the revolutionary Islamic Iranian regime at all costs and under all contingencies.

From the KGB playbook, VEVAK learned the art of disinformation. It's not so difficult to learn: tell the truth 80% of the time and lie 20%. Depending on how well a VEVAK agent wants to cover his/her tracks, the ratio may go up to 90/10, but it never drops below the 80/20 mark as such would risk suspicion and possible detection. The regime in Teheran has gone to great lengths to place its agents in locations around the world. Many of these operatives have been educated in the West, including the U.K. and the United States. Iranian government agencies such as embassies, consulates, Islamic cultural centers, and airline offices regularly provide cover for the work of VEVAK agents who dress well and are clean shaven, and move comfortably within our society. In this country, because of the severance of diplomatic relations, the principal site of VEVAK activities begins at the offices of Iran's Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.

Teheran has worked diligently to place its operatives in important think tanks and government agencies in the West. Some of its personnel have been recruited while in prison through torture or more often through bribery, or a combination of both. Others are Islamist revolutionaries that have been set up to look like dissidents - often having been arrested and imprisoned, but released for “medical reasons”. The clue to detecting the fake “dissident” is to read carefully what he/she writes, and to ask why this vocal “dissident” was released from prison when other real dissidents have not been released, indeed have been grievously tortured and executed. Other agents have been placed in this country for over twenty-five years to slowly go through the system and rise to positions of academic prominence due to their knowledge of Farsi and Shia Islam or Islamist fundamentalism.

One of the usual tactics of VEVAK is to co-opt academia to its purposes. Using various forms of bribery, academics are bought to defend the Islamic Republic or slander its enemies. Another method is to assign bright students to train for academic posts as specialists in Iranian or Middle East affairs. Once established, such individuals are often consulted by our government as it tries to get a better idea of how it should deal with Iran. These academics then are in a position to skew the information, suggesting the utility of extended dialogue and negotiation, or the danger and futility of confronting a strong Iran or its proxies such as Hizballah (Hezbollah). These academics serve to shield the regime from an aggressive American or Western policy, and thereby buy more time for the regime to attain its goals, especially in regards to its nuclear weaponry and missile programs.

MOIS likes to use the media, especially electronic media, to its advantage. One of VEVAK's favorite tricks is setting up web sites that look like they are opposition sites but which are actually controlled by the regime. These sites often will be multilingual, including Farsi, German, Arabic French, and English. Some are crafted carefully and are very subtle in how they skew their information (e.g., Iran-Interlink, set up and run by Massoud Khodabandeh and his wife Ann Singleton from Leeds, England); others are less subtle, simply providing the regime's point of view on facts and events in the news (e.g., www.mujahedeen.com or www.mojahedin.ws). This latter group is aimed at the more gullible in our open society and unfortunately such a market exists. However, if one begins to do one's homework, asking careful questions, the material on these fake sites generally does not add up.

Let's examine a few examples of VEVAK's work in the United States. In late October, 2005, VEVAK sent three of its agents to Washington to stage a press event in which the principal Iranian resistance movement, the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MeK), was to be slandered. Veteran VEVAK agent Karim Haqi flew from Amsterdam to Canada where he was joined by VEVAK's Ottawa agents Amir-Hossein Kord Rostami and Mahin (Parvin-Mahrokh) Haji, and the three flew from Toronto to Washington. Fortunately the resistance had been tracking these three, informed the FBI of their presence in Washington, and when the three tried to hold a press conference, the resistance had people assigned to ask pointed questions of them so that they ended the interview prematurely and fled back to Canada.

