US sniper may be linked to Bin Laden (DC SNIPER ALERT)

The Evening Standard ^ | October 14, 2002 | James Langton

[MadIvan]

Intelligence experts in Washington are increasingly concerned that the gunman known as the "psycho-sniper" could be a terrorist with links to Islamic terror groups.

From the evidence gathered so far, which includes a handwritten note by the gunman, investigators think English may not be his first language.

The shootings, which have left eight dead in fewer than 12 days, coincided with a warning that Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network is planning new attacks. The FBI warned last Wednesday that supporters of Bin Laden were "targeting key sectors of the US economy" and has long suspected that a number of "sleeper" cells are still active.

The latest victim, on Friday morning, was father-of-six Kenneth Bridges, gunned down at a petrol station in Fredericksburg.

Investigators are troubled by the gunman's behaviour, in particular his habit of selecting targets at random. Recent reports suggest he may have a female accomplice and drives a large white van.

[aristeides]

Avoiding weekends could just reflect the shooter's concentration on escape and evasion. Traffic much lighter on weekends.

[samuel_adams_us]

Government employee, doesn't run his courier routes during the weekends and he won't strike today as it is a federal holiday.

[Sal]

...if it is a terrorist, I believe they are creating a "play book" for others to use in the future.

Yes. I've been afraid that this is a training/probing exercise. What if they have teams observing in detail the immediate response on the ground at or near the scene, some monitoring police scanners.

What if, having trained the snipers in training camps (or even like those jerks in Oregon), they are now going through a "dress rehearsal" one by one to see who keeps cool when they're doing the real thing. Not always the same as performance under training. And with a support team handy to help them through if they waver or panic during or after.

Then what? Maybe teams are sent to major cities in time to pick off Christmas shoppers. If people became too afraid to go shopping at Christmas time, what happens to the economy? And the economy is known to be a major target. Even if people shop by catalogue, what happens to the stores? We need to find and CRUSH these creeps fast.

[aristeides]

On a side note, isn't this region where the majority of anthrax letters were mailed?

Many of the anthrax letters were mailed to the D.C. area (and many to NYC media), but they were postmarked Trenton, NJ.

[KsSunflower]

To me this says the sniper is either a local student skipping school, his parents are home on weekends and he has less flexibility on those days.

As the parent of a teenager, who is a great kid, active in church, hangs with youth group kids, volunteers at the hospital, umpires little league games...I can assure you, teenagers are not home on the weekends.

[Elenya]

Avoiding weekends could just reflect the shooter's concentration on escape and evasion. Traffic much lighter on weekends.

I agree. It doesn't mean anything either way.

[dmz]

well, while we're posting theories that haven't been floated yet, I thought of a couple over the weekend that had my wife rolling her eyes at me (not a terribly uncommon occurrence in my household).

George Bush is behind it. It is taking the attention of the public off of Iraq. Folks are afraid to hold peace rallies in DC for fear of the sniper.

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend is behind it. Her exceedingly listless campaign for governor needed an issue to galvanize opposition to Erlich.

For the record...I'm still leaning to the homegrown wacko theory, but I still think the 2 tinfoil hat theories I post with tongue firmly planted in cheek pale in comparison to the apparently sincere theorizing of one of our own here at FR, that it's anti-gun people behind it, hoping more restrictive gun laws are the result of the rampage.

[KsSunflower]

Also, on the teenager theory...these killings have been at all times of the day, early morning, late morning, early afternoon, night, and on weekdays. Teenagers have a lot more time on the weekends than weekdays.

Of course, I'm not saying it couldn't be a teen or teens, but I would tend to think not.

[Shooter 2.5]

The Note: Dear Policeman - Indicative of a juvinile mind. The taunt: I am God - This statement was in response to statements made by the Chief at a press conference. Demonstrates that authority is an issue with the shooter. In my mind also indicative of juvinile thinking.

Look at post 272 and the music lyrics of "Mr. Policeman" and the video "I am God"

[Elenya]

I can assure you, teenagers are not home on the weekends.

Weekends could be the only time these kids have any kind of parental supervision at all...

[cake_crumb]

Whether it's Muslim terrorist(s), homegrown or otherwise, or angry, white Pali sympathizers, this "cartoon" from October 12 is very interesting. Is this a sidways way of taking credit, simply a show of support for the shooter(s)...or just a headgame to make us afraid of Yasser terrorists and their enabler, Saddam?

Originally posted by Diogenesis on October 12's "You Gotta See This" thread

Source: Palistinian website Baha Boukhari.net

[samuel_adams_us]

I still say it is either a sniper/cab driver or a sniper/government courier.

[js1138]

One of the most intriguing clues is the void of killings on weekends.

I'm convinced this has more to do with traffic than religion. More trucks on the road, more confusion. Most of the shootings have been done at heavy traffic times.

[KsSunflower]

I find it hard to believe parents who wouldn't know that their kid has been skipping school and possess a weapon such as is used in these crimes would give a flip what their teenager is doing on the weekend or any other time.

Look at the parents of the Columbine shooters. They didn't even know that bombs were being constructed in their garage. I doubt they would blink an eye if their son and a friend were gone for a few hours on a Saturday or Sunday.

[cake_crumb]

"Actually, there is a pattern. He only works 5 days a week, therefore, he must have a job on the weekends that requires his absence."

IMO, the pattern is that the shooter does his killing on weekdays...and spends his weekENDS scoping terrain and escape routes.

[Shooter 2.5]

One of the kids involved with one of the school shootings had a mom who is one of the anti-self defense MMM's. If it is a teenager or young adult, I wouldn't be surprised that the parents are anti-gun since it already happened.

Contrast that with the fact that two active members of the NRA stopped school shootings.

[Marysecretary]

He's not tall enough to reach over the seat to point a gun...

[js1138]

No one is turning him in despite a $500,000 reward.

Great point. I suspect that hundreds have been "turned in" on spec. If I worked at an outfit that had white Isuzu trucks, I'd be eyeballing their bumpers. These things don't fit in dad's home garage.

[Marysecretary]

I used to type student papers for college students. They can't spell too well! Grammar is even worse.