Camp Ground Zero -- Marion, Alabama

ABCNews.com ^ | 7/25/2002 | Brian Ross

[WarSlut]

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.

[WarSlut]

What a surprise...

[Samwise]

bump

[jern]

13:40 2002-07-26
MILITANTS OF AL-QAIDA TRAINED IN ALABAMA
Ground Zero USA military camp situated not far from Maryland, state Alabama could have been a training area of terrorists


There is an impression that militants of Al-Qaida and other terrorists radical organizations felt till recently very comfortable on the US soil. At least, a story is still in memory about US immigration services which only after 6 months after the September 11 terrorist attack gave an entry visa to the terrorists who captured planes September 11. And now, one more sensation.

ABC company journalists carried out an investigation and found out that Ground Zero USA military camp situated not far from Maryland, state Alabama could have been a training area of terrorists.

The investigation of the camp activity is being carried out now by special services of the US and Great Britain. Actually, that were British services which first learned that the militants are being trained in the US. This became known as some Zain-ul-Albedin was arrested, accused of recruiting militants for Al-Qaida. The recruiting was carried out very simply: there was a site on which the system of training (including that one of the Alabama camp) was described and the address of the recruiters was presented. Why was this site ignored before September 11? At least, there is no information that this site was conspiratorial, this is hardly possible on the Internet…

The ABC journalists visited the camp. What they saw there was shocking. The training was great. As targets, dummies, real buses, and police cars were used. And they did not spare targets which were literally riddled.

However, the special services are not sure of the camp owners knowingly co-operated with terrorists: they did not most likely know with whom they had to do. Though, the owners hardly would have done something if even they had known who were their clients. They seem to have been paid very well.

So far it cannot be said for sure that that were Al-Qaida militants who trained in the camp. Though, now FBI started to check up military camps on US territory. What other surprises could this investigation bring?

Vasily Bubnov
PRAVDA.Ru

[WarSlut]

Hole n one beat me to it. Please delete...

[Diddle E. Squat]

Rumors have been circulating for awhile about Marion's librarian. She's been known to keep company with those of questionable reputations and provide subversive literature to juveniles(Chaucer, Rabelais, Balzac). Late evening meetings at the library with men engaged in ritualistic dancing. Was thought to be a sadder but wiser girl. Possible connection to Gary, Indiana.

We've got trouble, right here in Alabama.

[Newbomb Turk]

Marion Police Chief Tony Buford

Son Of Buford T Justice ?

[kellynla]

Sounds like a job for the Alabama Militia...time to carry out the trash...

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"militants from overseas were training in the United States to take advantage of America's gun laws". That's the second amendment they're talking about. God Bless.

[cyncooper]

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

Ping

[SUSSA]

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

No wonder crime is rampant in England. They had to investigate to find the school. All they needed to do was look in the phone book.

What a pair, the yellow journalists at ABC and the limy scum at Scotland Yard.

[anymouse]

Be on the lookout for above perp.

[SUSSA]

For the true story about this business see this:

Officials Find No Evidence Camp Used By Terrorists
Police Chief Says Camp Used To Train Officers
POSTED: 8:42 a.m. CDT July 26, 2002 UPDATED: 11:19 a.m. CDT July 26, 2002 MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- State officials say an investigation uncovered no evidence that a camp near Marion was used as a terrorist training camp. FeedRoom Terror Camp In Alabama? Wednesday night, ABC News said the camp could have possible ties to Osama bin Laden's terror network. A Tuscaloosa man operates the Marion Camp, called Ground Zero USA.

Marion Police Chief Tony Buford said he was misquoted. Buford said the camp is used by police officers from Alabama and Louisiana for training that includes target practice. NBC News first reported in December that a man with alleged Al-Qaida ties, named Zain Ul Albidin, was arrested in Great Britain. Albidin alleged that terrorists trained in the camp in Marion.

A spokesman for Gov. Don Siegelman and Department of Public Safety officials said they are aware of the reports. But after conducting background investigations of the site they found no reason to be concerned.

The camp made news again Wednesday because Albidin is being questioned in connection with the terror attacks of Sept. 11.

In Birmingham, FBI spokesman Craig Dahle also said his agency's probe found no link to any terrorist or other unlawful activity. He said the owner was licensed to train people engaged in protection services.

Marion is located in Perry County.

http://www.nbc13.com/news/1578748/detail.html

[WarSlut]

Well, if the "officials" couldn't find anything, I guess there was never anything to find. These wouldn't be the same "officials" who effectively botched every terrorism investigation in the nations' history, by chance, would it?

I guess all the footage of police cars and school buses with mannequin passengers all shot to hell was really nothing. Just some good ol' boys and their buddy Johnny Mohammed out goofin' around, drinkin' some Budweisers.

[SUSSA]

Marion Police Chief Tony Buford said he was misquoted. Buford said the camp is used by police officers from Alabama and Louisiana for training that includes target practice.

Yeah you must be right. The police and FBI are the liars and ABC News is always fair and balanced, just like DU.

[WarSlut]

Liars? No.

One step behind those who plot to kill us? Historically, yes.

[SUSSA]

So you believe ABC News rather than the police?

[Vidalia]

"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. "

Pay attention BUMP...

[Tailgunner Joe]

bttt

[copycat]

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.

What, there's a prohibition against firing rifles in the desert? Who enforces that?

[WarSlut]

No, there's no prohibition that I know of.

We're talking about muslims, not Americans.