Two Israelis Arrested in east Tennessee Transporting Suspicious Materials

Various local news broadcasts ^ | May 9, 2004 | who knows what evil?

[who knows what evil?]

My apologies in advance on this story; I just happened to catch this on several different newscasts a few minutes ago, and I am going by memory as best I can. Unicoi County (Tennessee) sheriffs arrested two Israeli men after a high-speed chase down mountain roads in this east Tennessee locale. While the sheriff was in pursuit, local witnesses noticed that materials were being thrown from the truck as it sped by, well over the posted speed limits. These witnesses were able to locate some of these items; one of which included a jug whose contents became "unusually hot" after the ingredients inside were shaken together. (Goes into the "Hey, y'all...watch this" category, WKWE.) Upon arrest, the police noted that the cab of the truck contained a "Learn How to Fly" brochure, along with passports and Florida licenses that "just didn't seem to add up". The Israelis claimed they were "just in the process of moving some furniture up to Boston". The police also stated that these two Israelis are "not being cooperative in any way." The FBI is investigating the nature of the substance in the jug that was recovered, which has been classified as an "inflammable fuel."

My questions:

1. What ELSE was in this (big yellow) 25-foot Ryder truck?
2. If they were travelling from Florida to Boston, what were they doing on a two-lane back road in the mountains of east Tennessee, several hundred miles WEST of Interstate 95; the most direct route from Florida to Boston?
3. What is the volatile substance in the jug, and why did they wish to avoid getting caught with it? (Why else would they pitch it?)
4. Why are they interested in "Learning How to Fly?"
5. Were they REALLY going to Boston, or were they MORE interested in the nearby Nuclear Fuel Services plant, or, G-d forbid, the huge Eastman Chemical Plant, about thirty miles further up the road?

It will be interesting to see if the national media picks up on this.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Please post any news on this. Enquiring minds want to know!

[familyop]

"Uhm, maybe they were Arab Israelis...you sound like the idiot."

No. What you mention about Arabs was my point. The report was only about "Israelis," impyling "Jews" to most readers. Police agencies and journalists in our country have a duty to public affairs, too.

We don't need more conspiracy stories about Jewish terrorists floating around.

[Joe Hadenuf]

She's incorrect. Daisy needs to get out more.

[oceanperch]

True we all know the going ons in our small towns.

If we care to.

Most likely someone called the Ryder truck in as suspicious IMO 'cause some counties don't have deputies patrolling all the back roads on a regular basis.

[CathyRyan]

We had one guy call 911 drunk and told the police where they could pick him up. They had multiple warrants out on him. The LEO's laughed the whole time picking him up.

[Amerigomag]

what is their race?

Since Israeli Jews, Arabs and Israeli Palestinians are all of the same race, European Caucasoid, what good would that knowledge do?

I think you meant to say "What is their religious heritage?".

[Clay Moore]

"Musta been a tough "jug" that could be hurled from a speeding truck without breaking."

Or being shaken up until the cops got there to shake it...

In the HAZMAT bidness, we call them copometers. The hot zone is defined by the location of the nearest downed cop. LOL

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I think my family drove that road back in the 1960's on our way to visit grandparents in FLA. This was, of course, before the interstates were completed.

[don-o]

News at eleven:

Not a lot. But, posted pics of the perps. Good looking young men. Not the blank or angry eyes I have seen on others.

In country legally, according to one report, on tourist visas. (With fake driver's license?)

Eyewitness said they threw out a "jug" with powder floating over a liquid. Authorities reported recovering a "vial"

Would not read too much into this discrepancy. Sometimes, we struggle for the right word around here.

Lastly, folks who live on the old road, walked the road to help collect evidence.

Suspects are not cooperating. Hearing Monday morning.

[m18436572]

You obviously missed the </sarcasm> tag. :p

[Liberty Valance]

"We all need to be serious about homeland security," Harris said.

"We're living in a different time ... a time in which we all need to be vigilant."

It would seem Tennessee is lucky to have Sherriff Kent Harris. A tip of the hat to an alert public servant.

[Damagro]

Except that moonshine does not get "unusually hot" when you shake it up.


it can become unusually hot when shaken in your stomach though

[Tennessee_Bob]

I'll swan - origins:

http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/bulletin_board/17/messages/1223.html

[who knows what evil?]

Eyewitness said they threw out a "jug" with powder floating over a liquid. Authorities reported recovering a "vial".

They showed the container on the six o'clock braodcast. It looked like the jug that bulk mayonaise comes in; similar to what they sell at Scam's Club.

[don-o]

The fact that these boys are "not cooperating" to quote the eleven o'clock local news, increases interest.

[familyop]

I have no intention of going back to the East. I'm already related to y'all. ...you'uns, even. ...came out this way to look for new blood for my kids. ;-)

All that aside, the report about "Israelis" did make me angry. ...shouldn't have let that happen while trying to get info. I want to see how it comes out. Hopefully, someone here will keep us up on it.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I don't think that Israeli implies to most readers. Saying that they had detained two Arabs makes no sense. Their supposed country of orgin is what should have been disclosed. BTW, what would you have said if they were Iranians?

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Wow! That's interesting..... You learn something new every day here at FR.

[TheLurkerX]

Thanks for the link. More complicated an origin than I would have thought. That's been bothering me for years.

[TheLurkerX]

Does the station have a website with the photos?