Relatives: Rampage suspect may have been stressed...(Details on Afghan-American who ran down 14)

Mercury News via Sweetness & Light ^ | August 29, 2006

[Sam Hill]

From the Bay area Mercury News [excerpted]:

Relatives: Rampage suspect may have been stressed over wedding

By James Hohmann and Katherine Corcoran

Relatives of a Fremont man connected to Tuesday's deadly driving rampage said he may have been distraught after returning recently from Afghanistan without his newlywed wife who is waiting for a visa.

Omeed Aziz Popal, 29, who sources said was being held by the San Francisco police, was normally a kind and gentle person, said Hamid Nekrawesh, 43, a first cousin in Fremont.

But a recent trip to Afghanistan to participate in an arranged marriage could have caused him a lot of stress, Nekrawesh said.

"He was a very respectful, quiet, nice guy,'' Nekrawesh said. "I've never seen him do anything violent.''

Zarghona Ramish of San Jose, who also identified herself as Popal's cousin, said he had been having strange dreams since returning a month ago from Afghanistan...

He was born in Afghanistan, but came to the United States at a young age. Three months ago, he returned to his home country to marry, relatives said, and his wife's family was very traditional and strict.

"He grew up as a Western boy in the United States and went to Afghanistan to get married culturally over there,'' Nekrawesh said...

An earlier video report from San Francisco's KTVU does not describe the perpetrator in any way. It offers no physical description of the driver or even any mention of his name.

All that is allowed to be said about him is to have some witnesses remark upon his placid demeanor.

The KTVU piece does deign to mention that the indescribable driver ended up near a Jewish Community center. And that "one witness said he referred to himself as a terrorist."

Of course the reporter quickly goes on to assure us, "but police say this case might have been many things, but it wasn't an act of terrorism."

But why is this so certain?

Note that the Mercury article mentioned Popal's is his first cousin, Hamid Nekrawesh.

Mr. Nekrawesh appears to be a devout follower of Islam, or at least greatly interested in it. He is also interested in the progress of the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Nekrawesh is also a contributor (of $50) to the anti-war Bush-hating crackpot Lyndon Larouche.

The other relative mentioned, Zarghona Ramish, has been issued an order from the state of California (view pdf file) to desist and refrain from her pyramid scheme:

7. During 2001, 2002, and 2003, Ramish, Ghias, Farzana, Tamiz, Abawi, and Aziz were active participants in an organization operating under the name of Women Helping Women (WHW), Women Empowering Women (WEW), Women Helping Women Dinner Party (DP), or The Women’s Garden Party or Garden Circle (WGP).

8. WHW, WEW, DP, and WGP operated as a pyramid scheme.

9. Women in these groups operated by inviting women to a "potluck" gathering at individual’s homes and/or community centers or conference rooms. The gathering was described as a "support group." During the gatherings, women would be recruited to contribute money to the group.

Women Helping Women (WHW) raised money for women suffering in Pakistan after the 2005 earthquake. (As we know, the plotters who wanted to blow up all those planes from the UK to US last week were also raising for Pakistan quake relief, and funded their plans with some of it.)

But perhaps I am needlessly suspicious.

Still, it was just six months ago we were talking about another mixed up and murderous SUV driver of Middle Eastern heritage.

Nobody wanted to call the clean-cut UNC student Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar a terrorist, either.

[Jo Nuvark]

[...Why is it that Nationwide, whenever a Muslim is involved in any serious crime,(even horrific ones such as this) it appears the PC "Police" (pun intended)rush to deny ANY possible relation between the perp and being a Muuzie?...]

DOUBLE (stating the obvious) STANDARD!
MSM religiously assign race to an individual, UNLESS that individual is Muslim.

[visualops]

Thanks, appreciate the explanation. Just seemed odd they had some listed as traffic court and others as municipal court.

[ushr435]

Hmm, are you sure this is SJS? It could be a case of another devil-spawned SUV gone astray. Can SUVs suffer from SJS?

[fortunecookie]

Crazy yes. Sure. Stressed. Okay. But it's odd that it comes just weeks after his visit to Afghanistan and his new traditional and strict inlaws and bride. Hmm. I think there may be more to the story. He could just be a regular guy convinced to show some 'courageous' act to impress or fit in with the new family, but still guilty.

[dennisw]

[Erasmus]

He found out they had him hitched to an F.I.

[jmcenanly]

If anyone but a Muslim behaved in this way, he'd be met with a SWAT team and, if he survived, a one-way trip on the Disorient express.

[Frwy]

What the ........ when I was stressed I had a stroke. I didn't think of mowing down 14 Americans, or even muzzies for that matter.

[madison10]

Gee, that's what I do when I'm stressed...plow my pick-up into a crowd of people. /sarc

[marajade]

well she ain't gonna come here now