Man makes threats, cites terrorist link, is arrested

The Canton Repository (Canton, Ohio) ^ | October 13, 2001 | LORI MONSEWICZ Repository staff writer

[ResistorSister]

CANTON — Police have arrested a man who the FBI detained in recent weeks as part of its investigation into the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Mostapha Fandi, 50, of an apartment on Seventh Street NW remained in jail Friday where he was held under $1,000 bond.

Police said that he became belligerent with residents and business owners outside a downtown restaurant Thursday night, and claimed to be a terrorist. Then, he threatened to kill police and their families, jail records said.

FBI agents weren’t impressed.

“We’ve already interviewed him extensively and we don’t have any interest in him,” said Mitchell Marrone, senior supervisory agent of the FBI office in Canton.

Fandi was a roommate of two men — Karim Koubriti, 23, and Ahmed Hannan, 33 — arrested Sept. 17 in an international terrorism investigation. The trio lived with two other men in apartments on Arlington Avenue SW and Sixth Street NW.

Police said they were called to the Our House Cafe at 519 Cleveland Ave. SW at 6:55 p.m. Thursday when Fandi shouted at residents and the restaurant’s owners.

When the man began shouting that he played a role in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the family dialed 911.

Fandi was charged with aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor, and with disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.

[ResistorSister]

• He was a roommate (in Canton, Ohio) of two men who have been arrested in the international terrorism investigation
• He said he played a role in the 911 terrorist attacks
• He was belligerent with residents and business owners
• He threatened to kill police and their families

yet the..."FBI agents weren't impressed...they have no interest in him.

What? Why wouldn't the FBI be interested in this guy?

[FReethesheeples]

Humane penatly for terrorists:

Cut their heads of, sew them in pigs bellies, and send them to their families.

That way they can't get into Moslem heaven, per the Koran.

Kinda removes the motivation....IF they are Muslims....

[ClancyJ]

Looks to me like they want to give him more rope and see where it leads.

[henderson field]

Re: the Muslim Convention questioned in the previous posting ("which side are you on?"). We now know which side at least one of them is on.

[Tarheel]

He could at least be held and charged for threatening a police officer, I hope. It would keep him off the streets or off a plane for a couple of weeks.

The Tarheel

[WIMom]

That is my thought. How do we know this is the real story? Could be just a smokescreen...? Maybe this guy has connections that are worthwhile? I hope that is the case.

[Alas Babylon!]

You know, if I'm in a restaurant, or any public place, and I see one of these types spouting off like this, I'm gonna deck 'em. No 911 call will be needed except to pull me off their bleeding, dazed carcass.

[ResistorSister]

I just hope it doesn't lead to some average citizen taking the responsibility for making his town safe for his family, by taking out a "terrorist."

[Sungirl]

Send them to Afghanistan.

[ResistorSister]

Here are his charges:
Fandi was charged with aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor, and with disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.

What is that? One month in jail and $500.00 fine?

[timestax]

BTTT

[jrewingjr]

Just another isolated, unrelated incident.

[ResistorSister]

Move on? Nothing to see here?

[AlaskaErik]

I'm surprised the people he threatened let him live. While some slimey liberal prosecutor would certainly file charges, he'd have a hard time getting 12 people to convict.

[jrewingjr]

I've lost count of all the "isolated, unrelated incidents" since 9-11.

[Teacher317]

Notice how the newsies refuse to follow their usual exuberance for racial/ethnic/religious identifiers for this particular minority?

[Anonymous2]

triple s policy: shoot, shovel and shut up.

[ResistorSister]

Yes, I am surprised too. I wonder how long folks will let this guy mouth-off in public? It's not fair to the people of Canton, for the authorities to let this guy be out on the streets.

[slimer]

Makes no sense what-so-ever.

[Old Student]

I'm not a physical sort of guy, and I did my time in the Air Force because I don't care to mix with the sort of rude company that requires "hands on" contact, but I have to agree with you on this...I think a comic-strip character said it best: "It's Clobberin' Time!"