FBI investigating Las Vegas man's claim he overheard attack threat

AP ^ | Fri Jun 21,12:15 AM ET | KEN RITTER, Associated Press Writer

[BillybobTXAG]

LAS VEGAS - The FBI ( news - web sites) said it is investigating a Nevada man's claim that he picked up a conversation in Arabic on his cell phone during which someone said there would be a "hit" on the "day of freedom."

"We've initiated a full-scale investigation to determine if this constitutes a threat, and if so, what kind of threat," said FBI Special Agent Daron Borst in Las Vegas on Thursday.

Borst said agents have interviewed the man who reported the conversation, Michael Hamdan, and planned to question him again Friday.

Hamdan, 54, said he's a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Lebanon and speaks Arabic.

Hamdan said he was trying to call his wife on his cell phone Saturday when he heard Arabic voices.

"They said in Arabic, not even a word of English, 'We are in the city of corruption, the city of prostitution, the city of gambling, the city of unbelievers,'" Hamdan told The Associated Press late Thursday. '"We are going to hit them on the day of freedom.'"

Hamdan said the call lasted about 90 seconds before the line went dead. He said he believes the men were talking about July Fourth.

"I was frozen, absolutely cold," Hamdan said. "I was sweating. I couldn't believe what I heard."

Hamdan said he reported what he heard to the FBI early Sunday morning.

Hamdan, who is married and has two children, described himself as a semiretired businessman. He said he moved to the United States in 1976.

[chemicalman]

Day of freedom...

July 4th?

[LikeLight]

Already an extensive thread going on this . . .

[JRandomFreeper]

Day of freedom...

Sounds like a valid babblefish translation of Independence Day.

/john

[Semper Paratus]

Day of freedom...

July 4th?

Not so sure may be referring to some Arab or Whahabbi date.

[TennTuxedo]

Again the idiotic media releases information that alerts terrorists that our "eyes and ears" are watching them and thus they should change their channnels of communication. Another case of loose lips.

[EggsAckley]

I'm with you. This should NEVER have been published. Just the mere fact that it WAS published weakens its credibility.

[SpottedBeaver]

http://www.freerepublic.com/fo cus/news/703668/posts

[Aggie Mama]

Jeeze, the only thing that they are missing is his address and phone number. What in the heck are they thinking by publishing this info????

[old school]

'We are in the city of corruption, the city of
prostitution, the city of gambling, the city of unbelievers,'"

Las Vegas? I hope Mr. Hamdan isn't suffering from some dissociative disorder.

[balrog666]

I'm with you. This should NEVER have been published. Just the mere fact that it WAS published weakens its credibility.

The poor guy was showng his face live on FoxNews this morning. I suspect that he and his family will regret the publicity.

[dead]

Mr. Hamdan may have to room with Salman Rushdie for a while.

[Flipyaforreal]

Yeah, he was on TV yesterday with this story. Apparently, LOL, it got the mainstream to jump on this info, even if it was days later. I believe his story, you could tell he was in ernest, but since we are warned every single day about something else I am starting not to care. Wanna hit us? Bring. it.

[chemainus]

Overhearing other conversations P<1 X conversation heard in Arabic(rare) X listener speaks Arabic (rare) X conversation is detailed plans ( rare) = unlikely

less than one X rare X Rare X rare = I would look at the one reporting for disinformation. The probability factors are way off here.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

That was essentially my first post on the original thread- too many coincidences to be really believable. Probably just someone looking for his promised 15 minutes of fame (and who doesn't approve of the Las Vegas lifestyle...)

[chemainus]

on the same page, line and word ... have a good weekend

[Terriergal]

'We are in the city of corruption, the city of prostitution, the city of gambling, the city of unbelievers,'" Hamdan told The Associated Press late Thursday. '"We are going to hit them on the day of freedom.'"

Hamdan said the call lasted about 90 seconds before the line went dead. He said he believes the men were talking about July Fourth.

I would imagine the "WHERE" would mean Las Vegas. Makes sense to me.

[Terriergal]

Again the idiotic media releases information that alerts terrorists that our "eyes and ears" are watching them and thus they should change their channnels of communication. Another case of loose lips.

Either that or it's a deliberate attempt at distraction.

[Feudal]

'We are in the city of corruption, the city of prostitution, the city of gambling, the city of unbelievers,'

They need to be more specific! This could be almost anywhere!

[Terriergal]

This could be almost anywhere!"

Oh gosh, you're right. Maybe they were talking about DC!