Posted on 11/25/2008 12:33:41 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has learned that federal law enforcement sources believe that a Twin Cities man blew himself up in a suicide bombing in Northern Somalia last month.
The FBI and Homeland Security are investigating whether Shirwa Ahmed had developed a terrorist recruiting network in the area.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS learned that Ahmed came to the Twin Cities in 1996 and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. He was a naturalized U.S. citizen.
More than a dozen young men of Somali descent, mostly in their 20s, from the Minneapolis area have recently disappeared, U.S. law enforcement officials tell 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. All are thought to be associates of Ahmed. U.S. officials suspect most of the young men have departed for Somalia to fight in ongoing violence there or to train in terrorist camps. Family members of the young men are said to be distraught, trying to figure to out what happened to them, sources say.
So far, the investigation has not uncovered credible evidence of a plot targeting the U.S. but American officials want to track down all these young men before they can say for certain what this is or is not, according to ABC News. Sources say the situation is being closely monitored by senior law enforcement and intelligence officials in Washington.
CIA Director Michael Hayden recently voiced his concern about increased fighting in Somalia and the Horn of Africa and the desire of Al Qaeda to strengthen it's ties in Somalia. "In East Africa, Al Qaeda's engaging Somali extremists to revitalize operations," said Hayden."And while there clearly has not yet been an official merger, the leader of the al-Shabaab terrorist group is closely tied to al-Qa’ida. And the recent bombings in Somalia may have meant, at least in part, may have been meant to strengthen the bona fides of this group with al-Qaeda's senior leaders. A merger between al-Shabaab and al-Qa’ida could give Somali extremists much needed funding while al-Qaeda could then claim to be re-establishing its operations based in East Africa. That's a base that was severely disrupted about two years ago when Ethiopia moved into Somalia."
Thanks. I didn’t know that.
It’s the quality of life. Terrorists from Africa and all around the world know this and come here for our culture and amenities. They don’t mind paying a little more in taxes for a better quality of life. So there . . .
/sarc
Well... because they're Black, they have more 'rights' to government programs than you do.
They also get to go to college, etc before your children.
See how distorted AA has become.
Thank you for the ping ButThreeLeftsDo.
ADDING some more links:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/023648.php
(KSTP.com)
November 25, 2008
“’Twin Cities man’ blew himself up in Somalia suicide bombing”
###
Previously...
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/023647.php
(MyFoxTwinCities)
November 25, 2008
“Somalis leaving Minnesota, returning home to wage jihad?”
###
###
A Look at Suicide Bombers/Homicide Bombers/Human Bombs/Jihadis:
Post no. 52:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2120552/posts?page=52#52
ADDING 1 link:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2139048/posts
“Mpls. Somali community reacts to terrorist reports (Update)”
KSTP.com ^ | 11/26/08 | Nicole Muehlhausen
Posted on November 26, 2008 8:22:51 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
MNF-IRAQ.com - Release No. 20081203-05: Mosul, Iraq - "PUSH CART EXPLODES NEAR SCHOOL" (SNIPPET: "The insurgents allegedly used a push cart loaded with explosives.") (December 3, 2008)