Abolghasem Bayyenet is a member of the Iranian government. He serves as a trade expert for the Ministry of Commerce. But his background of study and service in the Foreign Ministry indicates that Bayyenet is more than just an economist or a suave and savvy businessman. In an article published in Global Politician on April 23, 2006, entitled “Is Regime Change Possible in Iran?”, Bayyenet leads his audience to think that he is a neutral observer, concerned lest the United States make an error in its assessment of Iran similar to the errors of intelligence and judgment that led to our 2003 invasion of Iraq, with its less than successful outcome. However, his carefully crafted bottom line is that the people of Iran are not going to support regime change and that hardliner President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad actually has achieved greater popularity than his predecessors because of his concern for the problems of the poor and his fight for economic and social justice. To the naive, Bayyenet makes Ahmadinejad sound positively saintly. Conveniently overlooked is the occurrence of over four thousand acts of protest, strikes, anti-regime rallies, riots, and even political assassinations by the people of Iran against the government in the year since Ahmadinejad assumed office. So too, the following facts are ignored: the sizeable flight of capital, the increase in unemployment, and the rising two-figure rate of inflation, all within this last year. Bayyenet is a regime apologist, and when one is familiar with the facts, his arguments ring very hollow. However, his English skills are excellent, and so the naОve might be beguiled by his commentary.

Mohsen Sazegara is VEVAK's “reformed revolutionary”. A student supporter of Khomeini before the 1979 revolution, Sazegara joined the “imam” on his return from exile and served in the government for a decade before supposedly growing disillusioned.

He formed several reformist newspapers but ran afoul of the hardliners in 2003 and was arrested and imprisoned by VEVAK. Following “hunger strikes”, Sazegara was released for health reasons and permitted to seek treatment abroad. Although critical of the government and particularly of Ahmadinejad and KhameneМ, Sazegara is yet more critical of opposition groups, leaving the impression that he favors internal regime change but sees no one to lead such a movement for the foreseeable future. His bottom line: no one is capable of doing what needs to be done, so we must bide our time. Very slick, but his shadow shows his likely remaining ties to the MOIS.

[this is one of several reports, with thanks to Milford421]

OSHA still on case of sickened Marriott workers

By REBECCA STEFFAN, Enterprise Staff Writer

LAKE PLACID — An Occupational Safety and Health Administration
investigation into the alleged chemical poisoning of five workers at
the Marriott Courtyard hotel — which is set to open in little more
than a week — is continuing.

The workers reportedly suffered damage to their lungs, resulting in
hospitalization, in an incident Jan. 9.

The Albany law firm of Martin, Harding & Mazzotti, which has been
representing four of the workers, claims a painting subcontractor
failed to properly ventilate an area where the chemical synthetic
isoparaffinic hydrocarbon was being applied. The firm has claimed
that the workers — Ronald Resing, Lee Rothaupt, Douglas Norton and
Steven Johnson — were not notified that the company was going to
begin spraying.

According to the law firm, the product being applied, Isopar G
fluid, can cause scarring to the lungs, unconsciousness and other
central nervous system effects, including death. It is used as a
water sealant.

It had allegedly been agreed by the parties involved that the
spraying would take place at a certain date and time when the proper
ventilation and respirators could be provided.

The law firm claims that instead of warning workers, the painting
crew began applying the chemical that caused the workers to be
overcome by fumes on Jan. 9.

On Wednesday, Ed Jerome, area director of OSHA in Albany, said the
investigation is continuing.

Three companies are being investigated by OSHA: Aquatic Commercial
Solutions of Mechanicville, the company where the four men work,
Latham-based Bette and Cring construction, and Ashley Construction
Services of Albany.

Neither OSHA officials nor the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac
Lake nor the law firm was able to verify Wednesday that the men had
been released from the hospital.

http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/articles.asp?
articleID=5651

http://www.kirotv.com/news/10824331/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news

Threat Closes Bainbridge High School

POSTED: 10:01 am PST January 23, 2007
UPDATED: 10:47 am PST January 23, 2007

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. -- A bomb threat has closed Bainbridge High School for the day, officials said.

Someone found a written threat on school property at about 7:30 a.m.

Eagle Harbor High School is also closed.

District officials called the Washington State Patrol and Bainbridge Island police.

