Oregon Ping
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Posted on 07/20/2005 6:41:28 PM PDT by Splatter
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Investigators probing the London terror bombings are focusing on an elusive British Muslim suspect who is connected to a previous plot to set up a terrorist training camp in rural southern Oregon, according to U.S. counterterrorism officials.
Officials told both NBC News and CNN Wednesday that Haroon Rashid Aswat, believed to be a mastermind of the London bombings, is the same British-born Muslim of Indian descent who scouted a Bly, Oregon ranch to set up a terror camp.
These officials said Aswat, a Pakistani national being sought for questioning as a person of interest by British authorities, was among three unindicted co-conspirators in the Oregon incident.
U.S. officials said a 2002 indictment in the Bly case links Aswat directly to Abu Hamza al-Masri, a fiery, one-eyed radical cleric from a London mosque who is now on trial in Britain for possessing al-Qaida literature and inciting the killing of Jews and other non-Muslims.
"I think this just gives us a glimpse into what might be happening inside the United States," said retired Air Force Lt. Col. Rick Francona, an NBC News terrorism expert. "We were able to uncover one operation — how many others are out there?"
"What's very scary is not only can they travel very easily through Europe, they could travel very easily to the United States because of their British citizenship," added retired Portland State University professer Gary Perlstein, a KGW terrorism expert.
The documents reveal Aswat worked with a Seattle man, James Ujaama, who pleaded guilty in 2003 to a charge of providing support to the Taliban for his role in trying to set up the "jihad training camp." Ujaama is now cooperating with federal prosecutors.
The southern Oregon ranch that may have been scouted as a potential terrorist training camp. (KGW Photo)
Court documents in the Ujaama case said a conspirator, whom U.S. officials identified as Aswat, arrived in New York City in November 1999 on Abu Hamza's orders. He made his way to Oregon, according to the documents, "for the purpose of evaluating the Bly property as a jihad training camp."
In the indictment, prosecutors also alleged the conspirators "met potential candidates for jihad training ... established security for the Bly property ... and they and others participated in firearms training and viewed a video recording on the subject of improvised poisons."
The documents also said Aswat, along with another conspirator, lived in Seattle in early 2000 and "expounded on the teachings" of Abu Hamza.
Aswat, in his early 30s, has family that lives in Leeds in northern England, where three of the four suspected London suicide bombers resided. At his family's house, neighbors said they haven't seen Aswat in nearly 10 years.
Aswat's believed to be hiding out in Pakistan, where government officials said he wasn't in custody and remained at large as of Wednesday night.
Hahahaha.. That is classic!
Hey, don't forget Washington! We have some of the best "Target Practice" gravel pits around!
Seriously, if a terrorist wanted to smuggle a nuke into the US, I'm sure WA/OR would be high on their list of boarders. The "Public Officials" are not only liberal but lazy. Why else would a s**tbag start a TRAINING CAMP? They know the OR history of tolerance.
Quick Creepy Quiz..
The first "Bio-Attack In The U.S." happened where, and was committed by who?
Oregon Ping
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A good question for our looney governor...
Ping me...
Sudden mental image of USAF F-16s attacking terrorist targets on US soil...
hoosiermama ~
Yes..Very unsettling.
Linked? Maybe, but I feel the terrorists are already here, have WMD and are waiting for the right moment.
The (formerly) Great Northwest is a staging ground for attacks in London? It's not a surprise to me...What's next, L.A., NY, Chicago?
A tunnel..Is it big enough to import a suitcase nuke?
Oh no, NW "elecetd" officials wouldn't let anything but B.C.bud be smuggled into our country. After all, Gotta keep those liberals HIGH so they don't notice the terrorist training camps.
Which one is correct? Asshat, or Asswad?
I know, I know!!!! (forgets to raise hand)
LOL! Bump.
and the answer is...
Hare Krishnas assaulting people dirty diapers?
Sorry, no...
Please give your answer in the form of a question.. ; ^)
LOL...
That IS funny.
Ding! Ding!! Ding!!! Grampa Dave. Do ya remmemer this graphic that you used to post for me???
One is ass good ass the other..
The first thing that I thought of when I heard that there was a link between the bombing in Spain and the one in London, was I wonder if the that Oregon guy whose finger print was found in the Spain bombing was involved in this one. They eventually let him off on that, but I never fully believed in his innocence. Now again, I am going to ask is this guy related to the London bombings also?
I'll have to go look up his name.
Yup! We needs ta shine a big light on 'em and stomp them suckas inta Kingdom Come!!!
Onwurd Cristshun soldjers marchin as to war... (Well, Teddy Roosevelt played it at his BullMoose Party's convention!)
Thanks. So glad I assed.
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