Posted on 12/12/2008 3:57:22 AM PST by Cindy
Pajamas Media | Friday, December 12, 2008 The funeral for Shirwa Ahmed last week in Burnsville, Minnesota, punctuated a growing national security threat metastasizing inside the U.S. — one Homeland Security and law enforcement authorities have quickly taken note of. Ahmed, who killed himself in a suicide bombing attack in Somalia in October, is just one of up to 40 men from the Twin Cities area who have disappeared and are feared to have returned to their homeland for training with the al-Shabaab terrorist group to wage jihad. The FBI is investigating similar disappearances in other major Somali communities in Columbus, OH, Atlanta, Boston, San Diego, and Seattle. There are even reports coming from Europe, recently from Denmark, of Somali men returning home to fight with al-Shabaab and other terrorist organizations.
ABC News also reports that a Somali from Boston, Tarek Mehenna, a U.S. citizen, was arrested last month on his way to Somalia to wage jihad after being in contact with Daniel Maldonado, a Muslim convert currently in federal prison after pleading guilty to training at a Somali terror training camp after being captured in Kenya with a Somali terrorist cell.
(Excerpt) Read more at frontpagemag.com ...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,582808,00.html
“Somalia, Like Yemen, Growing as Training Ground for Terrorists”
Monday, January 11, 2010
SNIPPET: “The Western face of Al Shabaab is an American, Omar Hammami, from Daphne, Ala. In propaganda videos, he goes by the name of Al-Amriki, which simply means “the American.”
The FBI is investigating the disappearance of two dozen Somali Americans into the Shabaab camps in Somalia. The camps are also drawing recruits form England, Canada and Western Europe.
“Al Shabaab controls much of southern Somalia. It has, as I said. apparently set up camps from which they have run at least several hundred foreign fighters. They’ve introduced and uh, made use of suicide bombings which up until a few years ago were virtually unknown in Somalia,” said Mark Bellamy, former U.S. ambassador to Kenya.”
http://www.startribune.com/local/82296722.html
“Somali terror suspect out of jail
Seattle resident is cooperating in the investigation of Minneapolis men who left to fight in Somalia.”
By JAMES WALSH, Star Tribune
Last update: January 21, 2010 - 10:03 PM
SNIPPET: “Abdifatah Yusuf Isse, 25, pleaded guilty to supporting terrorists and has been cooperating for months with investigators working on the case of up to 20 Minneapolis men who returned to jihad in Somalia. He was released after agreeing to pay $25,000 if he does not appear in court when required.”
SNIPPET: “Isse was one of the first men indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of providing material support to terrorists and conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim or injure. Since then, 14 men have been indicted or charged in one of this country’s largest counterterrorism investigations since 9/11. Four of the men, including Isse, have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Others are missing and are presumed to have fled to Somalia.
Isse, of Seattle, Wash., was arrested Feb. 24, 2009, at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. At the time, he said he was going to Tanzania to participate in an internship. He had previously left Minneapolis for Somalia in December 2007.”
WASHINGTON POST.com (AP): Rotterdam, Netherlands - "NETHERLANDS TERROR SUSPECT FIGHTS U.S. EXTRADITION" (SNIPPET: "Mohamud Said Omar, 44, is suspected of providing money to the Somali Islamist group al-Shabab that was used to buy guns. Around 20 youths of Somali descent are believed to have traveled to Somalia from Minnesota since 2007 to help the group, which the U.S. says has ties to al-Qaida.") (February 22, 2010, 12:23 pm)
JIHAD WATCH.org (TIME.com, March 1, 2010 Issue): "'There's no longer a serious risk that southern Somalia could become a jihadi operational deployment facility. It already is."" (Posted February 19, 2010)
JIHAD WATCH.org (AP): "'We will attack them once we unite the Somali Holy fighters, then we will unite them with our brothers in Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq and Chechnya to help them in their war against the infidels'" (February 13, 2010)
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTEzOWE5NWUwZTE2MWMyY2RkOWQ2MmE2N2ExZmFhYjY
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
“Sneaking Somalis Across the Mexican Border”
[Mark Krikorian]
SNIPPET: “Smuggled in by a guy with connections to al-Shabaab. From the Examiner:
Authorities are searching for 270 Somalis believed to have entered the U.S. illegally with the help of a Virginia man who admitted contacts with an Islamic terrorist group.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent said his agency had yet to locate any of the suspected illegal immigrants.”
