BROOKLYN BRIDGE TERROR PLOT SUSPECT SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ^ | DERRILL HOLLY

[freeperfromnj]

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A terror defendant accused of plotting to cut through the cables that support New York’s Brooklyn Bridge was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday by a judge who refused to let him withdraw his guilty plea.

Iyman Faris was sentenced to 15 years for aiding and abetting terrorism, plus five years for conspiracy.

According to prosecutors, Faris, 34, traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan, carrying out low level missions for terrorists. He provided sleeping bags, cellular telephones and cash to members of al-Qaida and met with Osama bin Laden in 2000 at a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan, his accusers said. He also was accused of providing the terror group with information about possible U.S. targets.

Although he is alleged to have investigated the possibility of using a gas cutter to burn through the Brooklyn Bridge’s suspension cables, Faris ultimately recommended through e-mail messages to his contacts against pursuing that option, which he described as “unlikely to succeed.”

Authorities said Faris received attack instructions from top terrorist leader Khalid Shaikh Mohammed for what they suggested might have been a second wave planned for New York and Washington to follow the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Faris pleaded guilty in May, but last month asked to withdraw the plea. U.S. District Court Judge Leonie M. Brinkema would not allow him to, saying she accepted the plea based on what Faris said at the time. However, she preserved his right to appeal the withdrawal attempt.

Faris was born in Pakistan and became a U.S. citizen in 1999. Since his arrival in the United States in 1994, his primary occupation has been truck driver.

Faris, formerly a resident of Columbus, Ohio, also has used the name Mohammad Rauf.

[martin_fierro]

Hey Rauf: Bend over and enjoy the next twenty years, b*tch.

[Lion in Winter]

I don't think he will live that long in prison. Terrorists are prime targets for prison thugs now.

[Cobra64]

I'd send the bastard through a wood chipper (in the Saddam Heussein tradition) and have the media cover the action.

[freeperfromnj]

One less jihadist to worry about. Lord knows how many others are out there waiting to execute their terror mission.

[JohnGalt]

Funny, this article forgot to mention he worked for the FBI.

File it in the memory hole, I guess.

[tubavil]

Let's hope that's true.

I'm not so sure though with the large muslim prison influence. saudi currently targets and pays for prison 'chaplains' just like the military.

My understanding is both (prison & military) are the largest growth segments of the "fastest growing religion in America."

[freeperfromnj]

Funny, this article forgot to mention he worked for the FBI.

Wow! In that case he should've gotten 40 years.

[Shermy]

Authorities said Faris received attack instructions from top terrorist leader Khalid Shaikh Mohammed for what they suggested might have been a second wave planned for New York and Washington to follow the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

And what would this second wave be???

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Highly doubtful he'll find his virgins in prison.

[JohnGalt]

I am more curious about the lack of firings and pensions stripping his gubmint handlers deserve.

[aristeides]

Terrorists are prime targets for prison thugs now.

Aren't they protected by the Black Muslims in prisons?

[swarthyguy]

>>what would this second wave be???

The one we stopped, but never heard about.

Also, wasn't Rauf the alias for the Shoe Bomber as we were told. Travlled to Israel etc. Found in a PC in Afghanistan

Maybe disinfo, because now they say Iyman was Rauf.

[swarthyguy]

-Snip~ from your link...

Captured al-Qa'eda man was FBI spy
By David Rennie in Washington
(Filed: 23/06/2003)


The American al-Qa'eda operative unmasked last week as having planned to bring down the Brooklyn Bridge was first detained in March, and has been used by the FBI for months as a double agent, it was reported yesterday.


Iyman Faris
US authorities waited until last week to announce a plea bargain struck with Iyman Faris, a Pakistani-born lorry driver ordered to scout out terror targets, including the New York landmark.

They did not say that Faris, who was also ordered to study ultralight aircraft, and the possibility of derailing a train into a chemical storage facility in Washington, had been under FBI control for months.

[Shermy]

U.S. Forces Detain Al-Jazeera Staffers

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Coalition forces in Iraq (news - web sites) have detained two Al-Jazeera staffers on allegations they had prior knowledge of a car bombing in Baghdad, the editor of the Arab satellite television station said Tuesday.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031028/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_al_jazeera_1

[Right_in_Virginia]

A terror defendant accused of plotting to cut through the cables that support New York’s Brooklyn Bridge was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday by a judge who refused to let him withdraw his guilty plea.

In a word: GOOD.

[okie01]

"And what would this second wave be???"

They didn't say, did they?

And, apparently, the AP and Derrill Holly didn't bother to ask...