Students were sent home at 9:30 a.m.

A bulletin on the school's Web site says a search of the campus should be complete in time for after-school and evening activities to proceed as planned.

Copyright 2007 by KIROTV.com. All rights reserved.

http://www.kirotv.com/mostpopular/10822035/detail.html

Customs Finds More Than Broccoli In Produce Truck

POSTED: 7:07 am PST January 23, 2007
UPDATED: 7:14 am PST January 23, 2007

PHARR, Texas -- There was more than vitamin C in a truckload of broccoli.

U.S. Customs agents reported they found 1,200 pounds of cocaine stashed under the veggies at a border crossing in south Texas.

Customs officers using an X-ray scanner noticed some odd shapes in the floor of the tractor-trailer coming from Mexico. Officials of U.S. Customs and Border Protection said a drug-sniffing dog helped officers find a secret compartment containing 500 bricks of coke, worth an estimated $40 million.

The driver wasn't charged, but officials said the investigation is continuing.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/10814676/detail.html

Nude Body Found Near Tumwater Identified

POSTED: 11:17 am PST January 22, 2007
UPDATED: 8:06 am PST January 23, 2007

TUMWATER, Wash. -- The woman’s body found alongside Littlerock Road south of Tumwater in Thurston County Monday morning has been identified as 37-year-old Karen L. Bodine.

A passing motorist spotted the Bodine’s nude body just after dawn.

Sheriff's deputies said there were obvious signs of trauma and marks on the body they couldn't explain.

By mid-afternoon detectives were able to identify the woman, but were unable to determine exactly how and why she died.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office at 360-788-5500.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/10814556/detail.html

Kids Rob Woman At Gunpoint In Skyway

POSTED: 10:57 am PST January 22, 2007
UPDATED: 11:02 am PST January 22, 2007

SEATTLE -- Two children robbed a woman of her purse in Skyway last Wednesday, according to the King County Sheriff's Office.

The victim told deputies she was walking home near South 116th Place and 74th Avenue South at about 9:40 p.m. when a child who appeared to be 7 years old brandished a black handgun and demanded her purse. She said a child of about 10 grabbed her purse, and both fled.

The victim described one robber as about 7 years old and 3 feet tall. She said the other was about 10 years old and between 4 feet and 4 feet 5 inches tall.

Sheriff’s detectives asked anyone who has information about the case to call 206-296-3311 or 911.

Deputies said under Washington law, people between 8 and 11 years are presumed incapable of committing a crime.

Copyright 2007 by KIROTV.com. All rights reserved.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/10822388/detail.html

Possible Motive Revealed In Kent Shooting

POSTED: 7:30 am PST January 23, 2007
UPDATED: 9:28 am PST January 23, 2007

KENT, Wash. -- Police believe a case of mistaken identity was behind a weekend shooting that left five people injured at a Denny's restaurant in Kent.

The Seattle Times reports police said the shooting suspect apparently thought some of the Denny's patrons were people he had clashed with earlier at another restaurant.

The newspaper reported police said the suspected gunman got into an argument with someone outside H.D. Hotspurs. The suspect then went to the Denny's restaurant, where he confronted a group of people he apparently thought were the same ones he argued with earlier.

The most seriously injured victim, Steven Tolenoa, is listed in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He is in a coma, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.

Bail was set at $1 million Monday for one of two young men arrested in the shooting.

The two arrested men, both 23, had preliminary court appearances Monday, Kent police Officer Paul Petersen said. The Kent man accused of doing the shooting was held on the higher bail; the second man on $250,000 bail. Petersen said both were booked for investigation of attempted murder and assault.

Kent police received a call shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday about shots fired at the Denny's restaurant on Central Avenue North. Officers quickly responded and bystanders pointed out a vehicle carrying the shooter, Petersen said.

Police stopped the car about two blocks away and arrested the two young men inside. They also recovered two guns, including a .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol believed to have been used in the shooting.

