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U.S. Arrests 6 on Terror Charges (Including a former U.S. soldier)
AP ^
| Fri Oct 4, 1:21 PM ET
| TED BRIDIS
Posted on 10/04/2002 10:36:21 AM PDT by 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.
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alsaoub; balkans; battle; bilal; ford; lewis; portlandgroup; terrorisim
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1
posted on
10/04/2002 10:36:21 AM PDT
by
Destro
2
posted on
10/04/2002 10:36:58 AM PDT
by
Mo1
To: Destro
Jim McDermott constituents no doubt.
3
posted on
10/04/2002 10:37:42 AM PDT
by
jwalsh07
To: Destro
live fbi press conference on now on foxnews
To: Destro
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.
To: Destro
And we still allow muslim chaplins in prisons and the military....
Hey arrest all you want....we'll make more
6
posted on
10/04/2002 10:39:37 AM PDT
by
joesnuffy
To: *balkans
What is the ping for the Chechen posts?
7
posted on
10/04/2002 10:39:59 AM PDT
by
Destro
To: Destro
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.
8
posted on
10/04/2002 10:40:20 AM PDT
by
Happygal
To: jwalsh07
Nah, McTraitor's latte-sipping constituents have never held a gun in their lives.
9
posted on
10/04/2002 10:41:08 AM PDT
by
Mr. Mojo
To: texasbluebell
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?
10
posted on
10/04/2002 10:42:45 AM PDT
by
doodad
To: jwalsh07
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.
11
posted on
10/04/2002 10:47:39 AM PDT
by
r9etb
To: Destro
Just my opinion, but anyone in America named "Patrice Lumumba" should be arrested or deported.
12
posted on
10/04/2002 10:47:49 AM PDT
by
Jonathan
To: Destro
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.....
Comment #14 Removed by Moderator
To: Destro
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.
15
posted on
10/04/2002 10:48:56 AM PDT
by
Cicero
To: Cicero
bttt
To: Destro
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.
To: r9etb
Maybe soon.
To: Cicero
Telling the truth is better than permitting rumors to circulate. B-b-b-but that's HATE SPEECH!!!
To: Destro
So how many of these guys/1 gal are registered Dems, do you suppose..?
20
posted on
10/04/2002 11:02:48 AM PDT
by
mewzilla
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