US sniper may be linked to Bin Laden (DC SNIPER ALERT)

The Evening Standard ^ | October 14, 2002 | James Langton

[MadIvan]

Intelligence experts in Washington are increasingly concerned that the gunman known as the "psycho-sniper" could be a terrorist with links to Islamic terror groups.

From the evidence gathered so far, which includes a handwritten note by the gunman, investigators think English may not be his first language.

The shootings, which have left eight dead in fewer than 12 days, coincided with a warning that Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network is planning new attacks. The FBI warned last Wednesday that supporters of Bin Laden were "targeting key sectors of the US economy" and has long suspected that a number of "sleeper" cells are still active.

The latest victim, on Friday morning, was father-of-six Kenneth Bridges, gunned down at a petrol station in Fredericksburg.

Investigators are troubled by the gunman's behaviour, in particular his habit of selecting targets at random. Recent reports suggest he may have a female accomplice and drives a large white van.

[leadpenny]

. . . could be a terrorist with links to Islamic terror groups

I would be convinced of this theory if other major metro areas were involved.

OTOH, this could be a rogue Cell.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

There goes my theory that the sniper is Sen. Dashle.

Close.....

[dennisw]

Yes, but a devout Muslim would have nothing to do with Tarot.
___________________________

Anyone can drop a Tarot card to create a phony clue. Even a devout Muslim.

[blondee123]

And, don't forget, "weekends off"! Scary!

[AntiGuv]

Sorry, I don't believe it. The thought crossed my mind, at first, but the idea is just ridiculous at this point. Whoever this is has been sliding in and out of his target areas effortlessly without drawing the slightest attention. The patterns fit perfectly well with an American serial killer and he seems to be drawing something on the map or have some connection to the map. In fact, the only "rational" reason (in his sociopathic mentality) why he would've returned to Fredericksburg is because he needed someone to die in that location (the first victim down there survived). An Al Qaeda terrorist would have no reason whatsoever to go back to the same location like that. Al Qaeda? Nope. Not gonna believe it without real evidence. Too easy. Too absurd.

[AntiGuv]

Oh, please... So called "organized" serial killers are some of the most relentlessly meticulous and calculating people on the planet.

[Tripleplay]

Good points.......but two people committing random murder?

[Lion's Cub]

Hopefully, we've assigned a military team or two (or three or four) to track these guys and tag them. Since Clinton didn't mind using special forces at Waco (and congress apparently had no problem with that), I see no reason we can't put our own snipers out to take care of the problem.

[areafiftyone]

They are saying this morning that the Pentagon is looking into soldiers who have recently attended sniper school. Because they usually have a partner and alot of the witnesses have said that they saw two people. Could be a disgruntled soldier mad at the government. People who have seen these guys say one is a white male with sandy hair.

[AntiGuv]

I don't think there's any concrete evidence here that there are two people involved. However, it's certainly not unheard of - the Columbine murders are the most recent that comes to mind. All it means is two sociopaths managed to hook up with one dominant over the other. In particular if one of the two is a woman, then that especially doesn't indicate anything whatsoever in and of itself. A great number of serial killers have had accomplices - most notoriously Randy Kraft in California (although they never caught the accomplice). The Green River Killer was probably a duo as well. There was another pair in the Midwest (I think Ohio) whose names I can't remember now and another pair that travelled the country. Here's a good psychology treatment of the "team killer" mentality that I read some while ago:

http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/partners/team_male/

They discuss another four pairs of serial killers here as well.

[You Gotta Be Kidding Me]

A devote Muslim would have nothing to do with a strip club, but that is PRECISELY where Mohummed Atta and his cohorts spent their time before murdering 3000 people.

[You Gotta Be Kidding Me]

Laurel MD. has a LARGE Muslim community. An Arab terrorist would have no trouble "blending".

[thedugal]

I dont know about the terrorist connection. Certainly could be a crank job, but it could also be a terrorist. One interesting thing, these guys may have just grabbed a deck of tarot and pulled out a scary looking card for effect.

But, if it is terrorist related and the perp has knowledge of tarot then here's something to think about: (note all tarot cards have symbols within symbols, so there's many ways to read them, but this is a quicky analysis)

Death card is symbolized by fish. Fish also symbolizes Christ. The perp is targeting Christians (infidels). Death card's zodiac symbol is scorpio ruled by Mars. Mars is god of war. Also, interesting thing about scorpio that fits. If you put a ring of fire around a scorpion it will tend to commit suicide. Thus the perp feels that he is at war and if cornered will commit suicide.

[Nitro]

Do they have any work release programs down there...

they only let those guys out on weekdays to work and they are incarcerated over the weekends!

Just a random thought!!

[Nogbad]

Yes, but a devout Muslim would have nothing to do with Tarot.

I gather you have not been following the threads of the past few days
and the long discussions about Tarot cards.
Tarot cards were brought to Europe by the Arabs.
Tarot cards are popular in several Moslem countries
and someone posted a cartoon from a Palestinian newspaper
that featured a Tarot card.

(My wife, who comes from a Moslem Turkish family in Cyprus
tells me Tarot cards are popular amongst the Turks in Northern Cyprus)

[AntiGuv]

This killer has to do more than "blend" into Laurel, MD. This killer has to do things like saunter into Fredericksburg unnoticed, shoot a man pumping gas 50 ft from a uniformed officer, and saunter right back out through the dragnet without drawing any attention while carrying an assault rifle.....

[doosee]

Laurel MD. has a LARGE Muslim community. An Arab terrorist would have no trouble "blending".


Looking at the cleaned up version of John Walker, the traitor, all options are open as to what he/she looks like.

[AntiGuv]

Looking at the cleaned up version of John Walker, the traitor, all options are open as to what he/she looks like.

Yes. Except that this entire line of speculation is based on the theory that he writes like a foreigner...

[Miss Marple]

Thanks for posting this, Ivan. I am curious about the Evening Standard and Mr. Langton, the reporter. Would you consider this a reliable story, as opposed to speculation dressed up in news clothing?

[fellowpatriot]

Yes, but a devout Muslim would have nothing to do with Tarot.

If it is an Islamic terrorist, it's not his religion that's motivating him to do this.