Al-Qaeda Threat in Philadelphia?

ABC Channel 6 Action News - Philadelphia ^ | June 27, 2002 | David Henry

[all4one]

Al-Qaeda Threat in Philadelphia?

Philadelphia, PA June 27, 2002 — David Henry reports from the Action Newsroom.

An Action News investigation reveals that a chain of jewelry stores operating in the Delaware Valley is being investigated by the FBI for possible connections to the Al Qaeda terror network.

A series of raids were carried out yesterday in Philadelphia and across the state of Pennsylvania.

The stores are mostly kiosks in shopping malls operating under the name "Intrigue Jewelers." They are all owned by Pakistanis under franchise agreements with a company called Gold Concepts, based in Pennsacola, Florida.

Intrigue operates stores at malls in Philadelphia, Plymouth Meeting, Harrisburg, and Monroeville. Until recently, they also had a kiosk at the Lehigh Valley Mall near Allentown. Owners and employees of the Intrigue shops at the Gallery in Center City and at the Plymouth Meeting Mall were questioned yesterday by agents from the FBI and INS. An employee at the shops in the Monroeville Mall tells us he was detained for hours yesterday.

Tariq Hussain says his home was searched and his computer was taken. He says the FBI accused him of funneling money to Ossama bin Laden's terror network. He says they questioned him about a photo he took two years ago of the NASDAQ building in New York, but he doesn't know how they knew about the photo.

The man in the photos taken at the World Trade Center just days before the attacks also worked at the Intrigue Jewelry store at the Lehigh Valley Mall. Two days before the attacks Ashar Iqbal Butt came to a photo shop in the mall looking for the pictures. The clerk says Butt seemed anxious to get them.

He was picked up on September 12th and was later charged with entering the country on a false passport just a month before the attacks.

Action News has confirmed that yesterday's sweep is part of a nationwide investigation involving at least 60 jewelry outlets. The justice department confirms that a number of people have been detained for questioning, but no charges have been filed yet.

[backhoe]

Not sure the home office is in this mess, but here's what I found:

WEB RESULTS   (Showing Results 1 - 10 of 14 Matches )    next »

1.	Intrigue Jewelers
	We offer fabulous savings on quality jewelry. 5/13/2002 http://www.intriguing_jewelery.nv.switchboard.com/ See results from this site only.

2.	@LA Jewelry
	@LA Jewelry in Southern California/Greater Los Angeles 5/14/2002 http://www.at-la.com/biz/@la-gems.htm See results from this site only.

3.	Dayton area shopping malls - Salem Mall
	ActiveDayton.com Shopping & Services - Guides to Dayton merchants, services, sales and coupons. 5/28/2002 http://www.activedayton.com/shopping/guides/salem.html See results from this site only.

4.	Jones Engineers, Inc.
	Mechanical/Electrical Consulting Engineers 5/27/2002 http://www.jonesengineers.com/glynnqual.html See results from this site only.

5.	Office of Graduate Student Services
	Texas A&M International University's Graduate Student Services provides services for students, employers, and alumni. This office aids students at various stages of their career here at the University 7/21/2000 http://www.tamiu.edu/coba/ogss/placement.htm See results from this site only.

6.	I
	I Organization Name Address City State I'll Make the Arrangements 3110 Westshore Drive Rowlett TX I'm Going to be Famous 3610 Westgrove Arlington TX I'Nce Broke Records 1322 Boyd St. Cedar Hill TX I'z 12/16/2000 http://www.wavex.com/dallasmall/DallasMallListings/I_1.html See results from this site only.

7.	Whats Hot - Kiosks Org Kiosk Internet, Public Terminals Self Service
	Kiosks Org, your best source for self-service, kiosk, POS, internet, thin, embedded, and mobile technology news and resources since 1993. 6/3/2002 http://www.kiosks.org/1_364.shtml See results from this site only.

8.	Jackson Tennessee - Jewelers
	The website to findout about Jackson Tennessee! Whether you live here or thinking about visiting or relocating, take the time to check us out! There's plenty here in Jackson. 2/15/2002 http://www.jacksontn2000.com/jewelers.html See results from this site only.

