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Has Terrorism Returned to America’s Heartland?
CBN News ^ | Erick Stakelbeck

Posted on 10/26/2005 12:40:47 PM PDT by LibertyRocks

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma - Has terrorism returned to the Oklahoma City area? That is what folks in Norman have been asking, ever since a 21-year-old student at the University of Oklahoma killed himself in what some are calling an attempted homicide bombing.

On Saturday, October 1, engineering major Joel Hinrichs detonated a homemade bomb near Memorial Stadium, where 84,000 fans were watching the hometown Sooners take on Kansas State.

That was just a hundred yards from a newly replaced bench -- it was there, just before halftime, that a powerful explosion ripped through the entire area, taking Hinrichs with it.

From the outset, both the FBI and University of Oklahoma President David Boren have insisted that Hinrichs acted alone. They say his death was a random suicide, carried out by a troubled young man, and that Hinrichs had no intention of hurting anyone but himself. But others who have followed the case closely are not so sure.

Mark Tapscott of the Heritage Foundation remarked, “There are about 30,000 suicides in America--unfortunately--every year. And you can go back a decade, and you will not find a single one of those suicides who blew themself up in proximity, close proximity, to 84,000 people at a football game.”

Tapscott and other online bloggers have questioned Hinrichs' true intentions. They point to his Pakistani Muslim roommate and the location of his apartment--just one block from the Norman Mosque.

It is the same mosque that convicted 9/11 plotter Zacarias Moussaoui attended when he lived in Norman. As for Hinrichs, a spokesman for the mosque told us he had never seen him there.

“The first time we've seen his picture is when the news and the media put his pictures in the papers and on TV. Other than that, we've never seen him here,” stated Mohamed Elyazgi, a spokesman for the Norman Mosque.

But in a CBN exclusive, a former neighbor of the mosque, who wishes to remain anonymous, told us she did see Hinrichs there--not once, but several times.

“I did see Joel on several occasions outside of the mosque, actually, in the parking lot of the mosque,” the neighbor said. “It wasn't in the yard, it wasn't behind the fence, it was always in the parking lot when I would see him. And there was one time when I passed him, actually, on the sidewalk. As soon as I saw the picture of Joel Hinrichs on TV, not the clean-shaven one, but the one with the beard, I knew immediately that that was the gentleman I had seen on several occasions.”

Hinrichs' father says his son never would have converted to Islam, and that young Joel was no terrorist. Joel Hinrichs Sr. declared, “My pride is under challenge somewhat, by the fact that he took his life. But in terms of a terrorist, a terrorist is somebody who tries to scare other people. And there was nobody around when Joel did what he did.”

But the FBI has admitted that it still is not sure whether Hinrichs tried to enter Memorial Stadium.

And why did Hinrichs attempt to buy ammonium nitrate fertilizer at a local feed store just days before killing himself? That is the same deadly material Timothy McVeigh used to blow up the Oklahoma City Federal Building in 1995.

“We don't have a lot of people who come in and actually specifically state that they need ammonium nitrate,” Dustin Ellison of Ellison Feed & Seed said. “When it's used in that terminology now, it's kind of...it just catches your attention when somebody asks for that.”

Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole understands the concerns surrounding Hinrichs' death. But he is confident that the FBI's findings are correct, and that Hinrichs only meant to harm himself.

Rep. Cole stated, “We do have a person that has a long documented history of having a very troubled past. It's a person that had been isolated, who seemed a little bit odd. Who, according to his brother, had frequently been teased and tormented as a young person by fellow students. Sort of classic loner, who didn't fit in.”

Law enforcement authorities found additional explosives during a search of Hinrichs’ apartment. Some news outlets have reported they also found jihadist literature. The FBI denies this claim.

But anyone looking to dig deeper will not have much luck--the Department Of Justice has sealed the search warrant for Hinrichs' apartment.

Although it has grabbed most of the attention, Hinrichs' suicide is not the only troubling incident to take place on America's college campuses these past few weeks.

At UCLA, authorities discovered what they called "an improvised explosive device." Near the University of California's San Diego campus, authorities found a homemade chemical lab in the bathroom of a student's apartment. The student killed himself as police attempted to enter the residence.

At Prairie View A & M in Texas, a student was arrested when authorities found bombmaking materials in his dorm room. He is also charged with trying to buy a handgun with counterfeit money.

And at Georgia Tech, in what officials now say was a prank, a student planted three explosive devices on campus.

As for the University of Oklahoma, it has tightened security at all home games in the wake of Hinrichs' death.

The Oklahoma City Memorial is a daily reminder of the deadly effects of domestic terrorism. And for many here, questions still linger about Hinrichs' death. Was it just a lone suicide? Or was it part of a larger conspiracy to bring terrorism back to America's heartland?