JIHAD WATCH.org (KSTP.com): "'TWIN CITIES MAN' BLEW HIMSELF UP IN SOMALIA SUICIDE BOMBING" (SNIPPET: "The FBI and Homeland Security are investigating whether Shirwa Ahmed had developed a terrorist recruiting network in the area.") (November 25, 2008)
JIHAD WATCH.org (MyFoxTwinCities): "SOMALIS LEAVING MINNESOTA, RETURNING HOME TO WAGE JIHAD?" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "They're known in the Somali community simply at The Missing. More than 20 young Somali men, between the ages of 17 and 22, who have left the Twin Cities in the last few months, without a single word to their families.") (November 25, 2008)
CNN.com: "FEMALE BOMBER KILLS 16 NEAR GOVERNMENT COMPLEX" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "More than 20 female suicide bombers have carried out attacks in Iraq this year, a number much higher than in previous years. According to the U.S. military, women carried out eight bombings in 2007. Authorities said that al Qaeda in Iraq is recruiting women and that increasing numbers of women are volunteering for missions.") (Updated June 22, 2008, 1927 GMT)
ADNKRONOS.com (AKI): Baghdad - "IRAQ: CHILD TERRORISTS BEHIND GROWING NUMBER OF ATTACKS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The Iraqi army has noted a rise in attacks carried out by children or women from 2007 to 2008. In the last year they are believed to have carried out at least 16 suicide attacks and 200 other bomb attacks.") (June 13, 2008)
KUNA.net.kw: Islamabad - "POLICE IN ISLAMABAD ARRESTS OVER 75 SUSPECTS AFTER REPORTS OF SUICIDE" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Syed Kalim Imam, Senior Superintendent Police (SSP), while talking to media said that security has been given a red alert and an operation has been launched to arrest eight teenaged suicide bombers. He added that so far more than 75 suspects have been arrested and that the operation was still underway.") (March 23, 2008, 5:56 pm)
MNF-IRAQ.com - Release No. 20080223-05: Mosul, Iraq - "COALITION FORCES DISCOVER DISGUISED TRUCK-BOMB" (PRESS RELEASE SNIPPET: "Coalition forces discovered a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device disguised as a Red Crescent food relief truck in southeastern Mosul Feb. 15. The truck was labeled with hospital markings but contained eight 55-gallon drums with more than 5,000 pounds of unknown bulk explosives.") (February 23, 2008)
DAWN.com (Peshawar, December 26, 2007): "YOUTH WITH DYNAMITE HELD NEAR RALLY VENUE" by Ali Hazrat Bacha (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Reliable sources said the 19-year-old suspect, who identified himself as Raham Islam of Matani, had dynamite strapped to his body and he was trying to enter the stadium when he was stopped by security personnel. The suspect said that he had come here from a wedding party and could not find time to dispose of the explosive material.") (December 27, 2007) (Read More...)
THE MEMRI BLOG.org ("Sources: Hurriyet, Yeni Safak, Turkey, December 25, 2007"): Turkey - "SUBWAY BOMBER ARRESTED IN ISTANBUL" (BLOG ENTRY SNIPPET: "Turkish media reported on the arrest in Istanbul of a PKK operative before he caused bloodshed. The terrorist was carrying with him 3.2 kg of A-4 plastic explosives when the police caught him yesterday, buying a ticket in an Istanbul subway station.") (December 25, 2007) (Read More...)
WASHINGTON TIMES.com (AP): Istanbul - "POLICE IN ISTANBUL FOIL BOMB-ATTACK PLOT" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Police thwarted a bomb attack in Istanbul yesterday, arresting a 25-year-old man with explosives in his backpack outside a subway station, the city's governor said.") (December 25, 2007) (Read More...)