9.	a nation turns its back and gags
	older entries Portugal flu chumpks 1999-10-19 The life like Adam Nauseum double sexxxy love doll can now be purchased at these fine stores: 1 Potato 2 10-Minute Back Rub Store 5-7-9 60 Minute Photo 9 2/9/2002 http://adam.diaryland.com/wasteofbandwith.html See results from this site only.

10.	Jacksonville Mall - Directory of Shops
	Jacksonville Mall is an enclosed shopping mall anchored by national well-known national department stores. It is the primary destination for family shopping in Jacksonville, North Carolina. 4/6/2002 http://www.shopjacksonvillemall.com/custs/directory.asp See results from this site only.

[Dog]

You are not going to believe where I found the name Mohammed Mir.......

Mohammed Mir

Could the name be an alias...

Mohammed Mir I found was a fighter killed by Indian Forces in Kashmir.......interesting!

[Jefferson Adams]

I agree.

[Mo1]

I can't seem to locate a home office for Intrigue Jewelers.......odd.

I noticed that also ...

[browardchad]

Gold Concepts, Inc.
Florida Profit Corporation since 6/14/91
Status: Active Principal Address: 524 E. Semoran Blvd, Casselbury, FL 32707
Mailing Address: Same as above
Registered Agent/President: Stephen J. Tronolone
Address: 521 Hibiscus Road, Casselberry, FL 32707
VP: Edyth Tronolone, same address as Stephen J. Tronolone

Gold Concept, Inc. of Texas
Cross Reference Name: Gold Concept, Inc.
Foreign Profit Corporation, registered 12/26/96
Status: Active
Principal Address: 7041 Grand National Dr., Orlando, FL 32819
Previous Principal Address (before May 2002): 9401 W. Colonial Dr., Ocoee, FL 34761
Mailing Address: Same as Principal Address
Previous Mailing Address: (before May 2002): 6161 Savoy Dr., Houston, TX 77036
Registered Agent/President: Arif Rajan
Address: 9401 W. Colonial Dr., #116, Ocoee, FL 34761
(no other officers listed)

[SauronOfMordor]

There is no question that the jewelry kiosks are just the tip of the iceberg.

They may be a way to funnel operational money into the country and distribute it to people. See Bin Laden network profited in diamond trade:

Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network has collected millions of dollars in the past three years from the illicit sale of diamonds mined by rebels in Sierra Leone, The Washington Post reported on Friday.

Quoting unnamed US and European intelligence officials and two sources with direct knowledge of the diamond sales, the Post described an operation that has helped finance al Qaeda.

The paper said diamond dealers working with men identified by the FBI as important al Qaeda figures bought rebel diamonds at below-market prices and sold them for big profits in Europe.

I could see them thinking: let's cut out the middle men. Smuggle diamonds into the US (dogs wont sniff them, and wont show up on x-ray or metal detectors as anything unusual), sell them ourselves in jewelry kiosks, and any operative who needs cash just needs to say the pass-phrase and pretend to buy something, and he gets a big wad of cash in the box.

[browardchad]

Intrigue Jewelers, Inc.
Florida Profit Corporation, 6/8/98 to 9/24/99
Original Name: Intrigue, Inc. (changed 9/14/98)
Principal Address: 409 Brandon Town Center, Brandon, FL 33511
Mailing Address: Same
Registered Agent: Noreen Iqbal
Address: Same
VP: Munawar Iqbal
Address: 1407 Harness Horse Lane, #103, Brandon FL 33511
(Administrative Dissolution filed 9/24/99)

[antidisestablishment]

More Yet:

AL QAEDA: THE DIAMOND CONNECTION

Denials Everywhere

Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network has been using Sierra Leonean diamonds for several years as an investment and as a way of moving money without detection. And one of the RUF’s top advisors, Ibrahim Bah, has had a close and long-time connection with al Qaeda. These revelations were the main findings of a lengthy November 2 article in the Washington Post, which also linked Bah with several individuals on the FBI wanted list, including suspects sought in connection with the bomb attack on the US Embassy in Tanzania.


