Man was arming for 'war,' FBI says

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 02/02/2007 | Robert Patrick

[Mount Athos]

A St. Charles man obtained fully automatic weapons and tried to buy as many explosives as possible in preparation for what an associate called "war," the FBI says in court documents.

He bought three rifles and a Claymore anti-personnel mine and negotiated for a case of hand grenades, documents obtained by the Post-Dispatch show.

Mousa M. Abuelawi, 22, of Franjoe Court, was arrested Dec. 29 and charged on complaints accusing him of three counts of illegal possession or distribution of a machine gun and conspiracy to violate machine gun statutes.

Abuelawi, a Palestinian immigrant free on $50,000 bond, could not be reached. His brother declined to comment on his behalf. His lawyers, Scott Rosenblum and Gil Sison, did not return calls.

The context of the word "war" was not explained in court filings; the FBI declined to comment.

The man to whom the word was attributed, Thaer Abde Sumad, said in an interview Thursday that the purchases were not intended for terrorism but to make money supplying street gangs in a St. Louis turf war.

Sumad, 23, is not charged, although he is identified in an FBI affidavit as being present for one of the transactions.

He told a reporter he had no role in handling the firearms or explosives. He said he was at a meeting between Abuelawi and a federal informer outside a St. Louis gas station where Sumad works only because he knows both and wanted to say hello.

Sumad suggested that he and Abuelawi attracted special attention because of the sound of their names and their Arab ethnicity.

Abuelawi's lawyers have said he is a Palestinian immigrant.

Sumad is of Palestinian descent but was born in Indiana and raised in St. Louis, he said.

[moonman]

I hope he posted his own $50,000 bond. Any Bondsman who would take $5,000 and put up $45,000 for this guy must be crazy to think he is staying around for the trial.

[Emmett McCarthy]

As a matter of principle, I refuse to capitalize the word islam, although I understand your caps as emphasis. Yes, you are correct in that our so-called "leaders" refuse to name the enemy and refuse to take the steps necessary to at least help insure our common good and safety. The borders are open, the mosques throughout the country preach against us, the convenience stores are all too often fronts and money laundries for our enemies. It's as if the government thinks that if we show all these people some "good ol' American hospitality" they'll change their minds about slitting our throats.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Rock's version of Edgar Allan Poe

And, oddly, about as under-rated as Poe in his day.
Niether one got their props until after they passed on.

[dd5339]

Gee, nothing to see here....

Does Beslan ring any bells?

Semper Fi

[My2Cents]

(Precisely my same thought. Another case of "gun-grabbing.")

[No Surrender No Retreat]

Hello EM,
You are 10000000000000000000000000000000000% correct. It is apparent many of our "leaders" have sold us out from the top to the bottom. The truth is, they will not be safe in their protected enclaves when the jihadists come a calling.
The PC traitors and feel good liberals will be easy prey for the moslems still living in the 7th century.
Myself I would love to see all the moosleems and illegals deported on a one way ticket. P.S that would include all their sympathizers & enablers as well.
To me, "They ain't nothin, but a thang just another islamic chicken on a strang."
Respectfully,
NSNR-CSAOTL

[wildbill]

Guy is an immigrant, no wife, no kids, and he gets out on a $50,000 bail.

Anyone wanna bet he's gone in the wind? Next stop Pehawar or Kandahar.

[NRA2BFree]

As a matter of principle, I refuse to capitalize the word islam, although I understand your caps as emphasis. Yes, you are correct in that our so-called "leaders" refuse to name the enemy and refuse to take the steps necessary to at least help insure our common good and safety. The borders are open, the mosques throughout the country preach against us, the convenience stores are all too often fronts and money laundries for our enemies. It's as if the government thinks that if we show all these people some "good ol' American hospitality" they'll change their minds about slitting our throats.

You know, the sad thing about it is that whenever there is another attack on America, even if it happens 5 years from now, it's going to be blamed on President Bush because he refused to close the borders. He did it all because he wanted to advance his global agenda.

[Emmett McCarthy]

You're right, but I don't think it's unfair to hold him responsible. I mean, we hold Clinton responsible for his failure to act after the '93 WTC attack, the embassy bombings, etc., don't we? All those thing led to 9/11 and Bush's failure - his arrogant refusal - to close the borders will cause problems and he should be blamed.