DAWN.com (Peshawar, December 26, 2007): "YOUTH WITH DYNAMITE HELD NEAR RALLY VENUE" by Ali Hazrat Bacha (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Reliable sources said the 19-year-old suspect, who identified himself as Raham Islam of Matani, had dynamite strapped to his body and he was trying to enter the stadium when he was stopped by security personnel. The suspect said that he had come here from a wedding party and could not find time to dispose of the explosive material.") (December 27, 2007)
MNF-IRAQ.com - Release No. 20071116-02: Cob Speicher, Iraq - "SUICIDE CAR BOMB KILLS 2 CHILDREN, DAMAGES SCHOOL" (PRESS RELEASE SNIPPET: "A suicide car bomb attack killed two children, injured 11 more, and damaged an Iraqi school Nov. 15 in the city of Kirkuk. Additionally, the suicide car bomb killed an Iraqi teacher, two Iraqi policemen, and an unidentified Iraqi citizen.") (November 16, 2007)
TERRORISM-INFO.org.il - INTELLIGENCE AND TERRORISM INFORMATION CENTER at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC): SNIPPET: "Osama Hamdan, the Hamas representative in Lebanon, told Iranian television that suicide bombing attacks against Israel were justified, especially attacks in buses. He rejected the historical Jewish connection to the Land of Israel and stated that Hamas' avowed intention was to wipe Israel off the face of the map." (August 21, 2007)
BBC NEWS: "IRAQI SUICIDE BOMBING 'KILLS 15'" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "In another incident, Iraqi police said they shot dead a suspected suicide bomber as she tried to detonate her bomb at a Baghdad recruitment centre. The shots triggered her explosive belt, police said. Three police recruits received minor wounds from the explosion. The woman died.") (Last updated June 5, 2007, 17:34 GMT, 18:34 UK)
WTOP.com (AP): London - "STUDY SAYS IRAN TEXTBOOKS URGE MARTYRDOM" by Thomas Wagner, AP (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Textbooks used in Iran's schools are instilling students with hatred toward the West, especially the United States, and urging them to become "martyrs" in a global holy war against countries perceived to be enemies of Islam, a new study says. An Iranian human rights activist, Ghazal Omid, praised the findings, saying they prove hard-liners in Iran are using the books to turn children into "ticking bombs."") (February 8, 2007, 2:09 pm)
MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No. 1111: Palestinian Legislative Council Member 'Umm Nidal' on Saudi Iqra TV: A Muslim Mother Should Raise Her Children for Jihad Interviewer Iqra TV Director-General Critical of Arab TV Channels That Don't Support Martyrdom Operations" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The following are excerpts from an interview with Palestinian Legislative Council member "Umm Nidal" Farhat, aired on Saudi Iqra TV, on February 19, 2006. TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=1066" (March 10, 2006)
FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "CONVERTS TO TERROR" by Daniel Pipes (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Islamist terror organizations particularly prize converts. They know the local culture and blend in.") (December 6, 2005)
MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series No. 1032: "REFORMIST SAUDI AUTHOR: RELIGIOUS CASSETTES ADVOCATED JIHAD BY EMPHASIZING MARTYR'S SEXUAL REWARDS" (November 23, 2005)
MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No. 983: "COMMANDER OF HAMAS MILITARY WING WOMEN'S UNIT: 'Our Members Yearn for Martyrdom'" (September 9, 2005)
CORRIERE.IT/english: Turin - "TURIN IMAM DEPORTED -- "HE'S DANGEROUS" Accused of praising Bin Laden. Como-based Tunisian activist also expelled." (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The ten children taking part in the ring-o'-roses protest beneath the market clock in Porta Palazzo were all wearing suicide bomber belts. The year was 1997, and that was the first time Bouriqi Bouchta, whose idea it was, attracted Italy’s attention.") (September 7, 2005)
MEMRITV.org/Transcript - Video Clip No. 838 - 8/31/2005: " 8/31/2005 Clip No. 838: "Sheik of Al-Azhar Muhammad Tantawi Explains on Al-Hurra TV When a Suicide Bomber Becomes a Martyr and When He Is Not" (TRANSCRIPT SNIPPET: "Following are excerpts from an interview with Sheik of Al-Azhar Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi, which aired on Al-Hurra TV on August 31, 2005")