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“Va. man accused of helping smuggle Somalis into U.S.”
By: FREEMAN KLOPOTT
Examiner Staff Writer
February 23, 2010
SNIPPET: “Authorities are searching for 270 Somalis believed to have entered the U.S. illegally with the help of a Virginia man who admitted contacts with an Islamic terrorist group.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent said his agency had yet to locate any of the suspected illegal immigrants.
According to an affidavit filed in Alexandria’s federal court, Anthony Joseph Tracy told authorities that he came in contact with the Somali terrorist organization Al-Shabaab, which announced an alliance with al Qaeda earlier this year.
ICE Agent Thomas Eyre testified during a hearing that authorities are “concerned” about the 35-year-old’s dealings with the group.
In an e-mail, Tracy reportedly wrote, “i helped alot of somalis and most are good but there are some who are bad and i leave them to ALLAH,” the affidavit said.”
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ICE.gov
http://www.ice.gov
“Report suspicious activity
1-866-DHS-2-ICE”
A bit off topic, but fyi.
#
Quote:
te:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2462156/posts
Alan Johnson bans Somali ‘terrorist’ group Al-Shabaab
BBC NEWS ^ | Page last updated at 12:57 GMT, Monday, 1 March 2010 | n/a
Posted on March 1, 2010 8:34:40 PM PST by Cindy
SNIPPET: “The home secretary is to designate the Somalia-based group Al-Shabaab as a terrorist organisation and ban its operation in the UK.
The Home Office says the group is committed to violence, deploys terror tactics and has been implicated in attacks on Somali citizens.”
SNIPPET: “In a statement released in February, the group said that the “jihad of Horn of Africa must be combined with the international jihad led by the al-Qaeda network”.
Recently, Mr Johnson has also banned Islam4UK, the group run by al-Muhajiroun founder Anjem Choudary, and which had threatened to march through Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire.”
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3861602,00.html
(AP)
“Yemen holds US man after al-Qaeda sweep, shootout”
Published: 03.11.10, 22:50 / Israel News
SNIPPET: “Yemen counterterrorism authorities captured a US citizen of Somali origin after he shot his way out of a hospital in the Middle Eastern country, where he was being held after a sweep of al-Qaeda members, authorities said Thursday.
Authorities in Yemen are holding Sharif Mobley, 26...”
Propaganda (in English) ON THE INTERNET:
www.revolutionmuslim.com/index.php?option=com_yvcomment&view=comment&ArticleID=3658&url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5yZXZvbHV0aW9ubXVzbGltLmNvbS8jeXZDb21tZW50MzY1OA==#yvComment3658
www.revolutionmuslim.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3658:the-mujahideen-are-only-a-mile-from-the-presidential-villa&catid=20:abu-talha&Itemid=41
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjqCYMkodgA
www.youtube.com/user/QolkaDacwatuTawxiid
Hat Tip:
blog:
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/201602.php
#
blog:
http://terrorfreesomalia.blogspot.com/2010/03/man-reported-killed-in-somalia.html
#
“Terror group claims Canadian recruit killed”
SNIPPET: “Toronto man Mohammed Elmi Ibrahim one of six Canadians of Somali origin believed to have joined militant Islamist faction in recent months”
Joe Friesen
From Thursday’s Globe and Mail
Published on Wednesday, Mar. 17, 2010 7:47PM EDT
Last updated on Thursday, Mar. 18, 2010 1:21AM EDT
SNIPPET: “Al-Shabab, a militant Islamist faction tied to al-Qaeda, released a video of a man described as Mohamed al-Muhajiri, which means one who travels with purpose, saying he has “succeeded” and that he was “calm rushing toward death.”
SNIPPET: “Al-Shabab, which controls much of southern Somalia, was recently placed on the list of banned terror groups by the Canadian government.”
SNIPPET: “His death could not be officially confirmed.”
