Posted on 01/09/2012 8:50:17 AM PST by NautiNurse
Federal agents over the weekend arrested a Pinellas Park man described as having extremist jihadist beliefs who wanted to blow up a target in Tampa and create "terror" in victims' hearts.
"I want to do something terrifying," he said, according to a federal complaint, "like one day, one night, something's going to happen. Then six hours later, something else."
Sami Osmakac, 25, was taken into custody after an FBI sting operation in which he tried to buy explosives, at least 10 grenades, Uzis and an AK-47, authorities said.
Osmakac's intended target shifted over the course of the investigation, which spanned several months, at times involving government buildings, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office operations center in Ybor City and, ultimately, a pub in South Tampa, apparently MacDinton's, authorities said.
The arrest came about, in part, because of assistance from the Muslim community, said U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill, who expressed his thanks in a news release.
The sting culminated at a Tampa hotel Saturday night after Osmakac had the person from whom he was purchasing the explosives – unknown to him, an undercover agent – film him making a video explaining his reasoning for the planned attack, according to the complaint.
In the eight-minute video, Osmakac is seen cross-legged on the floor with a pistol in his hand and an AK-47 behind him. In it, according to the complaint, he states that Muslim blood is more valuable than that of people who do not believe in Islam. He says he wants "payback" for wrong that was done to Muslims.
Osmakac, who was born in the former Yugoslavia, came to authorities' attention in September when he contacted a store owner and asked for flags representing al-Qaida, according to a federal complaint. Osmakac began working for the owner as a laborer. The store owner contacted the FBI, which initiated an undercover investigation.
Although the informant initially refused to allow agents to record conversations, he or she ultimately participated in recorded meetings with Osmakac, the complaint states.
In one recorded meeting in November, Osmakac drove around Tampa with the informant and talked about carrying out a violent attack, according to the complaint.
The informant told Osmakac he or she could introduce him to someone to provide Osmakac with firearms and explosives. The informant then introduced Osmakac to the undercover agent, according to a federal complaint.
In addition to a car loaded with explosives, Osmakac expressed an interest in a belt loaded with explosives, which he could set off if someone tried to arrest him, authorities said.
When you dodn’t have hurricanes to worry about you get terrorists. I have family up in Spring Hill and this is scary.
Cheers NN.
While I applaud the good work here, this sentence scares me ... maybe the next time it reads like this:
"...came to authorities' attention in September when he contacted a store owner and asked for Gasden Flags, according to a federal complaint."
The alleged terrorist is a 25-year old immigrant from Kosovo.
More here
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/hillsborough/man-charged-with-tampa-car-bomb-plot-010912
islamicfinder . org
Find them before they find you . . †
The kid wasn’t a terrorist if I recall. Just a nut. As for as the USF professor, I would say yes... im from Clearwater. Pretty scary stuff.
Flew his plane into a Tampa skyscraper four months after being inspired by 9-11. His suicide note voiced support for bin Laden and the 9-11 hijackers.
Maybe all terrorists are just nutty and troubled folks who want to inflict damage upon others on their way to hooking up with the 72 virgins.
Came here to do the low skill jobs Americans don't want to do...
Never a dull moment in the Tampa Bay area.
All best wishes to you and your family for good health and success in 2012!
Wow... thanks for those reminders, FRiend. Scary stuff...
Any connection between Muhammad and any other Mohammeds,
Mohameds, Muhammeds or Muhamads is purely coincidental.
Ybor City needs to be blown up.. lots of RAINBOW FLAGS on buildings there...the funniest sign in YborCity of at a bathhouse: 'Enter in Rear'. I live near Ybor (lives in Downtown Tampa, so every Saturday we hit the farmer's Market at Ybor. We take the streetcar to the farmers market)
Funny how the article tries to obfuscate the fact this dude is from Kosovo. Had it been a Serb they would have said so but since its one of those US protected terrorists from Kosovo they opted for the “Former Yugoslavia” label.
What a bunch horse crap.
Good observation. Thanks.
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