Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - Thread Seven

The Washington Times ^ | 4-26-04 | Bill Gertz

[JustPiper]

"I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat"

Two Chinese diplomats, away from their Los Angeles consulate improperly, recently sped their vehicle past a Los Alamos National Laboratory guard post near classified facilities in what U.S. officials think was an intelligence mission, The Washington Times has learned.

[freeperfromnj]

L.A. Malls Increase Security After Threat

Los Angeles Malls Tighten Security After Terror Warning, but Shoppers Unfazed

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES April 30 — Shoppers flocked to malls despite warnings of a potential terrorist strike against Los Angeles shopping centers near the Federal Building.

Dozens of police and security guards patrolled shopping complexes around the city Thursday, and the unspecified threat that federal authorities fielded earlier this week passed without incident.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040430_418.html

[freeperfromnj]

Speaking of threats, did you happen to catch the local Fox 5 News at 10:00 last night? They had a breaking news story and video from News Copter 5 showing a New Jersey Transit bus near a Mall. A policie officer noticed a suspicious device hanging underneath the bottom of the bus. They were waiting for the bomb squad to check everything out. Looked like a big deal. Today, there is not story anywhere to be found about it.

[Calpernia]

Thanks. I'm still not fully normal computer wise yet. I crash while trying to multitask.

Have you seen any updates on MonkeyPox? I haven't seen anything updated since the 'outbreak' notice at the CDC.

[Calpernia]

Only local news I've been hearing about is McGreevey's car accident.

What mall had that bus near it? Do you remember?

[Velveeta]

Dang, INdie. Did the stranger do any type of damage?

[Calpernia]

Apr 30, 9:08 AM EDT

3 Egyptians Acquitted of Planning Attack

By AIDAN LEWIS
Associated Press Writer

ROME (AP) -- A court Friday acquitted three Egyptians of planning an attack on a U.S. military cemetery near Rome and other U.S. interests in Italy, dealing a second blow this week to anti-terror prosecutors.

The verdict in the high-security courtroom in the capital was handed down after about two hours of deliberations. Prosecutors said they would appeal.

Earlier this week, Rome prosecutors suffered a setback in a separate case when nine Moroccans accused of planning an attack on the U.S. Embassy in the capital were acquitted, along with three other suspects.

The three Egyptians were arrested in October 2002 and have been detained ever since.

At the time of their arrest, a search of their apartment in the port town of Anzio, south of Rome, turned up more than four pounds of TNT, a belt that could be packed with explosives, a handgun and a map indicating the American cemetery in nearby Nettuno, with two of its entrances marked.

Prosecutors alleged the men were planning an attack on the cemetery, on McDonald's restaurants and on Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport.

The men had been charged with illegal possession of weapons and "subversive association aimed at international terrorism" - a charge introduced after the Sept. 11 attacks as part of Italy's efforts to crack down on suspected Islamic terrorists.

Prosecutor Erminio Amelio had asked for a prison terms of 12 years apiece, and for a $1,200 fine for each suspect.

He said he would appeal the ruling, as prosecutors can do in Italy. He declined further comment, saying only: "We will wait to see what the judges' decision is," referring to the written explanation of the ruling expected in a few weeks.

The defendants have always denied any wrongdoing. Two were working as fishermen and one as a street vendor at the time of their arrests. They insisted they were set up, and that all the suspicious material found in their apartment had been put there by somebody else.

"These are very normal people, people who practice their religion in a way that is not activist or ideological," Carlo Corbucci, a lawyer for one of them, said before the verdict. "They do not have the time or the means to get involved in political or ideological activism."

[Calpernia]

From center left, Egyptians Magdi Shalabej, Ali El Gammal and Mohamed El Zahed shake hands with their lawyer during the trial in the Foro Italico maximum security court in Rome, Friday April 30, 2004. An Italian court on Friday acquitted the three Egyptians of planning an attack on an American military cemetery near Rome and other U.S. interests in Italy. In background with blue cap, an Italian Penitentiary Police officer. (AP Photo/Massimo Sambucetti)

[WestCoastGal]

That AP article is incorrect, every news channel last night early and late evening showed empty malls. Everyone in the mall was either an employee or security or police. The Grove Mall, Westside Mall and Century City were virtually empty except for those people who normally have their head in the sand and didn't know what was going on. The reporters said over and over again there were few people shopping and many employers reporting their employees called in sick.

Even one of the mall owners who is on the LAPD Commission for the City Of LA said they knew when they released this that it would affect their business but they felt it was a specific enough threat that they had to issue the alert.

I heard one report last night that the caller said "he hoped by calling this threat information in it would help him become a citizen" I have not heard or seen this reported since. It's an odd thing to say for sure!!!

I give credit to the officials who decided it was better to alert the citizens of LA rather than leave them in the dark. Millions of eyes are better than a few (only in the know)

[Velveeta]

They insisted they were set up, and that all the suspicious material found in their apartment had been put there by somebody else.

Yeah, right. (So were the cigarettes that Mom found in my purse in high school.)

[Letitring]

Hum, sounds like the ones my Dad found under the passenger side seat, in my car. LOL. Odd how those things just popped up, huh? :)

[WestCoastGal]

I-5 Northbound at Atlantic in Los Angeles closed by trucks blocking the road. This is being reported as a protest against the high price of diesel fuel.

[WestCoastGal]

Reports are that they have planned to do this on 3-4 other freeways (60 210 & ?) this morning. So far though no other freeways are blocked.

Three drivers in custody. Code 4 Trucks are still blocking road.

[Velveeta]

LOL! The only difference is your Dad and my Mom didn't believe us.

[Velveeta]

I-5. I just got chills.

(Heading out to get some work done, bbl)

[WestCoastGal]

Now the I-10 at Harbor is blocked.

[Letitring]

Yeah, I do remember. THere was one photo with a bunch of them all bent over and dressed up like coca-cola bottles. Weirdness continues.

Newsies are postively orgasmic over Michael weirdo Jackson today. I am about as tired of him as I am of Arafat.

[cgk]

I finally found the story (too much Jacko coverage). They're saying the 5 is re-opened...

[mfccinsd]

I was wondering if this would be posted by the time I got here...traffic was horrible on my way to work this morning so I heard when they first started talking about it when they (KNX radio) was just saying it was jack-knifed big rigs (plural) and I was wondering about our 5 trucks...and also just the LA stuff in general.

Then of course they were saying it was planned now as I got up here...and that others were targeted, as well. What a mess this could be.

Now they're saying it's to protest gas prices...initially they mentioned port security...are they saying it's gas definitively now? I need to go read what else you guys have heard!

[cgk]

High diesel fuel costs? They're about to go higher if they haven't already, with that diesel fuel spill in San Francisco, right?

[WestCoastGal]

Yes the CHP said they were prepared and had been advised in advance that this may happen. Also said they have emergency plans in place in case of a major emergency event in the city.

710, 10 and 60 are clear.