SNIPPET: “The announcement of his death was posted on YouTube in a message that brought “glad tidings to the youth in Canada.” It advised them not to be saddened but to “march forth in the ranks of the honest mujahideen in Somalia.” It made no mention of when or how he died.”
ADDING to post no. 130:
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2722333
“Toronto man with al-Qaeda ties ran extremist blog”
Stewart Bell, National Post
Published: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
SNIPPET: “TORONTO — A Toronto man whose reported death in Somalia has sparked fears that the militant Al-Shabab is recruiting Canadians was the author of a blog that posted the extremist propaganda of radical cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki.
The blog, called The Gardens of Paradise, features letters by two of the Toronto 18 terror suspects, an al-Qaeda propaganda video that calls fighting “obligatory” for Muslims and several of Al-Awlaki’s video and audio statements.
The author of the blog is identified only by his online name, “Shadows15,” but a posting on an extremist Internet forum indicates it was the blog of Mohamed Elmi Ibrahim and an official source confirmed that was correct.”
To: All
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2480633/posts
“Kenya frees American suspected of terrorism links”
(AP) via Google.com ^ | March 26, 2 hours ago | n/a
Posted on March 26, 2010 1:17:15 PM PDT by Cindy
#
QUOTE:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2480633/posts?page=5#5
Blog Entry:
http://terrorfreesomalia.blogspot.com/2010/03/kenya-police-arrest-somali-american.html
“police arrest somali American Jehadist Suleman Essa. on terror list attempting to board plane to Somalia”
NAIROBI, Kenya -
SNIPPET: “Another Kenyan police official identified the American as Suleman Essa. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak with the press. The official says Essa, Canadian Ahmed Ali Hassan and Kenyan Muhammed Hussein Hash were about to board a plane.”
Quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2487850/posts
Somalis with terrorist links feared headed to U.S. border
WASHINGTON EXAMINER.com ^ | April 6, 2010 | Sara A. Carter
Posted on April 6, 2010 3:29:06 PM PDT by Cindy
SNIPPET: “Somalis with ties to a terrorist organization are believed to be plotting to illegally enter the United States after being mistakenly released from custody in Mexico, a confidential federal law enforcement report said.”
SNIPPET: “Included in the group is Mohamed Osman Noor, 35, of Somalia, who U.S. officials suspect has strong ties to Al-Shabaab Mujahideen, an Islamist insurgency group in the ongoing war in Somalia with ties to al Qaeda.
The report was written by an intelligence official with the Laredo Sector Border Intelligence Center, a joint federal task force under the Department of Homeland Security that operates on the border.”
SNIPPET: “”All were in Mexican Immigration custody due to illegal entry into Mexico and were released on January 21, 2010,” it said. “All agents are reminded to maintain a heightened level of awareness and emphasize officer safety tactics when encountering individuals at all times. All agents are highly encouraged to wear ballistic armor, utilize long arms and work in groups when responding to illicit activity along the immediate border.”
According to the report, “Five of the subjects are possibly heading towards the Reynosa, Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas areas. ... The Laredo Sector should be cognizant of the high possibility that Noor and the other subjects may attempt to enter illegally into the United States through the Laredo Sector area of responsibility.””
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/world/Somalis-with-terrorist-links-feared-headed-to-U_S_-border-89954247.html#ixzz0kMU2GVyW
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
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Previously...
Quote - additional links:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2457925/posts?page=6#6
UPDATE:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTEzOWE5NWUwZTE2MWMyY2RkOWQ2MmE2N2ExZmFhYjY
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
“Sneaking Somalis Across the Mexican Border”
[Mark Krikorian]
SNIPPET: “Smuggled in by a guy with connections to al-Shabaab. From the Examiner:
Authorities are searching for 270 Somalis believed to have entered the U.S. illegally with the help of a Virginia man who admitted contacts with an Islamic terrorist group.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent said his agency had yet to locate any of the suspected illegal immigrants.”
###
###
“Va. man accused of helping smuggle Somalis into U.S.”
By: FREEMAN KLOPOTT
Examiner Staff Writer
February 23, 2010
SNIPPET: “Authorities are searching for 270 Somalis believed to have entered the U.S. illegally with the help of a Virginia man who admitted contacts with an Islamic terrorist group.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent said his agency had yet to locate any of the suspected illegal immigrants.
