Threat Matrix: October 2006

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.wtop.com

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.evacuate20oct20,0,5379800.story?coll=bal-local-headlines"

"School evacuated after explosion
Gasoline vapors might have caused blast in sewer near St. Clement in Rosedale
By Nick Shields
sun reporter
Originally published October 20, 2006

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The kids at St. Clement School in Rosedale were outside playing early yesterday afternoon when a loud boom shook the ground.

With recess just about over, Principal Angie Rebbert led the children back into the school, but when they encountered a strong odor, Rebbert called 911, set off the fire alarm and evacuated the building.


The blast came from under the ground near the school, and it was strong enough to send a nearby manhole cover flying. While more than 300 youngsters were led a safe distance away, investigators tried to figure out what had caused the explosion in the volatile air of the sewer system.

Late in the day, a small amount of gasoline found in the sewer seemed to be the best clue they had found.

"The feeling is that the vapors from the gasoline built up in that sewer area," said Robert Ballinger, a spokesman for the Maryland Department of the Environment."



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http://www.wtop.com/?nid=598&sid=948908
October 20th, 2006
"Two Dead After Plane Crashes Near Fort Meade"
Oct 20th - 8:40am
ODENTON, Md. (AP)

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=afghanistan

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Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/2006/10/013669print.html

October 20, 2006

Afghan Gunmen Kill Eight Workers Employed at U.S. Military Base

They kill fellow Muslims because they regard them as having effectively apostatized by working for the Americans. From AP, with thanks to Jeffrey Imm:

KABUL, Afghanistan — Gunmen ambushed a car carrying Afghan civilians working on a remote U.S. military base in eastern Afghanistan and killed eight of them execution-style, police said Friday.
The ambush victims, who worked for the U.S. military as laborers in the mountainous Korangal area of Kunar province, were killed Thursday while driving home from work, said Abdul Saboor, Kunar's deputy police chief.

Gunmen stopped the workers' car, searched them and took about US$6,000 (euro4,780) before gunning them down, said Salehzai Didar, Kunar's governor. Two workers escaped, he said.

"This was a shocking attack against these poor people," Saboor said.

Saboor did not identify the attackers, other than to describe them as "the enemy."

Al Qaeda and Taliban insurgents operate in eastern Afghan regions bordering Pakistan.

Posted at October 20, 2006 09:02 AM

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=FRANCE
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=paris

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1723115/posts

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http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/013679.php
AP
October 20, 2006

"Paris: Muslim airport workers lose clearances"

PARIS

[Cindy]

"YOUTHS" update...

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=23035_French_Youths_Practice_for_Jihad&only

Friday, October 20, 2006
"French "Youths" Practice for Jihad


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http://www.france-echos.com/actualite.php?cle=10557

"Jihad
Jihad made in France
vendredi 20 octobre 2006
Tir de roquette en pleine ville"

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Ce n'est ni à Bagdad, ni en Palestine, mais à Grigny dans l'Essonnes : une bande de djeunes à l'entraînement avec les nouvelles armes du Jihad à la française. Pas besoin de s'étaler les images parlent d'elles-mêmes."

[Cindy]

Adding this link to post no. 1404


http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=/watch%3Feurl%3D%26v%3DADtm_5Mf7r0

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=china

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=cuba



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ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The Cuba-China Joint Working Group for Biotechnological Cooperation also reviewed the other ongoing scientific bilateral cooperation. "

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.nerve.in/news:25350016606


Cuba, China ink deal on biotech cooperation
Friday, 20 October 2006 | http://www.nerve.in/news:25350016606 | channel: Americas

"The working group discussed new ways to expand cooperation in the fields of public health and medications."


Havana, Oct 20 - In an effort to enhance their scientific cooperation, Cuba and China have set up a joint venture to develop products in the field of neuro-technology.