A second injured man was listed in satisfactory condition at Harborview, Petersen said. Two other injured men and a woman were treated and released from Harborview and Valley Medical Center in Kent. All of the injured were restaurant patrons.

The restaurant remained closed Monday but Petersen said police were finished processing the crime scene.

Denny's Inc. earlier issued a statement saying the restaurant company was "shocked by the terrible random act of violence" and added, "our primary concern at the moment is the welfare of injured guests and our employees."

Previous Stories:

* January 22, 2007: Victim Of Denny's Shooting Critically Hurt
* January 22, 2007: Man Opens Fire Inside Kent Denny's

http://www.local6.com/news/10822850/detail.html?rss=orlpn&psp=news

Lake County Elementary School Evacuated

POSTED: 11:09 am EST January 23, 2007
UPDATED: 1:27 pm EST January 23, 2007
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CLERMONT, Fla. -- A Central Florida elementary school was evacuated Tuesday morning after a suspicious package was discovered on campus, according to officials.

The package was found outside of Pine Ridge Elementary in Clermont, and school officials evacuated students to a field beside the school building as a precaution.

The package was destroyed by a bomb squad around noon, and Lake County sheriff's officials said it didn't contain anything.

continued...............................

http://www.timesonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17731006&BRD=2305&PAG=461&dept_id=478569&rfi=6

Bullets and bomb scares
Bobbi Mercadante, Times Staff
01/19/2007
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MOON TWP. - An unspent high-velocity bullet outside the school and a penciled threat on a bathroom door led to bomb experts being called to Moon Area School High School for the second time in three days on Thursday.

Advertisement
William L. Hoch DMD, PC
Moon Township police said Thursday's threat was found on the inside of a bathroom door by a custodian around 9:40 a.m. at the high school at 904 Beaver Grade Road. Tuesday's threat was also found in a restroom at the high school.

Police also found an unspent .357 caliber SIG pistol round in the school's driveway on Thursday. Officers said the bullet was covered in salt residue and looked as if it might have been run over by a vehicle.

Because of the bomb threats and the bullet, police said Superintendent Alex Meta decided to allow the Allegheny County Police Explosives Unit to search the building.

Moon police said the unit arrived around 11:10 a.m. and searched the gym. When no explosives or firearms were found there, about 800 students were moved into the location while the rest of the building was searched. Police said about 400 students, who were scheduled for lunch at the time, were allowed to go the cafeteria and adhere to their normal schedule and did not have to go to the gym.

While Moon police and the county explosives unit searched the building, school administrators conducted a locker room search, police said.

Police said the search began around 11:25 a.m. and ended around 11:45 a.m. Nothing was found, and students returned to class a short time later.

Authorities said they didn't know how the bullet ended up outside the school.

Bobbi Mercadante can be reached online at bmercadante@timesonline.com.

©Beaver County Times Allegheny Times 2007

http://www.google.com/search?q=www.gcc-sg.org&client=netscape-pp&rls=com.netscape:en-US

As it came to me:

Gulf Cooperation Council
www.gcc-sg.org

-----Original Message-----
From: imra-owner@imra.org.il [mailto:imra-owner@imra.org.il] On Behalf
Of
imra@netvision.net.il
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 12:01
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: GCC WOULD SUPPORT U.S. STRIKE ON IRAN

GCC WOULD SUPPORT U.S. STRIKE ON IRAN

ABU DHABI [MENL] -- Gulf Cooperation Council states would support a
U.S.
strike to destroy Iran's nuclear weapons program.

A report by the Dubai-based Gulf Research Center asserted that the six
Gulf Arab
states would not tolerate a nuclear Iran. The report said the GCC
regards Iran
as a bully that seeks to dominate the region.

"Teheran has to finally realize that if push comes to shove, if the
choice is
between an Iranian nuclear bomb and a U.S. military strike, then the
Arab Gulf
states have no choice but to quietly support the U.S.," the report,
authored by
international studies director Christian Koch, said.