Ibrahim Bah is well known in Sierra Leone as one of the RUF’s chief operatives. Of Senegalese or Gambian origin, he is said to be a general in the army of Burkina Faso, and also goes by the name Ibrahima Balde. Two UN Security Council Reports name him as an RUF advisor and as one of the key figures in moving Sierra Leonean diamonds out of the region for the RUF. He has also been named as a link to RUF arms imports and UN sanction-busting. The Post article took the story one step further, saying that Bah was working for two terrorist operations, not just one. Bah, reported the Post, was trained in Libya, as were Liberian President Charles Taylor, Burkina Faso President Blaise Campaore, and RUF leader Foday Sankoh. Bah fought against Israeli forces with the Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and also fought with the Mujahaddin against Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s, as did Osama bin Laden. The Post article ties the movement of RUF diamonds to a conduit through the Liberian capital of Monrovia and to two Lebanese diamond dealers based in Antwerp.


A spokesman for Belgium’s Diamond High Council said they were surprised by the news. ‘This is completely new. We are
very, very surprised,’ said Youri Steverlynck. One who was not very surprised was Harjit Sandhu, an Interpol appointee on the UN Expert Panels dealing with Sierra Leone in 2000 and Liberia in 2001. ‘Wherever diamonds are, be it Angola, be it in Sierra Leone or any place, definitely they will try to use that channel. That is common sense,’ he told reporters.


The Washington Post’s Douglas Farah reported in October
that Ibrahim Bah was a central figure in channeling RUF
diamonds from Sierra Leone to al Qaeda (see story, pg. 1).
On December 3, the New Republic reported that Liberian
officials and Ibrahim Bah intended to harm Farah, and that
Farah had been evacuated from his Abidjan home with his
wife and 2 year-old son. ‘This followed a smear campaign
by a website,’ stated the New Republic, ‘operated by the
Liberian government, that accused Farah of a variety of
crimes against Liberia and posted a photograph of him. So
add threatening an American reporter’s life to a list of
[President Charles] Taylor’s crimes that includes helping
finance Al Qaeda and starting a horrifying civil war in
neighboring Sierra Leone.’

[Alabama_Wild_Man]

I, honestly, am not looking for something to happen.
I may be totally wrong, but I pray to God that I'm not this time !! !!

Yes, there is a likely possibility of a 'dirty nuke' lighting up the nite, somewhere around Nashville, but there is a even chance that the water supply could be hit.

Even a small handfull of well-placed (and well-timed) vehicles 'set' to have/cause a 'Fender Blender' on the Interstates that run thru here could tie up traffic for hours - then send in the "Big Guns" and wipe out anyone that is just standing around. . . (Possibility #2).

Those and a myriad of other possibilities could hit the middle Tennessee area. . . There is simply no way to prepare for any and all of them.

Just keep a close eye on your Loved Ones - keep them as close as possible and keep your powder dry !! !! !!

[Grampa Dave]

Hey, thats really good, you guys controlling the Oil industry inspite of the Opecker Princes. :)

[Grampa Dave]

I know that I left some Freeper researchers off in the above addresses. I apologize to all who did such a great job here, ferreting out this stuff who were noy cited by mr.

Due to other schedule commitments, I was off the board for about 7 hours. It is amazing what you good Freepers have dug up during that time period.

The diamond connection to Obl and his al Qaeda murderers has been well established. Now add an incredible distribution center in about every mall in American, you have the greatest money laundering machine in the world operating in the open through America.

Smuggle in diamonds, which is easy, sell them at a discounted price for cash in one your mall stores or kiosks. The money has been laundered. The owners can deliver the money to their terrorist buddies or a pickup person can pickup the money on a regular basis on regular visits. Now there is money to fund terrorism. Terrorist acts and the planning of terrorist acts require a lot of cash. These kiosks/stores would provide a tremendous amount of cash.

The other scary aspect is how interwoven these shops are in our society via the malls. After having a store or kiosk in a mall, in a couple of months, these guys become transparent like the other store owners. They can go anywhere basically in the mall and no one would be aroused. They would just say there goes Joe Camel. He's a nice guy.

