U.S. Arrests 6 on Terror Charges (Including a former U.S. soldier)

AP ^ | Fri Oct 4, 1:21 PM ET | TED BRIDIS

[Destro]

U.S. Arrests 6 on Terror Charges

Fri Oct 4, 1:21 PM ET

By TED BRIDIS, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Authorities arrested six men Friday in Oregon and Michigan on charges they conspired to wage war on the United States and provide support to al-Qaida.

Attorney General John Ashcroft ( news - web sites), announcing the arrests at a Justice Department ( news - web sites) news conference, called it a "defining day" in the fight against terrorism.

Ashcroft noted the sentencing in federal court Friday of John Walker Lindh and the guilty plea in Boston from accused shoe-bomber Richard Reid.

One of the six men arrested Friday had U.S. military training, the attorney general said.

Court records unsealed Friday said the six men traveled to Afghanistan ( news - web sites) for training.

The arrests, Ashcroft said, represent "a texbook example" of cooperation among federal, state and local authorities in the war against terrorism.

Court papers identified the six men as Jeffrey Leon Battle, Patrice Lumumba Ford, Ahmed Ibrahim Bilal, Muhammad Ibrahim Bilal, Habis Abdullah al Saoub and October Martinique Lewis. Battle was a former U.S. soldier, Ashcroft said.

All the men were in federal custody.

FBI ( news - web sites) Director Robert Mueller told reporters that "those who support terrorism or acts of terrorism will be brought to justice."

Ashcroft said some of the men began traveling to Afghanistan in October 2001 to fight with Taliban troops against U.S. forces.

A federal grand jury indicted the men on charges of conspiracy to levy war against the United States, conspiracy to provide material support and resources to al Qaida, conspiracy to contribute services to al Qaida and the Taliban and possessing firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence.

The indictment said the men engaged in weapons training in Washougal, Wash., starting in late September 2001, to prepare to fight with Taliban forces. Some of the men sent money to others overseas to support their efforts, the court documents charged.

Battle obtained an administrative discharge from the U.S. Army Reserve in January 2002. The indictment said Battle had enlisted to receive training in U.S. tactics and weapons, which Battle ultimately intended to use against American soldiers.

[Destro]

The Northwest cells tie in with this report: Bush shuts down terrorist financial support network in U.S. that Clinton knew existed and ignored

[Mo1]

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[jwalsh07]

Jim McDermott constituents no doubt.

[glock rocks]

live fbi press conference on now on foxnews

[texasbluebell]

Battle obtained an administrative discharge from the U.S. Army Reserve in January 2002. The indictment said Battle had enlisted to receive training in U.S. tactics and weapons, which Battle ultimately intended to use against American soldiers.

How many more of those turn-coats are there? This is a new low.

[joesnuffy]

And we still allow muslim chaplins in prisons and the military....
Hey arrest all you want....we'll make more

[Destro]

What is the ping for the Chechen posts?

[Happygal]

October Martinique Lewis

Did they call the investigation, the hunt for red October? :-)

Seriously, just watched John Ashcroft on Fox...hopefully they will locate the two at large overseas shortly.

[Mr. Mojo]

Nah, McTraitor's latte-sipping constituents have never held a gun in their lives.

[doodad]

Hmmmm. Marines found their parachute cords cut recently, here in Atlanta several merchants investigated were muslims with previous military training. Wasn't there also a terrorist captured or convicted in Maryland that was a previous member of the 82nd?

[r9etb]

The more interesting thing about this is the names: as Jeffrey Leon Battle, Patrice Lumumba Ford, Ahmed Ibrahim Bilal, Muhammad Ibrahim Bilal, Habis Abdullah al Saoub and October Martinique Lewis.

Judging from the names, at least some of these guys are black, American-born Muslims. One wonders when the Farrakhan connection will be made.

[Jonathan]

Just my opinion, but anyone in America named "Patrice Lumumba" should be arrested or deported.

[Always Right]

Court papers identified the six men as Jeffrey Leon Battle, Patrice Lumumba Ford, Ahmed Ibrahim Bilal, Muhammad Ibrahim Bilal, Habis Abdullah al Saoub and October Martinique Lewis. Battle was a former U.S. soldier, Ashcroft said.

Sounds like 6 white males.....

[Cicero]

I am curious whether these six men are Arab, black, or some combination. Naturally the AP doesn't say.

But there are times when such matters are entirely relevant. Describing a wanted man, for example. Or identifying where to look for a terrorist threat. If you withhold relevant details you are just giving people a chance to fantasize and make up their own stories. Telling the truth is better than permitting rumors to circulate.

[crazykatz]

bttt

[Always Right]

Authorities arrested six men Friday in Oregon and Michigan on charges they conspired to wage war on the United States and provide support to al-Qaida.

Would have been better had the men had ties to Washington and Michigan instead of Oregon and Michigan. The correlation between Bnnoir and McDermott would have been just too much.

[sheik yerbouty]

Maybe soon.

[martin gibson]

Telling the truth is better than permitting rumors to circulate.

B-b-b-but that's HATE SPEECH!!!

[mewzilla]

So how many of these guys/1 gal are registered Dems, do you suppose..?