Preparing for Jihad in Alabama - Islamic Militant Training Camp Allegedly Operating in Alabama

ABCnews.com | 7/25/02 | Brian Ross

[freeperfromnj]

July 25 — A training camp linked to Islamic militants has been operating in Alabama, and European law enforcement officials believe Muslim extremists were using it to prepare for a holy war.

British authorities also thought that militants from overseas were training in the United States to take advantage of America's gun laws, sources told ABCNEWS. The looming question for law enforcement is whether there is a connection between the camp and the al Qaeda terror network.

An investigation by Britain's Scotland Yard led to the discovery of the camp in Marion, Ala. The facility is called "Ground Zero USA."

Bullet-riddled police cars and a school bus with mannequin targets are scattered around the property. Inside a huge shed is an equally macabre scene — shot-up mannequins, male and female, in domestic settings, some with red, blood-like stains on them.

Ground Zero's operators promised state-of-the-art, world-class training in automatic weapons, urban warfare, SWAT tactics and martial arts, supposedly to fight terror attacks.

Marion Police Chief Tony Buford said he became suspicious of the use of police cars and buses as targets.

"It was rumored that the camp here was used as training site for possible people that were sent here to do bodily harm to Americans," Buford told ABCNEWS.

Web Site Provides Terror Link

The suspected terror ties of the Alabama camp were unknown until after Sept. 11, when officials in London arrested an accused al Qaeda supporter, Zain-ul-Albidin

He is charged with operation of a Web site, under the name of Sakina Security, allegedly recruiting Muslims for an Islamic jihad or holy war. He is now on trial in London.

The site, since taken down by British authorities, described what seemed to be the Alabama camp, including live-fire exercises at a state-of-the-art shooting range in the United States — something that would not be legal in Britain.

"In the United States, it is not illegal for anyone to receive military training, high-grade military training," said Rohan Gunaratna, author of Inside Al Qaeda.

The actual owners of camp, who are also British, say it was used primarily to train law enforcement personnel. Officials consider them unwitting accomplices. The camp owners declined to talk to ABCNEWS.

Scale of Secret Camps Unknown

It is not known how many holy war recruits came through the camp or when. But the FBI is now investigating a number of suspected training camps around the country.

"We know of a number of cases where Islamic terrorists came and training in this country in the early 1990s. It is likely that this scale of training is still continuing," Gunaratna said.

The most radical and belligerent of London's Islamic clerics, Abu Hamza, told ABCNEWS in a phone call that America's laws make such paramilitary training easy, "like a picnic."

British intelligence officials told ABCNEWS they are closely examining alleged ties between Hamza, who is said to have recruited alleged "20th hijacker" Zacarias Moussaoui, and Zain-ul-Albidin.

[FreedomPoster]

You might share a sanitized version with FreedomFriend; he doesn't seem to think anything is going on. See his #47.

[IronJack]

One could almost believe that their linkage of guns and terrorism had some ulterior motive not connected with the highest calling of journalism.

But that would make them two-bit propagandists, not the highly trained societal watchdogs we know them to be.

[Vigilantcitizen]

"WAKE UP, PEOPLE. IT's all propaganda. I wouldn't doubt that they will use this excuse to go after the 2nd Amendment. Furthermore, doesn't it seem a bit odd that talks of "urban warfare" are even mentioned. A terrorist attack or new member of Al Quaida everyday. In Alabama?

Let's just say this, Known terrorists supporters have been arrested in Georgia and North Carolina.

Atlanta has a LARGE Muslim population and is only 200 miles or so east on I-20 from this town. So, it is not inconceivable for this to be in Alabama.

[tomkat]

be a real shame if the address accidentally got into the public domain.
never know what might happen - life being very strange and all ...

[doug from upland]

Vigilante justice is not far away for these terrorist b*stards. If the government does not get rid of them, the people are going to do it.

[Vermont Lt]

This is a big country, with lots of places where you can go out into the woods and do whatever you want. I think we can all agree that this type of thing is not completely surprising. Did ya think these guys are sitting in a Starbucks wondering about when the word is going to come down?

It makes perfect sense to me...they have been here for months and years. And, you can't stop this because these guys dont think like us. In order to kill a rat, you have to think like a rat, move like a rat, and smell like a rat. Then you find where the rats live and kill the rats.

[FreedomFriend]

Exactly. It's obvious that there's a motive to see America disarmed. Talk of "terrorists using America's gun ranges, lack of gun laws, etc." to train and cover.

Real or not, they're going to try to use it to disarm the populace. Just watch. Liberty after Liberty, Right after Right, are going in the wake of September 11. Is it a mere coincidence?

[weikel]

Alert all commands and deploy your forces so that no jihadist get away you are in command now Emperor Palpatine.

[blam]

"Vigilante justice is not far away for these terrorist b*stards. If the government does not get rid of them, the people are going to do it."

Yup. I'm not to far from Marion.

[bok]

I wouldn't doubt seeing this if islam had their way. The Alabama state flag looks like St Patrick's Cross and not St Andrews.

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n let me shoot one o' them there Islamics."

[CyberAnt]

Hmmm?? There's one in Virginia too.

[doug from upland]

I guess you know what to do. What was the Pat Buchanan slogan ---- Don't wait for orders from headquarters; just ride to the sounds of the guns.

[blam]

"Don't wait for orders from headquarters; just ride to the sounds of the guns."

Yup. Will Do.

[Texasforever]

I wonder if this has any relation to the Alabama National Guard tank unit activation posted here last night?

[da_toolman]

This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it, as I must master my life.

Without me my rifle is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will.

Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviours of my life. So be it .. . until there is no enemy ... but peace. Amen.

[da_toolman]

And of course this is going through your mind...

[doug from upland]

I think they'd probably let the FBI take care of it. If the Guard has been activated, I would suspect they may have a date with Hussein.