The sites to sell diamonds/jewelry on the internet can be a great laundry machine to convert diamonds, gold, silver into cash. Then, as Miss Marple said, the online catalogs could be used for sending coded messages. These online catalogs could be used like a e mail station to receive and send communications.

The kiosks and sites that I would have major safety concerns would be the ones who don't make money and are in large and semi isolated malls dependent on renta cops for security. Due to their transparencies, these guys could have been around power stations, gas pipeline, water systems and air conditioning systems doing what ever they want to do in a free society. Of course now that some have been arrested, this makes even the big money stores/kiosks potential terror centers in a mall re their owners and workers.

Stay safe this weekend and next week!

Where would you get this info sharing if you were not a member of Free Republic? This is why all of us need to be monthly donors, to keep this great tool/invention viable.

[Dixie Mom]

VP: Munawar Iqbal

Do a Google on that guy's name. BIZARRE. . . .

[kcvl]

The company owner, Mr. Iqbal A. Mohammad, has more than twenty-two years of experience in the field. Initially, he worked as an internee apprentice in various garment and fashion wear industries of Belgium and Holland. Gradually, he came to own and manage a chain of boutiques as well as wholesale outlets in Belgium. Moreover, he has been developing different production and supply sources in Europe as well as Turkey. His wife, Noreen Iqbal has assisted him in setting up and running of Skin N Wool (Pvt) Limited. She has over 15 years of sales and marketing experience. Mr. Iqbal is now settled in Pakistan.

-------------------------------------------------------------

[kcvl]

Munawar Iqbal, Chief of Islamic Banking and Finance

Dr Munawar Iqbal, Islamic Banking & Finance Dept, IDB, Saudi Arabia


Dr.Munawar Iqbal
Irti.ibfd@mail.oicisnet.org
Chief, Islamic Banking & Finance Division, IRTI, IslamicDevelopment Bank,

[kcvl]

Love and Friendship message board...

Author:munawar iqbal
Subject:no
Fri, Apr 12 2002 at 10:05 pm
[ Email Msg | Invite ]
Message:
i am 34 years of age, i am from pakistan.
can you contact me about this topic

[kcvl]

Dr. Munawar Iqbal,
Chief, Islamic Banking & Finance Division
IRTI, P.O. Box # 9201, Jeddah 21413
Saudi Arabia
Tel # 966-2-6361400/6326
Fax # 966-2-6378927
Email: ibfd@isdb.org.sa

[kcvl]

Harvard University classes

Challenges Facing Islamic Banking in the 21st Century Fuad Abdullah Al-Omar and Munawar Iqbal

[kcvl]

Second Annual Harvard University Forum on Islamic Finance
Islamic Finance: in the 21st Century

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Harvard University
Cambridge, MA, USA
October 9-10, 1998

The session on "Islamic Banking: The Global Perspective" was primarily dominated by three of the largest financial institutions i.e. the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Citibank (CB), and Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporations (HSBC). Representative of the three sessions were Munawar Iqbal, Chief of Islamic Banking and Finance, IDB; Shaukat Aziz, Executive Vice President, CB and Iqbal Ahmad Khan, Managing Director of Global Islamic Finance, HSBC. The three speakers highlighted the growing opportunities for large financial institutions in the field of Islamic finance which ranged from Islamic asset backed securities to the new investment products that are offered by these institutions. Speakers also identified a need to set up Shari'ah Boards at a global or central bank level, and how it may expedite and perhaps assist in developing some standard guidelines for conducting Islamic finance transactions.

[kcvl]

The Ride Bellâ Company / Gold Concepts, Inc.
524 Semoran Blvd. - Casselberry, Florida 32707

USA Toll-free: 1(800) 543-5513
(407) 339-4653
FAX (407) 339-4061

GOLD CONCEPTS, CASSELBERRY
INTRIGUE JEWELERS, CLEARWATER

[kcvl]

Gold Concepts Inc.
Manufacturer of biker style jewelry and the Ride Bell.
http://www.bikerjewelry.com
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