Posted on 12/09/2020 11:56:38 AM PST by ransomnote
Seattle – Two people arrested on the BNSF Railway tracks near Bellingham, Whatcom County, were charged with terrorist attack and other violence against a railroad carrier, and appeared in federal court today, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. SAMANTHA FRANCES BROOKS, 27, and ELLEN BRENNAN REICHE, 23, both of Bellingham, Washington, were arrested Saturday night in Bellingham as they allegedly placed a ‘shunt’ on the tracks. A shunt disrupts the low level electrical current on the tracks and can disable various safety features.
“Since January there have been 41 incidents of shunts placed on the BNSF tracks in Whatcom and Skagit counties—causing crossing guards to malfunction, interfering with automatic braking systems, and, in one case, causing the near-derailment of tanks of hazardous chemicals,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “These crimes endanger our community. I commend the agents from Customs and Border Protection, FBI, BNSF Police, and state and local partners who prioritized stopping this criminal conduct.”
According to the criminal complaint, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has been investigating the placement of shunts on the BNSF tracks since January 19, 2020. The shunt is comprised of wire and magnets that are stretched between the tracks, disrupting the systems that indicate a train is on the tracks. On ten occasions, shunts were placed in areas that disrupt the crossing guards where the tracks cross streets, so vehicles could have tried to cross the tracks unaware of the oncoming train. On the night of October 11, 2020, multiple shunts were placed in three different locations in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. The shunts triggered an automatic braking system on a train that was transporting hazardous and combustible material. The emergency braking then caused a portion of the train to decouple from the engine. Decoupling has the potential to cause a derailment—in this case—of tanker cars of flammable gas in a residential area.
Shortly after the first shunts were discovered in January, a claim of responsibility was published on an anarchist website.
On Saturday night, November 28, 2020, BNSF Police observed video surveillance of two people kneeling on the tracks near a crossing in Bellingham. Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene. The defendants were detained for trespassing, and a shunt was found on the tracks near where they had been observed on surveillance. The defendants had a paper bag containing wire, a drill with a brush head, and rubber gloves. The wire was similar to the wire used in the shunting incidents. The shunt that was placed on the tracks would have interfered with the railroad crossing guard at Cliffside Drive in Bellingham.
Terrorist attack on a railroad facility is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes agents from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in connection with the BNSF Railway Police. Critical investigative assistance is being provided by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Woods.
When I was a kid, we put pennies on the railroad rails.........................
FYI, from a web search, they appear to be a ‘couple’. Not sure which is the Cis-male looking one.
You can imagine what these “ladies” are about...
Back when I lived in the Seattle area I remember a story about a bunch of protesters trying to stop a train by Bangor. One of them lost his legs.
These unhappy women were willing to kill many other people because they are unhappy?
For crying out loud.
Not one brain cell between them.
I think that their punishment should include letting every citizen give them one good kick in the ass.
Messing with trains is serious business.
I hope these two specimens get the max punishment.
Wow. Amazing there have been no accidents or derailments.
Sounds like a good case for an expedited hearing and trying out one of the new federal firing squads. After a fair trial and conviction, of course.
If they are not going to try people stealing votes, why try anybody?
[Terrorist attack on a railroad facility is punishable by up to 20 years in prison]
I saw several pictures of Reiche with an unidentified femaile (including RT), but I didn’t see any of Brooks.
Ellen Brennan Reiche, who identifies as “non-binary” and uses “they/them” pronouns, was the deputy field organizer for Washington State Democrats, according to their now-deleted LinkedIn profile.(the use of "they" sure makes for difficult reading)Reiche is a radical queer environmental activist who co-founded and leads the ‘Bellingham Lesbian Collective.’ They are a co-host on “The L World” lesbian-themed podcast.
41 counts at 20 a pop would be over 800 years. If we had any decent judges that would max out a terrorist, that would be enough. More likely they’ll end up with 20 months, not 20 years.
The tracks that they are targeting carry large trains of crude oil to the refineries here, as well as coal going up to Canada. That was their mission.
look for these two to get a massive pussy pass.
Personally, 29 years, minimum, sounds about right.
Just tie them to the tracks, and be done with them. Sick of judicial welfare. Just let the punishment fit the crime.
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