Preparing for Jihad ...in Alabama

ABCnews.com ^ | 07/25/02 | Brian Ross

[Thane_Banquo]

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

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.

[Sabertooth]

He is neither. Just what everyone was expecting....a couple of angry black Jamaican guys!

It's early yet... as this investigation unfolds, keep an eye out for the word : "Jamaat," as in Jamaat al Fuqra, Jamaat al Islam, or Jamaat al Tabligh. They are front groups for elements within Pakistan's ISI that are shoulder to shoulder with the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

Other camps like this have been linked to Pakistan, so we'll see. Check this out...

Amongst the alleged members of the TJ (Tablighi Jamaat) in the Muslim community in the US is Mr.Louis Fara Khan, the Black Muslim leader. The TJ operates in the US and the Caribbean directly through its own preachers deputed from Pakistan and also recruited from the Pakistani immigrant community in the US as well as through front organisations such as the Jamaat-ul-Fuqra founded in the 1980s under the leadership of Sheikh Mubarik Ali Gilani, who generally lives in Pakistan, but travels frequently to the US and the Caribbean.

The annual report on the Patterns of Global Terrorism during 1998 issued by the Counter-Terrorism Division of the US State Department states as follows of the Jamaat-ul-Fuqra: "Seeks to purify Islam through violence. Members have purchased isolated rural compounds in North America to live communally, practise their faith and insulate themselves from Western culture. Fuqra members have attacked a variety of targets that they view as enemies of Islam, including Muslims they regard as heretics and Hindus. Attacks during the 1980s included assassinations and fire bombings across the US. Fuqra members in the US have been convicted of criminal violations, including murder and fraud."
LINK

[section9]

Alabama Jihadists...

Be Seein' Y'all

Chris

[6ppc]

Al Qaeda Camp in Oregon Check this out.

[anniegetyourgun]

We have no evidence that they were trained by Al-Queda. Is he an anti-American enemy sypathizer? Sure, and it will be a great excuse/alibi for his robbery, extortion, fraud, and murder case. Does that mean all muslims are terrorists who are preparing action against the US? No.

[willyone]

All the comments so far on the media mention it as a right wing militia camp. Just can't stop trying to get a white to be guilty of something can they?

[agrace]

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."

This absolutely sickens me. Although I'm not sure which is worse - that they use our country to train for attacks on our country, or that they are bragging about it.

[Maceman]

Does that mean all muslims are terrorists who are preparing action against the US? No.

But it does support the reverse assertion -- that (virtually) all terrorists are Muslims.

[OldFriend]

Hope I live to see the day when some prominent muslim stands up and condemns the violence against christians and jews here and abroad. Until then, I will assume that most if not all muslims are hatefilled.

[Imal]

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.

Yeah, right. No agenda here.

Heck, Mexico has tougher gun laws than the U.S., but you could set up a freakin' artillery range there and all you'd have to do is lightly grease a few palms among the local constabulary. Wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more. Try doing that in the U.S.!

And Mexico is hardly the only country like that. What a load of crap!

[willyone]

You sure like them Islamists don't you. You have no problem with jumping on whites though do you. You should get back over to DU where your buddies hang out.

[FLdeputy]

British authorities also thought that militants from overseas were training in the United States to take advantage of America's gun laws

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.

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."

What are they trying to say? Are they trying to tell us we support terrorism bacause our citizens have the right to bear arms? PING

[anniegetyourgun]

I see.

[bankwalker]

just focused on the Camden, NJ connection.

First time I heard this. Any details, anyone?

[martin_fierro]

Assuming:

• that this Muhammad guy did train at a terrorist training camp; and
• that he's the D.C. Sniper,

it would make the message that he forced Moose to read last night ("We have caught the sniper like a duck in a noose") sound even more like a call-to-action code phrase.

[martin_fierro]

A+ and a gold star

BFD. I get those at Ebay all the time. <|:)~

[Squantos]

Just what everyone was expecting....a couple of angry black Jamaican guys!......???

LOL !........Stay Safe !

[Mixer]

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.

I think all the proof that they are connected to AQ or some other ME terror group is in those sentences. I also think the schol bus directly links the camp to the sniper.

[Pharmboy]

Hey Annie...why are you jumping to conclusions so fast? Have you interviewed the shooter and gone over the evidence? This guy is a Muslim convert who expressed sympathy for the 9-11 attack; this sounds like a regular criminal? Not to me...give it a few days before you make any final judgements.

As Bush 41 used to say..."Wouldn't be prudent..."

[anniegetyourgun]

I'm so glad you asked. Of course I haven't interviewed them....and neither has anyone else here who has concluded that this guy is an Islamic international terrorist.