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: Oklahoma; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bomb; domesticterrorism; hinrichs; normanbombing; okbomb; ou; oubombing
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To: All

Sorry... "6 days earlier" should read "4 days earlier". The incident reported by 18wheeler happened on 10/03/05.


41 posted on 10/26/2005 1:25:38 PM PDT by LibertyRocks (COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY of OU Bombing (Updated 10/26) http://sweetliberty.alfablog.com)
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To: ovrtaxt

Thanks for the ping!


42 posted on 10/26/2005 1:25:42 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: rawcatslyentist
Yep, that's another interesting case - especially right on the heels of the OU Bombing... In that case it appears to be "left-wing" anti-war/anarchist leaning people. What's even more interesting is that one of the guys arrested is the son of the lawyer representing the OU Student Dreyling who was arrested back in August for bringing explosives into the Will Rogers World Airport in OK. You can see a summary of the investigations into that case as well as court affadavits here.

Then just the other night (10/24) there was an explosion in Choctaw, Oklahoma (about 30 miles from Norman) that they are investigating... You can read about it on this FR THREAD, and also at my blog; HERE.
43 posted on 10/26/2005 1:33:05 PM PDT by LibertyRocks (COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY of OU Bombing (Updated 10/26) http://sweetliberty.alfablog.com)
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To: LibertyRocks
The American public doesn't want to believe it could happen, the FBI doesn't want to admit it happens, and the MSM doesn't want to report on it either! Works out perfectly for those who wish to cause us harm...

Wow, that's it exactly! And the American public who doesn't want to believe it could happen ends up being the victim of the results, whether or not they want to believe it. If only there were some way to wake people up...

44 posted on 10/26/2005 1:34:32 PM PDT by MizSterious (Now, if only we could convince them all to put on their bomb-vests and meet in Mecca...)
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To: LibertyRocks

Anytime officals come out in less than 24 hours with "This does not seem to be terror related", You can bet your sweet ass it is terror related. Also he was far from being alone at the time of the "suicide".


45 posted on 10/26/2005 1:36:17 PM PDT by wolfcreek
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To: LibertyRocks

Explosives examined
2 juveniles suspected in investigation of incident at Westwood apartment



By Richard Clough
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
rclough@media.ucla.edu

Los Angeles Police Department officials said Tuesday that two juvenile suspects are being sought in connection with the incident involving an explosive device found Oct. 7 on the 500 block of Midvale Avenue.

Officials also said police consider the suspects to pose no threat and their actions as tantamount to "some kids playing around," said Sgt. Katherine Plows of the LAPD.

Authorities would not say whether the suspects are believed to be UCLA students or if they have any UCLA ties.

Responding to a call made at 11:13 a.m. Friday, authorities arrived at 527 Midvale Ave. to find an improvised explosive device made from two M-80 fireworks taped together, Plows said.

One of the fireworks was detonated but the other was a dud, she said. M-80s are illegal in the United States.

Though several residents said they heard a small explosion sometime between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. that morning, the police were not called until a resident found the device several hours later in the open-air courtyard within the Midvale Plaza apartment complex.

The LAPD bomb squad inspected and detonated the device shortly after 1 p.m. Friday.

While the bomb squad was working, a portion of Midvale Avenue around the building was closed to vehicular and pedestrian access, but no buildings were evacuated.

Residents of nearby buildings said they were aware of the incident taking place, but most said they did not feel afraid or threatened.

Authorities were not available to give updates on the case over the weekend or on Monday due to the Columbus Day holiday. Early reports from the LAPD on Tuesday indicated that two suspects may have been taken into custody, but those reports were later refuted.

Though FBI vehicles were on the scene, Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI, said the FBI was not involved with any investigation into the incident.


46 posted on 10/26/2005 1:37:52 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
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To: King Prout
hey... you walk among us again? great to see you

Busy lately, but taking a break, and I expect to be back around more shortly. Besides, I've got to figure out how to mount the new hood ornament.


47 posted on 10/26/2005 1:40:20 PM PDT by archy (The darkness will come. It will find you,and it will scare you like you've never been scared before.)
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To: King Prout
Yup.

John Walker Lindh is a troubled loner who had a hard time fitting in. As is Richard Reid. As is the Aussie convert in Guantanamo. As is that idiot in Maine.

White converts to Islam are, as a general rule, troubled loners.

Additionally, his father's denials are particularly hollow.

If his son was capable of blowing himself to bits like this, he was capable of converting to a religion which encourages such behavior.

I suspect that when he converted to Islam, the last person he would have told about it was his father.

48 posted on 10/26/2005 1:40:59 PM PDT by wideawake (God bless our brave troops and their Commander-in-Chief)
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To: wolfcreek; Squantos
Anytime officals come out in less than 24 hours with "This does not seem to be terror related", You can bet your sweet ass it is terror related. Also he was far from being alone at the time of the "suicide".