MEMRI TV.org - Clip No. 843 - Transcript: "SAUDI IQRA TV RAISES MONEY FOR PALESTINIAN INTIFADA" (TRANSCRIPT SNIPPET: "Caption: The Saudi committee for support of the Al-Quds Intifada. Account number 98, a joint account in all Saudi banks.") (August 29, 2005)
MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No. 909: "BAHRAINI AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST: THE PROPONENTS OF THE SUICIDE IDEOLOGY HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "In an article that appeared in the Saudi daily Al-Yawm, titled "The Globalization of Islamic Suicide" author and journalist Sawsan Al-Sha'er wrote that the extremist Islamist groups are taking advantage of global communications to recruit suicide bombers, and predicted the spread of the suicide bomber phenomenon to Britain as well.") (May 17, 2005)
MEMRI.org - MIDDLE EAST MEDIA RESEARCH INSTITUTE Special Report - No.32: "MEMRI TV Project Special Report: Arab and Iranian TV Clips in Support of Suicide Bombing" (September 1, 2004)
JIHAD WATCH.org: "RATIONAL, EDUCATED AND PROSPEROUS: JUST YOUR AVERAGE SUICIDE BOMBER" (May 15, 2004)
SAAG.org - SOUTH ASIA ANALYSIS GROUP: "SUICIDE & SUICIDAL TERRORISM" by B. Raman (March 12, 2004)
JIHAD WATCH.org (HAARETZ): "10 SUICIDE BOMBINGS FOILED OVER PASSOVER HOLIDAY" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "One of two Tanzim activists caught at the end of March told interrogators the group that sent them had planned a series of other attacks, including one with a device to which blood infected with AIDS would be attached.") (April 13, 2004)FrontPageMagazine.com: "AFFLUENT GENOCIDE" by Robert Spencer (October 14, 2003)
WorldNetDaily.com: "HAMAS LAUNCHES WEBZINE FOR KIDS Journal praises martyrs, encourages children to follow example" by Jon Dougherty (November 5, 2002)
NEW SCIENTIST.com: "SUICIDE BOMBERS MAY SPREAD DISEASE" (July 24, 2002)
WTVT.com - FOX13 Investigative: "JIHAD FOR KIDS" (February 4, 2002)
November 23, 2009
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://minneapolis.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/mp112309.htm
Terror Charges Unsealed in Minnesota Against Eight Defendants, Justice Department Announces
The Justice Department announced that terrorism charges have been unsealed today in the District of Minnesota against eight defendants. According to the charging documents, the offenses include providing financial support to those who traveled to Somalia to fight on behalf of al-Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization; attending terrorist training camps operated by al-Shabaab; and fighting on behalf of al-Shabaab.
Thus far, 14 defendants have been charged in the District of Minnesota in indictments or criminal complaints that have been unsealed and brought in connection with an ongoing investigation into the recruitment of persons from U.S. communities to train with or fight on behalf of extremist groups in Somalia. Four of these defendants have previously pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
The charges were announced today by David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; B Todd Jones, U.S. Attorney for the District of Minneapolis; and Ralph S. Boelter, Special Agent in Charge of the Minneapolis field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“The recruitment of young people from Minneapolis and other U.S. communities to fight for extremists in Somalia has been the focus of intense investigation for many months,” Assistant Attorney General Kris said. “While the charges unsealed today underscore our progress to date, this investigation is ongoing. Those who sign up to fight or recruit for al-Shabaab’s terror network should be aware that they may will end up as defendants in the United States or casualties of the Somali conflict.”
Background
According to court documents, between September 2007 and October 2009, approximately 20 young men, all but one of Somali descent, left the Minneapolis, Minnesota, area and traveled to Somalia, where they trained with al-Shabaab, a designated terrorist organization. Many of them ultimately fought with al-Shabaab against Ethiopian forces, African Union troops, and the internationally-supported Transitional Federal Government (“TFG”).
Court documents also state that the first group of six men traveled to Somalia in December 2007. Prior to their departure, the six men, as well as others in the Minneapolis area, raised money for the trips and held meetings in which they made phone calls to alleged co-conspirators in Somalia.