The vice-director of Cuba's Centre of Neurological Sciences Raul Morgado and Xihong Wu, representative of the University of Beijing signed an accord in this regard in Havana, Cuba's Prensa Latina news service said Thursday.

The Cuba-China Joint Working Group for Biotechnological Cooperation also reviewed the other ongoing scientific bilateral cooperation.

The working group discussed new ways to expand cooperation in the fields of public health and medications.

The director of the Cuban Centre of Neurological Sciences Mitchell Valdes-Sosa and the general director of the Department of Technology of China' s National Development and Reforms Commission Qi Chengyuan signed the final document to set up the venture.

[Rushmore Rocks]

I do not like to see any cooperation between China and Cuba.

My paranoid mind makes me wonder what they are REALLY working on.

[Cindy]

The "other ongoing scientific bilateral cooperation" did catch my attention.

[nwctwx]

Knucklehead Nabbed In "Dirty Bomb" Hoax

OCTOBER 20--A 20-year-old Wisconsin man was charged today in connection with an online hoax that threatened "dirty bomb" attacks this weekend at seven U.S. football stadiums. Jake Brahm was nabbed for allegedly posting the online threats, which warned that the death toll for the purported October 22 attacks (which he dubbed "America's Hiroshima") "will approach 100,000 from the initial blasts and countless other fatalities will later occur as result from radioactive fallout." Brahm, a grocery store clerk, surrendered today in Milwaukee on the criminal charge, which was filed in New Jersey, home to Giants Stadium, one of the supposed attack targets. A copy of the federal criminal complaint can be found below. Brahm, pictured at right in a mug shot, apparently penned the threats as part of a harebrained contest with another man to see who could circulate the scariest Internet threat. This knucklehead behavior may not come as a surprise to anyone familiar with Brahm's other online activity via MySpace and an ambitious blog on which he recorded all of his 2006 masturbatory activity. In his most recent MySpace blog entry, Brahm, an avowed Japanese pornography enthusiast, mentioned Iran's president: "I admire Mahmoud Ahmadinejad," he wrote. In a separate post, he listed his hobbies as "masturbating, watching foreign language films, playing cards, drumming, and sleeping. One day I hope to leave my house." (3 pages)

More at link:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1020062brahm1.html

[Cindy]

Thanks nw.
I appreciate that update.

I know when I was researching links on this "hoax" the other night; I entered a number of darkside sites. Grossed me out.

What I want to know is why it had to be posted on so many sites.
Why did he do that, I wonder if the alleged contest was only a creative
writing contest of sorts.

[Rushmore Rocks]

Yep, mine too.

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=muslimbrotherhood

http://www.jihadwatch.org/cgi-bin/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=%22Kamal+Helbawy%22

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http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/10/muslim_brotherhood_member_barr.php

"Muslim Brotherhood Member Barred from United States"
By Steven Emerson

(October 20, 2006)

[Cindy]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_928.html
Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Fri Oct 20 2006 17:28:29 GMT-0700.

NIGERIA

August 24, 2006

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http://www.tkb.org/Country.jsp?countryCd=NI

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=nigeria

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http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1557872006

"Concerns grow for kidnapped oilmen amid death reports"
AURA SABADUS

October 21, 2006

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "FEARS were last night growing for the safety of four Scottish oil workers kidnapped in Nigeria, amid reports one has died.

George McLean, 42, of Elgin, Paul Smith, of Peterhead, Sandy Cruden and Graeme Buchan of Inverurie in Aberdeenshire were taken hostage by members of the Niger Delta Frontier Force (NDFF) two weeks ago.


No further details have been released, but a Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said it was "greatly concerned" by the reports.

The government has been working with Nigerian officials since the four men who were working for the United States oil company Exxon Mobil were abducted in the southern state of Akwa Ibom. It is believed the kidnappers have demanded £21 million for the release of the men, but diplomatic sources refused to give in to demands.