GRC, which on Tuesday held a roundtable that included U.S.
Undersecretary of
State Nicholas Burns, said Iran has rejection negotiations with the
Gulf Arab
states. The report cited Iran's military buildup in the Gulf and its
refusal to
negotiate the seizure of two islets from the United Arab Emirates.
===
NOTE: The above is not the full item.
This service contains only a small portion of the information produced
daily by
Middle East Newsline. For a subscription to the full service, please
contact
Middle East Newsline at:
editor@menewsline.com for further details.

Jan. 23, 2007 20:51 | Updated Jan. 23, 2007 20:53

'3 nuclear bombs are second Holocaust'

The Jerusalem Post

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1167467797900&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Three nuclear weapons constitute a second Holocaust. Enemies are
explicit in their desire to destroy us. We are sleepwalking through this as
if diplomatic engagement will create a fiesta where we will all love one
another," Newt Gingrich, Former US Speaker of the House of
Representatives, told the Herzliya conference on Tuesday via satellite.

According to Gingrich, "Israel is facing the greatest danger for its
survival since the 1967 victory. Israel maintained its dominance since
1967 even after the 1973 failure. In 1984 I wrote that WMD and terrorism
would pose a threat for US national security. If two or three cities
are destroyed because of terrorism both the US and Israel's democracy
will be eroded and both will become greater dictatorial societies."

"We lack the language and goals to address the new environment along
with the speed and intensity to counter the contemporary threats. If we
have no strategy we will need to be intellectually honest to consider
the next step once two cities have been destroyed. My grandchildren are
in greater danger than I was throughout the Cold War.

"What stages are you in Israel going to take if tomorrow morning
Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv would be destroyed? Similarly the US needs to
consider what policies it would advance if in twenty-four hours,
Atlanta, Boston and San Francisco were destroyed. These threats will become
even more imminent in two or five years time," he added.

Gingrich believes the US should have as an explicit goal - regime
change in Iran. "In 2006 even the Department of State which seeks to deny
the nature of reality, noted that Iran is a leading sponsor of terror.
What I need is something that will be similar to Reagan's Replacement
strategy in Iran. The current unrest in Iran will facilitate this," he
said.

The former House Speaker concluded by calling on the Department of
Homeland Security to conduct two nuclear exercises and one biological
exercise in major cities such as Philadelphia or Dallas. "This has to be
carried out to determine how many causalities would occur and whether
hospitals could accommodate the casualties."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1772409/posts

8 arrested in 1971 cop-killing tied to Black Panthers (updated)
AP via SFGate ^ | 1/23/7 | MARCUS WOHLSEN

Posted on 01/23/2007 11:58:47 AM PST by SmithL

San Francisco -- Eight men were arrested Tuesday in the 1971 killing of a San Francisco police officer that authorities say was part of a black power group's five-year effort to attack and kill law enforcement officers in San Francisco and New York.

Police said all eight are believed to be former members of the Black Liberation Army, a violent offshoot of the Black Panther Party. The Aug. 29, 1971 shooting death of Sgt. John V. Young, 51, at a San Francisco police station was one in a series of attacks by BLA members on law enforcement officials on both coasts, police said.

The attacks, carried out between 1968 and 1973, also included the bombing of a police funeral in San Francisco and the slayings of two New York City police officers, as well as three armed bank robberies, police said.

Seven of the men were charged with murder and conspiracy.

. . . The investigation of the BLA killing spree was reopened in 1999 after "advances in forensic science led to the discovery of new evidence in one of the unsolved cases," according to a news release from the San Francisco Police Department. No further details were given.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...

[good info and other thread links in comments]

'

German Social Democrats Question EU Report on CIA Scandal
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evubbbIfwf2zzI1
Members of Germany Social Democratic Party on Tuesday criticized a
report by an EU Parliament commission that shed a bad light on
their party colleague, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter
Steinmeier.

