GUNMAN: PAY OR I'LL KILL AGAIN

New York Post ^ | 10/22/02 | NILES LATHEM, DAN MANGAN, and MARSHA KRANES

[kattracks]

The Psycho Sniper says he wants blood money to end his terrifying murder spree - and he's opened a dialogue with cops to negotiate the payout.

The Beltway sharpshooter made his demand in a three-page note found after his latest attack, on Saturday night, federal law-enforcement sources told The Post.

[Fighting Irish]

Will somebody please kill this guy! For crying out loud. (the sniper, Samwise...not you).

[LouD]

and their van, which carried Bush-Cheney, Marine Corps and National Rifle Association bumper stickers, was towed away.

It also had 30 day temporary plates, which would indicate that the stickers were probably on it when they bought it.

[Chief Inspector Clouseau]

Instead of Inspector Cleasou and the Keystone Cops we will be blessed with the antics of F Troop.

Hey!!! At least spell my name right if you're gonna take it in vain :-)

[theophilusscribe]

Not that many from Palestinians, but plenty from other groups. I posted this on another thread.

A quick search on Google shows many instances where terrorists demanded ransoms or other compensation. We do not know all that they have demanded. (Here are a couple of articles, though there are many more instances)

U.S. said to expedite ransom to Abu Sayyaf
By Rowan Scarborough, THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The U.S. government facilitated a payment of $300,000 through a third party in a bid to gain the release of two Americans held by the Philippine terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.

Hijackers Demand $200 Million and 35 Rebels' Release
By DEXTER FILKINS appeared in the Los Angeles Times on December 29, 1999
"NEW DELHI—The Indian Airlines hijacking took an ominous turn Tuesday as the terrorists escalated their demands, asking for $200 million and the release of 35 jailed guerrillas in exchange for the freedom of their 160 captives."

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT, Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1997
19 January
Russia—Near Samashki village in Chechnya, assailants kidnapped two Russian journalists who were traveling to the Ingush region's capital, Nazran. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of $500,000. The hostages were released on 18 February. There is reporting that no ransom was paid. A Jordanian militant is suspected of leading the kidnappers.
. . .
27 March
Yemen—Yemeni tribesmen kidnapped four German tourists who were returning to Sanaa from Marib. A letter was sent to the German Embassy threatening to kill the hostages if the Yemeni Government did not pay a ransom of roughly $3 million.

Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1998, Chronology of Significant Terrorist Incidents
15 April
Somalia—Multiple media sources reported that militiamen abducted nine Red Cross and Red Crescent workers at an airstrip north of Mogadishu. The hostages included a US citizen, a German, a Belgian, a French, a Norwegian, two Swiss, and one Somali. The gunmen are members of a subclan loyal to Ali Mahdi Mohammed, who controls the northern section of the capital. On 24 April the hostages were released unharmed, and no ransom was paid.


I'm not trying to see a terrorist behind every act of evil, but it is not beyond a viable possibility that these incidents are, in fact, some breed of terrorism.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

My gut says the ransom is a diversion.

I agree. My first thought was that this is a red herring to keep Law Enforcement off of another path. Possibly foreign terrorists.

I might be wrong, but it seems like something that would come out when investigators are getting close to something.

I mean, why would the sniper(s) wait until they've shot 10 people and then demand ransom?

[fivecatsandadog]

Something about this whole affair is beginning to smell. And when I read about this "Please call back, we didn't hear you" statement from Moose, all I could think was this sniper or snipers are probably laughing their butts off, making the cops and media look like a bunch of chimps scrambling for a banana. Depending on who you read, the letter and the tarot card handwriting match, then they don't match. What a bunch of goofballs. Keystone cops, three stooges, abbott and costello. Geez.

[fivecatsandadog]

They need to keep their yaps shut more often--especially in regards to national security.

BUMP

[alnick]

My best guess is that we have begun to meet the cell's demands by releasing a few prisoners at Gitmo,

I'm sorry, but why on earth would you think a thing like that?

[alley cat]

He also may have disguised his voice in the call that led cops to his extortion note. It was made by a man with "an accent of unknown origin," CNN said.

Clearly it's a white male right-wing gun nut from Alabama.

[Clovis_Skeptic]

Has Israel ever seen a money ransom demand from a Pallie?

No, just their whole country/land, and all the developments on all real estate, but no cash in a bag left at the bus station.

[ladyinred]

Meanwhile, isn't it amazing how the writer managed to get Bush, Cheney, NRA and Marine Corps stickers into the article, tho totally irrelevant to the story.

Disgusting isn't it?

[ladyinred]

IMO he is playing a game with the media, the police, and the community

I thought I might be alone in thinking this. Also, IF it is terrorist type, could it be that he is using this as a mockery of our values? The first place the terrorists hit was the WTC, our center of commerce, which they claim to detest. Just speculating.

[Former Fetus]

why would the sniper(s) wait until they've shot 10 people and then demand ransom?

how about to make the threat of continued shootings more believable?

BTW, I personally agree that the ransom is nothing more than a diversion, but it's only a gut feeling.

[WomanofStandard]

I live in NYC and the POST is the most conservative paper we have here. The Times is the most liberal. (Just the opposite of Washington's Times and Post.) I have not known the NY Post to get things wrong as far as reporting, though I can't say I always agree with their viewpoint.

As far as pointing out the bumberstickers in this article...they are not the first. I heard Rush Limbaugh going on and on about these same bumperstickers yesterday, long before the NY Post went to print with today's article.

And, as far as releasing information LE asked the media not to, I heard the specific details in this article being broadcast on late night cable new channels (it was so late at night the shows MAY have been repeats of their shows earlier last night, I don't know)including the MSNBC show you metion where the anchor or reporter checked to see if it was okay to share the information he had received.

I'm not a particular champion of any news publication in this area but felt I should clear up the idea that this paper is not reporting accurately or that it's leaking info it should not. From what I have observed, it is doing neither.

[The Old Hoosier]

My gut says this note is not from the sniper, but some very sick person who thinks he can cash in from all this.

[Marysecretary]

I read he might be a missing person from France who has gone AWOL. He was in the U.S. and speaks with an accent. Hmm, we pray he's found soon! Lord, reveal to us what is now hidden!

[Carolinamom]

These "experts" on TV speculating all the time seem to give the sniper ideas for further action.....for instance, I heard many of them recently commenting on not having received any demands for money. Now there is supposedly a demand for money. If not the sniper, it gives loonies ideas.

Some police warnings to the public are necessary, but I tend to agree with Mark Furman who said that the public doesn't need to know EVERYTHING while there is an on-going investigation. Reporters who leak information should censor themselves although that will not be likely, I fear.

[teeman8r]

the feds are probably running the show covertly, so that if it is terroristic, the terrorists won't see how inept the feds are at catching a gunman...

[M. Peach]

Did the reporter ever release what information he held back at first?

[Marysecretary]

Oh, are you SURE it wasn't Idaho or Montana???? (smile)