"We are getting reports that one of the hostages has been killed," the FCO spokeswoman said. "It may be some time before we're able to confirm one way or the other. We're greatly concerned with these reports and are in close touch with the Nigerian authorities, the men's families and their employers.

"Everything is being done that can be done to try to secure the safe release of the hostages. Full consular support is being provided to the families."

The British oil workers, three of whom are employees of the Aberdeen-based contractor Sparrows Offshore, were abducted together with a Romanian, a Malaysian and an Indonesian - all working for the US oil giant. Terry McNeill, speaking for Sparrows Offshore, said: "We have been working very closely with the UK Foreign Office and with the Nigerian authorities to secure an early release for the men and that process is continuing."

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http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2370164

TERRORISM FOCUS
"Nigerian Security Forces Clash with Niger Delta Militants"
By Erich Marquardt

(October 17, 2006)

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=GLOBALJIHAD
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=jihad


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=Taliban
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=Taleban

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=Alqaeda
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=Alqaida

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=SOMALIA

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1723259/posts

"Save us from Taliban, Somali leader pleads" (the australian ^ | 21oct06 | na

Posted on 10/20/2006 5:29:40 PM PDT by Flavius

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "NAIROBI: Somalia's interim president appealed yesterday for international help in dealing with a powerful Islamist movement he accused of operating under the "black flag" of al-Qa'ida and the Taliban.

(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ..."

[Rushmore Rocks]

This is the first I've heard of this kidnapping. Amazing, isn't it, what we do not hear from all the M.S.M.

Prayers for them all.

[MamaDearest]

Iranian President - Israel will soon disappear

Snip: Ahmadinejad told a crowd of thousands gathered at a pro-Palestinian rally in the capital Tehran Friday that “Israel no longer has a reason to exist, and will soon disappear. The Zionist regime, thank God, has lost all reason to exist”.

Severed heads found in Mexico

Snip: Police on Wednesday discovered two human heads in a backpack in the Pacific state of Guerrero, the latest decapitation victims in a continuing wave of violence in Mexico.

Extremist British Muslim kicked off U.S. flight

Snip: Kamal Helbawy, 67, a founding member of the Muslim Association of Britain, was told by airline staff he was barred from flying to New York shortly before the plane was due to leave London Heathrow. Egyptian-born Mr Helbawy has previously been criticised for his links to the increasingly radical World Assembly of Muslim Youth - which he co-founded several decades ago.

Several people sickened by chemical in Tehachapi, CA

Snip: Kern County Fire Department crews are working on a hazardous material spill from a train passing through Tehachapi. Fire officials have set up a command post at Tehachapi Boulevard at Robinson Street, where as many as 10 people have reported being sickened by the chemical, which has not yet been identified.

For first time - airport workers to be screened

Snip: Airport workers are finding themselves subject to surprise screenings as the government issues new security tactics at airports nationwide. The changes are a direct response to this year's foiled plot to blow-up America-bound airplanes.

Baggage handlers, gate agents, ramp workers and other airport employees who in the past were not subject to any security searches before the enter restricted and secure areas are now being targeted in this latest government effort to make airports safer.

[MamaDearest]

FYI: There are some "interesting" articles on the site we are not supposed to name or post from.

[Cindy]

Re Iranian President - "Israel will soon dispappear."

OPINION-SPECULATION: Israel will not "soon disappear.
Ahmadinejad seems to be racking up a lot of enemies.
One wonders if his end is near. Time will tell.

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Re: "Severed heads found in Mexico."

TRAVEL.STATE.GOV - PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: MEXICO
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html


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TRAVEL.STATE.GOV - PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: MEXICO (Oaxaca)
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_2100.html

[MamaDearest]

Re: "Severed heads found in Mexico."

Despite travel advisories and ever-increasing crime and gang violence in Mexico, tourism is increasing (they should be forced to read Lonely Planet traveler comments about other people's trips to Mexico).

Tourism numbers in Mexico increasing