According to an affidavit filed in Alexandria’s federal court, Anthony Joseph Tracy told authorities that he came in contact with the Somali terrorist organization Al-Shabaab, which announced an alliance with al Qaeda earlier this year.
ICE Agent Thomas Eyre testified during a hearing that authorities are “concerned” about the 35-year-old’s dealings with the group.
In an e-mail, Tracy reportedly wrote, “i helped alot of somalis and most are good but there are some who are bad and i leave them to ALLAH,” the affidavit said.”
27 posted on April 6, 2010 6:22:02 PM PDT by Cindy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies | Report Abuse]
To: All
ADDING to post no. 27:
http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/02/23/va-man-accused-of-illegally-aiding-somalis
“VA Man Accused Of Illegally Aiding Somalis”
February 23, 2010 - 7:17 PM | by: Mike Levine
SNIPPET: “Anthony Joseph Tracy, 35, was arrested earlier this month, after admitting to U.S. authorities that he helped about 272 citizens of war-torn Somalia come to the United States illegally, according to documents filed in federal court.
Tracy allegedly set up a business in Kenya, Noor Services Limited, that procured fraudulent Cuban travel visas for Somalis, who would then travel from Kenya to Cuba and, ultimately, to the United States, according to court documents.
He allegedly traveled to Kenya in April 2009 to establish the business, and in the months afterward obtained fraudulent visas for as many as ten Somalis each week, court documents say. He allegedly charged between $100 and $1,000 for the fake documents.”
A case of COMING TO AMERICA:
Quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2516275/posts
Homeland Security Alert: Terror suspect may be headed to Texas through Mexico
KVUE.com ^ | May 18, 2010, 7:40 am | by Shern-Min Chow/11 News
Posted on May 18, 2010 4:34:31 PM PDT by Cindy
SNIPPET: “HOUSTON — A Homeland Security Alert is asking Houston police and Harris County Sheriff’s deputies to keep their eyes open for a potential terrorist.
The alert focuses on Mohamed Ali, a suspected member of the terrorist group Al Shabaab. It indicates he may be traveling to the U.S. through Mexico.”
SNIPPET: “In 2007, former Houstonian Daniel Joseph Maldonado was brought back to Houston by the U.S Attorney in the Southern District after he was captured in Somalia reportedly training with terrorist groups.
“He had initially been on the frontlines of Al Shabaab, but when they realized he was an American, they pulled him back because they had plans for him to come back to the U.S. and recruit female suicide bombers,” said Neuhaus Schaan.”
SNIPPET: “U.S. Homeland Security officials confirmed the Muhamed Ali alert, but declined to comment on it.”
SNIPPET: “If authorities are right, Mohamed Ali is hardly alone and a terror network is following well-worn human smuggling routes into the Lone Star State.
“There would be a reasonable chance to have him [Mohamed Ali] coming through Houston,” Neuhaus Schaan said. “They [Al Shabaab] have been pretty busy in Texas.”
(Excerpt) Read more at kvue.com ...
SNIPPET from the link in post no. 135:
“The route from Somalia to Texas is shorter than Americans would like to think. It goes through Mexico. Two weeks ago, a federal indictment was filed in San Antonio against a Somali citizen. It alleges Ahmed Muhammed Dhakane led a “large-scale smuggling enterprise,” moving east Africans into the U.S., including members of a terrorist group called AIAI.”
Quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2517053/posts
AL QAEDA SUPPORTER PLEADS GUILTY... [”Khalid Ouazzani, 32, of Kansas City”]
KansasCity.FBI.gov - DOJ Press Release ^ | n/a
Posted on May 19, 2010 5:12:05 PM PDT by Cindy
Note: The following text is a quote:
Al Qaeda Supporter Pleads Guilty to Supporting Terrorist Organization Kansas City Man Also Admits to Bank Fraud, Overseas Money Laundering
KANSAS CITY, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to provide material support to the terrorist organization al Qaeda. He also pleaded guilty to bank fraud and money laundering.