German Farmers Can't Keep Up With Organic Demand
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evubbbIfwf2zzI2
As agriculture industry representatives concentrate on organic
products at the annual "Green Week" trade fair in Berlin, Germany's
organic farmers are finding it impossible to keep up with growing
consumer demand.

Truckmaker MAN to Withdraw Takeover Bid for Scania
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evubbbIfwf2zzI3
German heavy vehicles and engineering group MAN said Tuesday it
would withdraw its takeover bid for Swedish truckmaker Scania after
it was rejected by the two main Scania shareholders.

German Press Review: "Remorse Is Not a Prerequisite"
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evubbbIfwf2zzI4
Germany's newspapers have been debating the possible early release
of RAF terrorist Brigitte Mohnhaupt and the petition for pardon
that Christian Klar, another RAF terrorist, submitted to the German
president.

German Film "The Lives of Others" Nominated for Oscar
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evubbbIfwf2zzI5
The German movie "The Lives of Others" has been nominated for this
year's Oscars in the "Foreign Language Film" category.

Hurricane Causes Massive Damage to German Forests
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evubbbIfwf2zzI6
Forestry officials said the hurricane that tore through Germany
killing 11 people last week also knocked down 40 million trees. The
damage was expected to cost the industry dearly.

German Google Offline After Internet Mix-Up
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evubbbIfwf2zzI7
Google, the world's biggest web-search engine, had its German Web
site cut off from the internet early Tuesday, apparently after
somebody reassigned the rights to its google.de address.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Need a good laugh? Then check out DW-WORLD.DE'S From the Fringe
Special, which regularly brings you quirky stories from and about
Germany. To find out more, go to
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evubbbIfwf2zzI8

[There was another plane crash, maybe in New Jersey, but def. east coast, it also had people, with dual citizenship, Israel. As I recall the married couple were said to be special people, in their efforts to help others....granny]

http://www.thereporter.com/portlet/article/html/fragments/print_article.jsp?articleId=5067042&siteId=295

Three names released in plane crash
By The Associated Press
TheReporter.Com
Article Launched:01/23/2007 06:06:34 AM PST
LARAMIE, Wyo. - Three people were killed when their plane, based out of Vacaville, crashed last week in the Snowy Range of Wyoming, officials confirmed during the weekend.

The people aboard were identified Sunday as two Israeli citizens - a man and a woman - and a man with dual Israeli and American citizenship.

The single-engine Piper disappeared from radar Wednesday night. The plane's wreckage was found Friday morning near Browns Peak, an 11,700-foot mountain about 30 miles west of Laramie. The pilot, who had the dual citizenship, was Jared Harel, 25, according to Albany County Coroner Tom Furgeson. The other two people killed were identified as Itay Mizrahi, 25, and Michel Balak, 22.

The pilot reportedly had trained and earned his license at Nut Tree Airport.

Furgeson said all three were believed to have been living in California. The plane had been headed from Vacaville to Chicago. Furgeson said the three were close friends and that he was arranging to have their remains returned to Israel.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported Friday that only two bodies were found near where the single-engine Piper crashed. FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer had said it was unknown whether a third person who was believed to have been on the plane was on board when it crashed.

On Saturday, Furgeson told The Associated Press that the three were all found at the same time Friday. He said he wasn't sure how the FAA got its information, but that it had raised false hope for relatives of the crash victims.

The plane's owner was Archer Nevada, a Carson City-based aviation firm.

Another single-engine plane, a Cessna, crashed Wednesday night in western Natrona County, killing David Hinkle, 55, of Lander, and Kyle Moser, 42, of Gillette. A photo of that crash in Monday's edition of The Reporter incorrectly identified it as the Piper crash.

Reporter staff contributed to this report.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/localnews/ci_5068027

Device destroyed at Ohlone College
By Ben Aguirre Jr., Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 01/23/2007 12:11:59 PM PST

FREMONT _ A suspicious device found at Ohlone College was destroyed by the county bomb squad on Monday afternoon, but authorities have not yet been able to determine exactly what it was, police said.

