Airport-bust tycoon in 'bin Laden' probe

NY Post ^ | 2/14/03 | Marianne Garvey, John Lehmann, and larry Celona

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

A wealthy Manhattan real-estate investor is under investigation for ties t Osama bin Laden's family after he tried to board a plane at Newark airport with piano wire and a plastic knife, sources said yesterday.

Peter Williams, described by nieghbors as a hot-tempered eccentric who conducts business from a bunker like office was busted Saturday as he was headed to Hawaii, the sources said.

The wire and knife were in his carry-on bag.

Following his arrest, investigators found that Williams had made several phone calls to a New Hampshire phone number that had ben used to make calls to members of bin Laden's family, which runs a $ 5 billion dollar construction empire

Membrs of the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorist Task Force were questioning Williams, but hadn't charged him with any federal crime or connection to terror plots, the sources said.

"We still don't know why he was heading to Hawaii with piano wire and a plastic knife," a source said.

A spokesman for Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jim Comey, whose office is overseeing the probe, declined comment.

Records show Williams owns three apartment buildings ar 33, 35, and 35 1/2 Crosby Street in SoHo and a loft at 699 Washington Street in the West Village, and has been in the real-estate business for 20 years.

He has a pilot's license and owns his own plane, the sources said.

Neighbors said Williams has a hot temper and a cement walled windowless apartment at 33 Crosby St.

Since Williams is in real-estate it would not be unreasonable for him to have contacted members of bin Laden's family, which owns the Saudi Binladen Group, a construction giant.

Additional reporting by Andy Geller

[petuniasevan]

How obvious can one be?

"Hold muh garrotte" alert!

[piasa]

Is this weird or what?

Anyone Hillary knows?

[McGavin999]

Oh yeah, it's perfectly normal for a man to board a plane these days carrying a plastic knife and wire. Anyone want to bet he's a flaming liberal?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

["We still don't know why he was heading to Hawaii with piano wire and a plastic knife," a source said.]

If it wasn't to hang himself from the balcony of the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua while simultaneously cutting his wrists, send him in for ball-busting interrogation, then drop his sorry islamic arse into Mauna Lau.

[holyscroller]

"He has a pilot's license and owns his own plane, the sources said."

Hope the feds keep an eye on this guy...and his bird. He's apt to loan it to some undesirable...or allow it to be conveniently stolen.

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

If there were bad intentions, Hawaii might have been for extra fuel.

[piasa]

He appears to be a 'Rat:

35th District (Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene): Letitia James, a former assistant attorney general for Brooklyn, is the Democratic organization's candidate in this race. But Ms. James, who has compiled a fine record as a legislative counsel in Albany, seems to have the strength of character to chart an independent course. Her main opponent, Peter Williams, is the director of housing and community development for the National Urban League. Mr. Williams has an impressive background of city activism, but we endorse Letitia James, with the hope that she will recruit Mr. Williams to advise her on housing and development issues.

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

Should detain him at least til he starts talking.

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

Check out post #8 by piasa.

[piasa]

A donor to Peter William's campaign- assuming it's the same guy, is interesting (does not neccessarily imply Abdellah's a bad guy, just curious):

ABDELLAH, HASSAN 
BROOKLYN, NY 11225
Type: Ind
THE OCEANHILL ORGANIZATION
319 ROCKAWAY AVE
BROOKLYN, NY
Occupation: COO
09/08/2001

Ref No: R0000788
Filing:11(H) Sched:ABC
$100
$100 SLOW LOADING FILE

[APBaer]

Not the same Williams.

The Williams in the slammer lives in SOHO, Manhattan.
The Williams in the article lives in Brooklyn.

[APBaer]

"assuming it's the same guy,"

Wrong assumption, totally different people.

[piasa]

There's some justice department people on his donation list above, too. Bottom of the list...

[piasa]

True, I don't know NY, but he may have moved to Soho since 2001. I found this Williams by looking up realtors, which is why I thought it could be him.

[piasa]

Too bad it's such a common name.

[APBaer]

Reading between the lines, and seeing the geography:
The Williams in the slammer is a honkey.
The Williams in politics is a "brother."

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

If there were bad intentions, Hawaii might have been for extra fuel.

If you have a plan that works, keep working it.

[piasa]

I can guess what the Brooklyn one is by the NAACP links, but I can't see any conclusive clues about the SOHO one, unless SOHO only allows white people in. I know it's got a lot of art galleries...

but I wouldn't assume he's gay because of it.

[piasa]

Anyway, I'm going to ask the moderator to delete my posts in the event that it's not the same dude... would an obscenely wealthy real estate investor want to be on the city council of Brooklyn, and would a wealthy guy lose?