“National security is the highest priority of the Department of Justice,” Phillips said. “I applaud the diligent work of our law enforcement partners from local, state and federal agencies that serve on the Heart of America Joint Terrorism Task Force. These agencies have made significant investments of manpower and resources to the task force, and I appreciate their commitment to defeating terrorism. Much of their work is done behind the scenes, investigating and gathering information, but they play a crucial role in preventing terrorist activities.”
Khalid Ouazzani, 32, of Kansas City, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to a federal information that charges him with conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization. Ouazzani also pleaded guilty to charges contained in an indictment that was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on Feb. 3, 2010.
Ouazzani, a native of Morocco and a naturalized citizen of the United States, swore an oath of allegiance to al Qaeda in June 2008. Ouazzani admitted that, from August 2007 to February 2010, he participated in a conspiracy to provide material support or resources to al Qaeda.
Ouazzani also admitted that he personally provided more than $23,000 to al Qaeda and performed other tasks at the request of and for the benefit of al Qaeda. Ouazzani had conversations with others about various ways to support al Qaeda, including plans for them to fight in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Somalia.
“Citizens here in the heartland should be alert to suspicious activity and never hesitate to report their concerns to law enforcement. This case serves as a reminder that terrorist-related activities can occur anywhere,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian A. Truchon of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Kansas City field office.
Ouazzani agreed to contribute $6,500 to al Qaeda in August 2007. A co-conspirator, who is not identified in court documents, made that payment on Ouazzani’s behalf. Ouazzani repaid the co-conspirator in November 2007 through a wire transfer to the co-conspirator’s bank account in the United Arab Emirates. Those funds came from Ouazzani’s sale of his business, Hafssa LLC, doing business as Truman Used Auto Parts, a retail operation that bought and sold used auto parts and used motor vehicles.
In June or July 2008, Ouazzani also agreed to pay al Qaeda $17,000, which represented his profit from the sale of an apartment in the United Arab Emirates that was owned by Ouazzani and a co-conspirator (who is not identified in court documents).
Bank Fraud Scheme
Ouazzani obtained a $175,000 line of credit commercial loan from Union Bank in April 2007 for Hafssa LLC (Truman Used Auto Parts). Under the terms of the loan, the funds were to be used as working capital for his business. Ouazzani admitted that he submitted false financial information about himself and the company to obtain the loan, and used substantial amounts of the loan proceeds for various personal purposes.
Ouazzani made only approximately $13,000 in payments on this loan. In September 2008 Union Bank wrote off the loan (then in the amount of $174,028) as uncollectible. On Feb. 11, 2009, Union Bank obtained a civil default judgment against Ouazzani and Hafssa LLC in the amount of $177,001.
Money Laundering
Ouazzani admitted that he used part of the proceeds of the Union Bank loan to purchase an apartment in the United Arab Emirates with a co-conspirator.
On May 23, 2007, Ouazzani caused a wire transfer of $112,830 to be sent to a bank account in the United Arab Emirates. The funds for this wire transfer included funds obtained from the $175,000 Union Bank loan and involved a series of transactions designed to make it more difficult to trace the funds.
Ouazzani used the wire-transferred funds to purchase an apartment in the United Arab Emirates, which he later sold for a profit of approximately $17,000. Ouazzani requested a co-conspirator to pay this $17,000 to al Qaeda.
“The criminal justice system is a valuable tool for disrupting terrorist plots and bringing terrorists to justice,” Phillips said. “We must use every means—criminal prosecutions as well as intelligence and military operations—to protect the American people. Federal prosecutions not only result in long prison sentences, but yield valuable intelligence that can be used in the fight against al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.”
Under federal statutes, Ouazzani is subject to a sentence of up to 65 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $1 million and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Daniel Stewart, David M. Ketchmark and Brian P. Casey and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Menzel of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, with assistance from attorneys at the Justice Department’s National Security Division, including the Counterterrorism Section. It was investigated by the Heart of America Joint Terrorism Task Force, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Missouri Department of Social Services - Division of Legal Services Investigation Section.