It's also my understanding that the explosive he used was triacetone triperoxide/TATP, the homebrew choice of attempted airline shoebomber Richard Reid and numerous Palestinians who've blown themselves and sometimes others in *work accidents.* The nasty stuff has sometimes been referred to as the Mother of Satan and has been responsible for both intentional and accidental industrial explosions.

Accordingly, I'm not at all convinced that he intentionally triggered his device intentionally without intent of harming others in the stadium crowd.

49 posted on 10/26/2005 1:48:27 PM PDT by archy (The darkness will come. It will find you,and it will scare you like you've never been scared before.)
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To: PurVirgo
for what reason?

The "we be ignorant peasants crowd" may figure out there could have been radical towel-heads involved in the OKC bombing.

50 posted on 10/26/2005 1:56:18 PM PDT by labette (Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.)
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To: archy

oh, LORDY


51 posted on 10/26/2005 1:58:08 PM PDT by King Prout (many accuse me of being overly literal... this would not be a problem if many were not under-precise)
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To: BurbankKarl
Another case of conflicting reports, eh? (o:

So, Sgt. Miller stated in the article you posted (from 10/13) that they were 2 m80s. Mr. Axson quotes an Officer Harding in his article on 10/19 that states they were grenades... I wonder who is telling the truth - and why would either of them lie (or do you think the officer was misinformed)? It's a pretty big jump from m80s to grenades, isn't it?
52 posted on 10/26/2005 2:27:03 PM PDT by LibertyRocks (COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY of OU Bombing (Updated 10/26) http://sweetliberty.alfablog.com)
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To: wideawake
"Additionally, his father's denials are particularly hollow."

Yeah, especially the comment his father made when asked if Hinrichs would be involved with Radical Islamic types... "WHEN PIGS FLY" was his answer... I'm sure no pun was intended there.
53 posted on 10/26/2005 2:28:59 PM PDT by LibertyRocks (COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY of OU Bombing (Updated 10/26) http://sweetliberty.alfablog.com)
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To: Nancie Drew

You're welcome! Thanks for sending me the link. (o:


54 posted on 10/26/2005 2:30:08 PM PDT by LibertyRocks (COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY of OU Bombing (Updated 10/26) http://sweetliberty.alfablog.com)
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To: clee1

Because blood will run in the streets if Americans become convinced that jihadis are here and actively committing terrorism.

This is exactly the reason the the press and gov. work so hard at covering up. Why are there NO pictures of 911? If citizens realize that war is here and the gov. is not interested in protecting it's citizens, people will realize that they must defend themselves. This clearly can not be tolerated.


55 posted on 10/26/2005 2:45:49 PM PDT by newcthem (And Atlas Shrugged.)
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To: LibertyRocks

Off. Harding and Sgt. Plows are both in the Media Relations section of LAPD....who knows why the stories conflict.


56 posted on 10/26/2005 3:09:37 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
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To: BurbankKarl

Thanks for that information. Makes it even more interesting. (o:


57 posted on 10/26/2005 3:15:29 PM PDT by LibertyRocks (COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY of OU Bombing (Updated 10/26) http://sweetliberty.alfablog.com)
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To: LibertyRocks; Calpernia; Velveeta; Alabama MOM; Shadow5644; WestCoastGal; DAVEY CROCKETT; ...

Good research, thanks to Liberty Rocks.


58 posted on 10/26/2005 4:32:33 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (For better health, plant a few winter greens in a pot,put in a sunny window,Oriental greens do well)
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To: PurVirgo; clee1
This is an important story that keeps getting buried by the press and MSM... for what reason?

The more I look at this, the more I'm convinced that the objective of the terrorists is to trigger generalized conflict in the US, and thus to radicalize Muslims in the US and elsewhere (more than they already are, that is)

The terror groups need a steady supply of committed jihaadis, which means they need a pattern of attacks and reprisals.

Bloody reprisals against Muslims, will drag in the Black Muslims, which will drag in non-Muslim blacks in a generalized race war. The major media don't want to see that happen

59 posted on 10/26/2005 4:41:27 PM PDT by SauronOfMordor (I BELIEVE CONGRESSMAN WELDON!)
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To: SQUID
I hope and pray that people see this for what it is, a death cult. They prey on individuals who have an ax to grind. Islam gives such individuals a free ticket to commit crime without sin because Allah will forgive such actions as long as infidels are the victims.

Giving license to the disaffected has been a recruiting tool for many revolutionary movements, including the Nazis and Communists. The goal of Islam is to overturn the existing order, and produce a new world order where the members of Islam shall rule

60 posted on 10/26/2005 4:45:45 PM PDT by SauronOfMordor (I BELIEVE CONGRESSMAN WELDON!)
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