Upon arriving in Somalia, the men from Minneapolis allegedly stayed at safe-houses in Somalia and attended an al-Shabaab training camp. The al-Shabaab training camp included dozens of other young ethnic Somalis from Somalia, elsewhere in Africa, Europe, and the United States. Purportedly, the trainees were trained by, among others, Somali, Arab, and Western instructors as to small arms, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, and military-style tactics. Allegedly, the trainees also were indoctrinated with anti-Ethiopian, anti-American, anti-Isreali, and anti-Western beliefs. Two men from Minneapolis who completed the training camp later participated in an ambush of Ethiopian troops.
According to court documents, on October 29, 2008, Shirwa Ahmed, one of the men who left Minnesota in December 2007 and attended the al-Shabaab training camp, took part in one of five simultaneous suicide attacks on targets in northern Somalia. The attacks appeared to have been coordinated. Shirwa Mohamud Ahmed, also known as “Shirwa,” drove an explosive-laden Toyota truck into an office of the Puntland Intelligence Service in Bossasso, Puntland. Other targets included a second Puntland Intelligence Service Office in Bossasso, the Presidential Palace, the United Nations Development Program office, and the Ethiopian Trade Mission in Hargeisa. Including the suicide bombers, approximately twenty people were killed in the attacks.
Today in Minnesota, United States Attorney B. Todd Jones said of these cases, “The sad reality is that the vibrant Somali community here in Minneapolis has lost many of its sons to fighting in Somalia. These young men have been recruited to fight in a foreign war by individuals and groups using violence against government troops and civilians. Those tempted to fight on behalf of or provide support to any designated terrorist group should know they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Joining U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones was Ralph S. Boelter, Special Agent in Charge of the Minneapolis field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who added, “It is through the sustained and dedicated efforts of the Minneapolis Joint Terrorism Task Force and the support of the Somali-American community that today we are able to disclose some of the siginificant progress we have achieved in this critical investigation. At the same time, I emphasize the sole focus of our efforts in this matter has been the criminal conduct of a small number of mainly Somali-American individuals and not the broader Somali-American community itself, which as consistently expressed deep concern about this pattern of recruitment activity in support of al-Shabaab.”
Charging Documents Unsealed
The Justice Department announced that three charging documents were unsealed this morning in the District of Minnesota:
United States v. Mahamud Said Omar, 09-CR-242
On August 20, 2009, a federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging Mahamud Said Omar with terrorism offenses. According to the indictment, from September 2007 through the present, Omar, who is a Somali citizen but was granted permanent U.S. resident status in 1994, conspired with others to provide financial assistance as well as personnel to terrorists and foreign terrorist organizations. On November 8, 2009, law enforcement authorities in the Netherlands arrested Omar pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant. The United States has filed its request for extradition. According to documents unsealed this morning, including affidavits in support of the United States’ request for extradition of Omar from the Netherlands, Omar provided money to young men to travel from Minneapolis to Somalia to train with and fight for al-Shabaab. Omar also allegedly visited an al-Shabaab safe-house and provided hundreds of dollars to fund the purchase of AK-47 rifles for men from Minneapolis.
Omar currently is in custody in the Netherlands.
United States v. Ahmed Ali Omar, Khalid Abshir, Zakaria Maruf, Mohamed Hassan and Mustafa Salat , 09-CR-50
On August 20, 2009, a federal grand jury returned a second superseding indictment charging Ahmed Ali Omar, Khalid Abshir, Zakaria Maruf, Mohamed Hassan, and Mustafa Salat with terrorism-related offenses. These men were charged in the summer of 2009 with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and foreign terrorist organizations; conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim, and injure people outside the United States; possessing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence; and solicitation to commit a crime of violence. The indictments that detail the charges filed against these co-conspirators also were unsealed today.
None of the five defendants is in custody. All five are believed to be outside of the United States.
