Posted on 07/27/2005 8:40:50 PM PDT by Bayou City
Five Egyptians yesterday were nabbed in a New Jersey apartment with New York subway maps, a video of Big Apple landmarks and $8,000 in cash after a tipster told cops one was related to infamous 9/11 hijacker Mohamed Atta.
But police said the men — all illegal immigrants working "menial" jobs — did not appear to be part of any terror cell, although they had not yet fully explained why they had the items in the Newark home.
One of the men was identified as Ahmed Mohamed Atta, 30. But there is no indication he is related to the fiend who navigated a plane into the World Trade Center, officials added.
"The investigation is continuing, but so far there is no nexus to terrorism," FBI rep Steven Siegel said.
The men will be deported based on their illegal status, authorities said. One of the five, Mohamed Ibrahim Gaber, had been wanted since September 2000 for jumping from an Egyptian freighter in Baltimore.
Sources said a 911 caller told Newark cops Sunday that the men had guns and knives and were planning some kind of attack. The tipster later called back and insisted one of the men was related to the hijacker.
Authorities searching the home at 246 Ferry St. in the city's Ironbound section discovered the maps, touristy video and a bag stuffed with $20 and $50 bills.
According to a police document, other seized items included: "various engineering paperwork regarding structures and railways," a Hewlett Packard computer, two Sony Handycams, two cellphones and bank papers.
All of the men claimed to be unemployed civil or chemical engineers.
One of them, Karim Ahmed Abdel Latif Ahmed, 21, told cops he needed the maps for his new job as a street vendor.
Also found was a train schedule with several stops circled. The route was one that Gaber, 34, had mapped out to get to work at a Gotham eatery, Siegel said.
No weapons were found.
Authorities believe the 911 caller had some ax to grind with the men.
The other men in custody were identified as Karim Ahmed's 19-year-old brother, Mahmoud Ahmed Abdel Latif Ahmed, and Ibrahim Mohamed Sameh Mahboub, 24.
A sixth housemate, Mohamed Talat Anwar Hozain, 24, is in the country legally, Siegel said.
Hozain last night told The Post that he had attended Egypt's Alexandria University with Mahboub to study chemical engineering and that he had been in the United States for only three weeks.
Asked if Mahboub and the other men had any terror ties, he said, "As far as I know, they just came here to make a lot of money working. . . . They worked in fried chicken.
"I think [Mahboub] is a very good man — he wouldn't [be involved in terrorism]," Hozain said.
Who will protect us from the FBI?
I remember reading about that. Thanks.
The shoe bomber was reported to have no terrorist connections either.
Darn that profiling. Doesn't sound at all suspicious to me [/sarcasm]
ping
Hang 'em High!
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
A lot of illegal aliens legally entered the country but did not leave when their visas expired.
Oh Hon, you're dreaming.
If someone could rob a bank, get caught on video and had 20 witnesses to the crime,
he STILL would be an ALLEGED bank robber according to the media.
Yet the borders remain virtually open, don't they? This is intentional, not an oversight.
LOL
One is 19 and one is 21, civil or chemical engineers, yeah, right, and my ex was faithful too!
Bump
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