Heart of America Joint Terrorism Task Force Federal Bureau of Investigation Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Defense Criminal Investigative Service Federal Air Marshals Service IRS-Criminal Investigation Kansas City, Kan., Police Department Kansas City, Mo., Police Department Kansas Highway Patrol Missouri State Highway Patrol Overland Park, Kan., Police Department U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Missouri and the District of Kansas U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement U.S. Marshals Service U.S. Postal Inspection Service U.S. Secret Service
"Ouazzani also admitted that he personally provided more than $23,000 to al Qaeda and performed other tasks at the request of and for the benefit of al Qaeda. Ouazzani had conversations with others about various ways to support al Qaeda, including plans for them to fight in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Somalia."
Quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2528313/posts
LAW ENFORCEMENT FEARS SHABAAB INFILTRATION
INVESTIGATIVE PROJECT.org - IPT News ^ | June 4, 2010 | n/a
Posted on June 5, 2010 1:07:16 AM PDT by Cindy
Note: Video included at link.
SNIPPET: “Now, law enforcement officials appear increasingly concerned Al-Shabaab members are trying to come back to America. But these members aren’t disenchanted young men like Hassan, seeking to escape the terrorists’ hold. Rather, the concern is that they are returning either to recruit more members or perhaps to plot attacks here.”
SNIPPET: “Al-Shabaab represents a “threat to the whole nation, all of the world,” Ahmed told the IPT. “Everywhere they could recruit somebody they will try – Europe, North America, Australia, Africa…And they want to disrupt world peace.”
Ahmed warned that Al-Shabaab’s main focus in recruiting Somali-American youths is not getting more soldiers to fight in Somalia’s civil war. Many of them do not speak Somali and know virtually nothing about Somalia, he said. Somali Americans have U.S. passports, though, making it possible for them to travel back and forth to the United States. He believes that some day, these kids will return to America in order to “harm us.””
(Excerpt) Read more at investigativeproject.org ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2524360/posts
#
QUOTE:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2528313/posts
#
NOTE Excerpting doesn’t do this article justice. Click on the link and read the whole thing.
http://www.nationalpost.com/CSIS+tracking+Somali+list/3109971/story.html
“CSIS was tracking me: Somali on no-fly list”
Graeme Hamilton And Stewart Bell, National Post · Thursday, Jun. 3, 2010
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. and TORONTO -
SNIPPET: “In an exclusive interview inside the Plattsburgh, N.Y., jail where he is being held, Abdirahman Ali Gaal said he realized he was in trouble two weeks ago when FBI agents at an airport in Mauritania informed him he was banned from flying back to the United States, where he was a legal resident.
They asked him about a number of suspected extremists, including a Canadian allegedly involved in the al-Qaeda-linked Somali group Al-Shabab.”
SNIPPET: “He said CSIS officers had questioned his wife in Calgary about his whereabouts and activities several times over the past three months, while he was in Seattle and in Mauritania.”
SNIPPET: “When he tried to board a plane last month in Mauritania, where he had been studying Arabic, FBI agents asked him about a several men, including Somali-Canadian Mohamed Elmi Ibrahim.
Mr. Ibrahim, nicknamed Canlish, is a 22-year-old University of Toronto...”
SNIPPET: “Mr. Gaal said he did not know the men and had only attended the Toronto mosque where they sometimes prayed, the Abu Huraira Center, once.
A seventh Toronto man is being investigated for allegedly training with Al-Shabab. He has since returned to Canada and has declined, through his father, to speak to a Post reporter. Former Toronto resident, Omar Hammami, is now a senior commander of Al-Shabab.”
SNIPPET: “Mr. Gaal said he talks frequently about the war in his homeland in Internet chat groups...”
SNIPPET: “He said he had no trouble boarding a flight from New York’s JFK airport on March 5, and flew without incident to Mauritania, via Morocco. He said the purpose of his trip was to study Arabic grammar, so he could improve his reading of the Koran. He had planned to return on May 20 but was met at the airport by “two gentlemen from the FBI. They said they had bad news.”
He then planned to return to the United States by flying to Mexico City and on to the border city of Tijuana, but mid-flight the Aeromexico pilot announced they were diverting to Montreal to refuel.”
SNIPPET: “Mr. Gaal was born in Mogadishu in 1976 and lived for 10 years in Seattle. In addition to his Canadian family, he has two children in Seattle from a previous marriage.”
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