United States v. Cabdulaahi Ahmed Faarax United States v. Abdiweli Yassin Isse
On October 9, 2009, a criminal complaint was filed, charging Cabdulaahi Ahmed Faarax and Abdiweli Yassin Isse with conspiring to kill, kidnap, maim, or injure persons outside the United States. The affidavit filed in support of the complaint states that in the fall of 2007, Faarax and others met at a Minneapolis mosque to telephone co-conspirators in Somalia to discuss the need for Minnesota-based co-conspirators to go to Somalia to fight the Ethiopians. The affidavit also alleges that later that fall, Faarax attended a meeting with co-conspirators at a Minneapolis residence, where he encouraged others to travel to Somalia to fight and told them how he had experienced true brotherhood while fighting a “jihad” in Somalia. Subsequently, Faarax was interviewed three times by authorities and each time denied fighting or knowing anyone who had fought in Somalia.
The criminal complaint states that Abdiweli Yassin Isse also encouraged others to travel to Somalia to fight the Ethiopians. He purportedly described at a gathering of co-conspirators his own plans to fight “jihad” against Ethiopians, and he raised money to buy airplane tickets for others to make the trip to Somalia for the same purpose. In raising that money, he allegedly misled community members into thinking they were contributing money to send young men to Saudi Arabia to study the Koran. The complaint that details the charges filed against these co-conspirators also was unsealed today.
Faarax and Isse are not in custody. Both men are believed to be outside of the United States.
Guilty Pleas
The Justice Department also announced that four residents of Minneapolis have entered guilty pleas in connection with this investigation, one resident of Minneapolis awaits trial on charges that he made false statements to the FBI, and one resident of Minneapolis was just recently indicted on related charges.
United States v. Kamal Hassan, 09-CR-38
On February 19, 2009, Kamal Said Hassan pleaded guilty to one count of providing material support to terrorists, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2339A, and one count of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2339B, respectively. On August 12, 2009, Hassan pled guilty to one count of making false statements to the FBI.
Hassan currently is in custody awaiting sentencing.
United States v. Abdifatah Yusuf Isse, 09-CR-50 United States v. Salah Osman Ahmed, 09-CR-50
On April 24, 2009, Abdifatah Yusuf Isse entered a guilty plea to one count of providing material support to terrorists, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2339A. On July 28, 2009, Salah Osman Ahmed entered a guilty plea to one count of providing material support to terrorists, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2339A.
Isse and Ahmed currently are in custody awaiting sentencing.
United States v. Adarus Abdulle Ali
On November 2, 2009, Adarus Abdulle Ali pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of perjury for making false statements to a federal grand jury in December of 2008, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1623.
Ali has been released pending a sentencing hearing.
Additional Pending Cases
United States v. Abdow Munye Abdow
On October 13, 2009, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Abdow Munye Abdow with making false statements to the FBI, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2). The indictment alleges that on October 8, 2009, Abdow lied to FBI agents when he was questioned after being stopped during a road trip from Minneapolis to Las Vegas. Abdow purportedly told the agents only one other person was traveling with him when, according to officials, four people were accompanying him. In addition, Adbow allegedly told the agents he did not know how the rental car in which he was riding had been financed when, according to officials, he had used his own debit card to pay for the car.
Abdow has been released pending trial.
United States v. Omer Abdi Mohamed
On November 19, 2009, Omer Abdi Mohamed was arrested on charges that he conspired to provide material support to terrorists; that he provided material support to terrorists; and that he conspired to kill, kidnap, main, and injure persons outside the United States.
Mohamed was released on bond pending further proceedings.
Participants
The investigation into the recruitment of young men to join al-Shabaab and those supporting that recruiting effort has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance and cooperation of the Dutch KLPD; the Dutch Ministry of Justice; Judith Friedman at the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs; the U.S. Department of State; the embassies at Abu Dhabi, UAE; Sanaa, Yemen; and The Hague in the Netherlands; and the Department of Defense. The case is being prosecuted by W. Anders Folk, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and William M. Narus, from the Justice Department’s Counterterrorism Section, with assistance having been provided by David Bitkower, formerly of the Counterterrorism Section and currently an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York.
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