The device, which looked like soup can wrapped in duct tape with an M-80 firework sticking out of it, was spotted about 1:15 p.m. in the south parking lot of the campus, Sgt. Chris Mazzone said.

Police cordoned off the area and called the bomb squad, which eventually used a water cannon to destroy the device, the sergeant said. When it blew up, there was a brief cloud of orange mist and some dried residue left behind.

The Fremont Fire Department s hazardous materials team was then dispatched to the scene, but they could not immediately determine what the orange substance was. Police then collected samples of it and sent it to a lab for analysis, Mazzone said.

Anyone with information may call police at (510) 790-6900.

[this is the accident that came to mind in my prior post, from June 2006]

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3257908,00.html

Israeli couple killed in US plane crash

Small plane breaks apart over southern New Jersey neighborhood, narrowly missing homes before plunging into wooded area; Israeli couple, two of their Jewish friends killed
Ynet and AP

A small plane broke apart over a southern New Jersey neighborhood Wednesday (early Thursday Israel time), narrowly missing homes before plunging into a wooded area, killing two married couples, one of them Israeli and the other Jewish.

Debris rained down on houses and yards as the single-engine Piper dropped out of the clouds, passing over Route 72 — a major beach-access road — and crashing about 500 feet into woods some 40 miles north of Atlantic City.

Nobody on the ground was hurt.

The victims — two married couples — were all found strapped into their seats. Police identified them as Israelis, ages 53 and 40, of Basking Ridge and David and Karen Nimrod, ages 48 and 50, of Manalapan. Ronald Ziv was piloting the plane, police said.

Captain Charles Schweigart of the Stafford Township Police Department told Ynet “Ronald and Rachel Ziv picked up their friends, the Nimrods, at the Old Ridge Airport and asked to fly to Atlantic City. For some unknown reason the plane changed its course and was making its way back. At a certain point the plane exploded and shrapnel was scattered everywhere, hitting roads, yards and even a house in Stafford. Fortunately, there were no injuries on the ground."

The Israeli consulate in New York and the Foreign Ministry said they are looking into the incident.

David, the son of David and Karen Nimrod, who turned 13 the day after the accident, told the New York Times that his mother worked as an occupational therapist and his father was in high-tech.

David and his brother Michael moved into their grandparents’ house.

The plane left Old Bridge Airport at about 10:15 a.m. headed for Bader Field in Atlantic City, according to Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters.

The first phone calls alerting authorities to the crash were made at 10:43 a.m., police said.

Paul Denet said six pieces of the plane fell in his yard, and he saw a wing of the plane floating in the lagoon behind his house.

‘The thing came out of the clouds’

"All I saw was pieces coming out of the sky," said Denet, 63. Five thin, aluminum pieces of the plane landed in his yard, as well as a piece of white fiberglass with red stripes.

Police placed a stake in the lagoon behind Denet's yard to mark the spot where a piece of one of the wings hit the water and sank.

"We were dumbfounded. We were like, "Where's the rest of the plane?'“ said Denet's wife,

Carla Gallo, 31, co-owner of a gift shop in the neighborhood, was outside the store with her 2-year-old in her arms when she heard noises above. She said she heard a whining sound and then a big pop, but did not see the plane itself.

"You just saw all these yellow and white pieces falling," Gallo said. "We didn't see the big part of the plane. We just saw the little pieces."

Paul Fagan, 68, who lives nearby, said he was in his front yard when he heard the plane pass overhead.

"The thing came out of the clouds and went wobbling down over there," he said pointing across the road and into the woods on the other side. He said the plane appeared to be intact as it passed.

"It was awful fast. I said to my wife, "It's crashing. Get 911!' " Fagan said.

FAA investigators were to inspect the wreckage, and investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were scheduled to arrive today, according to police Capt. Charles Schweigart.

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