Posted on 08/05/2007 11:00:53 AM PDT by MissEdie
GOOSE CREEK, S.C. --Two men were detained after police found and detonated a suspicious item found in their car during a routine stop for a speeding violation on a highway near Charleston, Berkeley County sheriff's Lt. Vince Lombard said Sunday morning.
Lombard said the men were being held pending a charge of unlawful possession of an explosive device, but he would not say what the device was or what bomb technicians from neighboring Charleston County exploded about 2:45 a.m. Sunday.
The item made a loud bang, similar to a firecracker, when it was demolished.
Authorities closed the road about 7 p.m. and federal officials later said there was "no immediate threat."
The car was heading west on U.S. Highway 176, away from Goose Creek and the Naval Weapons Station there, Lombard said. The facility also houses the U.S. Naval Consolidated Brig, a military prison where enemy combatants have been held. The traffic stop took place about 7 miles from the sprawling Navy facility.
A mile-long stretch of U.S. Highway 176 was reopened about 4 a.m. Sunday.
A reporter with WCBD-TV said she saw a robot remove something from the trunk of the car earlier in the evening, but that the item was not immediately moved from the scene.
South Carolina law enforcement Chief Robert Stewart told The Associated Press that his officers were on the scene, but that the FBI was handling the case and he did not elaborate.
Goose Creek, with a population of about 30,000, is located about 20 miles north of Charleston.
Published Saturday, August 18, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
FBI's Words Confuse Experts
TAMPA | For days after the arrest of two University of South Florida students accused of having pipe bombs, the FBI remained silent.
Wednesday, the agency released a statement telling the public it's possible there's no merit to the accusations against Youssef Megahed, 21, and Ahmed A. Mohamed, 26. Both were arrested Aug. 4 in Goose Creek, S.C., on charges of possession of explosives.
"The FBI would like to remind everyone that this is an ongoing investigation and there is the possibility that the publicly reported allegations involving the students may be proven to be false," it read.
An FBI spokesman said the agency is still investigating, that it released the statement only because there's so much interest in the case, and it wants to be fair.
"We're just making a request for everybody to be very objective at this time, very neutral," said Special Agent Dave Couvertier.
But local legal experts say there's likely more to it.
"That is a highly unusual statement from the FBI," said Tampa lawyer John Fitzgibbons, a former federal prosecutor. Other legal experts agreed, but no one knew what to make of it.
"Well, who knows what that means?" said Ed Page, a lawyer who has experience in Tampa and Washington, D.C. "Perhaps the initial assessment that the trunk contained pipe bombs was inaccurate. That's a weird statement, I've got to tell you, to be coming out of the FBI."
Fitzgibbons saw two scenarios.First, the FBI may not have a strong case against the students.Second, the Department of Justice may require a statement of that sort in its communication with the media.
I bet there are some really stunned cops who did the initial search .
Ah heck they are just crazy college students.
They should be sent back out in the world in good health.
They should have their teeth looked at, I am sure they need some work on them.
Technology being what it is these days, we then should be able to monitor their conversations.
(I hope they don’t read this)
South Florida Students Face Indictment for Carrying Explosives Across State Lines [Indicted]
Posted by STARWISE
On News/Activism 08/31/2007 10:31:06 AM PDT · 15 replies · 257+ views
FNC/AP ^ | 8-31-07
Were their names Billy Bob and Joe Earl, or Mohammed and Abdullah?
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