Mall terrorist plot in Boston

[flynbenny]

My apologies if this has been posted already. Just another one of the many reasons to chl.


http://wbztv.com/local/terrorism.arrest ... 61499.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sudbury Man Arrested On Terrorism Charges
BOSTON (WBZ) ―

(10/21/2009)
A man from Sudbury was arrested Wednesday on federal terrorism charges for allegedly planning attacks inside and outside the United States – including a plot to attack people at a mall.

THE ARREST

27-year-old Tarek Mehanna was taken into custody at his parents' home in Fairhaven Circle by federal agents and Sudbury police early this morning. He is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston.

THE ALLEGED PLOTS

Investigators say Mehanna conspired with others between 2001 and 2008 plotting to "kill, kidnap, maim or injure" people in foreign countries and to kill two members of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government. He and two others allegedly travelled to the Middle East in 2004 to look for military-type training for attacks on U.S. interests. But they were rejected from a terrorist training camp because Mehanna was not Pakistani. "I believe they could not make a contact in Yemen that would accept them into a training camp," said acting U. S. Attorney Michael Loucks. They also hoped to attack U.S. troops stationed in Iraq.

'SHOOTING PEOPLE AT A MALL'

Prosecutors say Mehanna had "multiple conversations about obtaining automatic weapons and randomly shooting people at a shopping mall." "The conversations went so far as to discuss the logistics of a mall attack including coordination, weapons needed and the possibility of attacking emergency responders," Loucks said. "They had discussions regarding how to do it, whether to do it from multiple entrances, what to do when emergency responders arrive," he added. The plan was scrapped because the men could only get handguns and not the automatic weapons they wanted. "They determined it was not feasible to go forward," Loucks said. Prosecutors would not say which malls were targeted.

THE OTHER SUSPECTS

Loucks said Mehanna conspired with two other men: Ahman Abousamra, who authorities say is now in Syria, and an unnamed man, who is cooperating with authorities in the investigation. Investigators say the men "were inspired by the success of the Washington D.C. area snipers who were successful in terrorizing the public" in 2002. According to authorities the three did not believe civilians were "innocents because they paid taxes to support the government and because they were non-believers."

NO LINK TO OBAMA VISIT

Loucks would not comment on the timing of Mehanna's arrest, but added it's not linked to President Obama's visit to Boston Friday. Sudbury is an upscale suburb about 20 miles west of Boston. "It has nothing whatsoever to do with the President's visit," he told reporters at a news conference. "We don't believe there are any terrorist cells in this area and any active cells that are plotting and planning at this time," said FBI special agent Warren Bamford.If convicted Mehanna faces 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

DEFIANT AT HEARING

During a court hearing on Wednesday, Mehanna refused to stand for the judge. When the judge called him on it, Mehanna said, "I prefer not to stand." Moments later, after his father told him to get up, Mehanna stood and kicked back the chair he was sitting in. Mehanna will remain in U.S. Marshal Custody.

MEHANNA'S PAST

He was indicted in January for allegedly making false statements to the FBI in a terrorism investigation.
Mehanna, a U.S. citizen, was arrested in November and charged with lying to the FBI in December 2006 when asked about the whereabouts of Daniel Maldonado, who is now serving a 10-year prison sentence for training alongside al-Qaeda members to overthrow the Somali government.
Mehanna's father, Dr. Ahmed Mehanna, is professor of medicinal chemistry at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Boston.

[chamberc]

Very much a reminder of Tom Clancy's last Ryan novel. I loved the part about the good guy putting a football in the hands of the terrorist as he was dying and reminded him it was pig skin.

This is a situation that eventually terrorists will try to exploit, and in some cases already have with limited effectiveness (LAX attack a few years back comes to mind).

[flynbenny]

Very much a reminder of Tom Clancy's last Ryan novel. I loved the part about the good guy putting a football in the hands of the terrorist as he was dying and reminded him it was pig skin.

[Excaliber]

Reports of this type provide food for thought and good reason to review one's choice of gun and the adequacy of one's spare ammo load for shopping.

[LongHairedRedneck]

Just another reason to have CHL and carry.....

[joe817]

When I read articles like this, I thank God I live in Texas, and not some other areas that have misguided views on gun rights and ownership.

[fm2]

Reports of this type provide food for thought and good reason to review one's choice of gun and the adequacy of one's spare ammo load for shopping.

Yep. Imagine trying to make it past the bg's to the exit to get away from them.

It makes me ponder about the fallacy of "safe" places.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Sudbury, Mass. was the home of Babe Ruth before the Boston Red Sox
traded him to the New York Yankees.

There's a legend going around about why the "curse of the Bambino" was broken.
The year that the Red Sox won the World Series, a teenager in the stands was hit in
the mouth by a fly ball and he lost a tooth or 2. This young man's family currently owned
Babe Ruth's former house in Sudbury. The angle here is that the boy "took one for the team"
and somehow ended the "curse of the Bambino", allowing the Red Sox to finally win the
World Series.

***********************************
Residents of the town promote their pride on bumper stickers which simply have the name
of the town and its zip code in red, white, and blue:

Sudbury, Mass. 01776

SIA

[flynbenny]

Reports of this type provide food for thought and good reason to review one's choice of gun and the adequacy of one's spare ammo load for shopping.

I usually roll with a Glock 32, loaded with 14 rds of Speer Gold Dot 357 Sig, and 13 in a second magazine. Maybe I should start bringing a third

Bozos like this are my worst nightmare; a criminal is generally a coward using/threatening force to take for their material gain, they will usually flee, give up, or die quickly (N Hollywood 1997 and Miami 1986 being notable exceptions). A terrorist hopped up on insane religous fanaticism is going to keep plugging till he or she's put down, and it may take a lot to put 'em there. I say go hi-velocity (357 Sig or Magnum, 10mm) or go heavy (45ACP). And pratice your failure-to-stop drills, God forbid they have body armor, you'll need to get them in the head or the hip.

Oh and good job on the FBI and locals involved on that case. They're doing a great job protecting our country.

[AEA]

I like your thinking.......
A initial hip shot to bring them down and then 2 in the head to finish 'em off.

[Excaliber]

Reports of this type provide food for thought and good reason to review one's choice of gun and the adequacy of one's spare ammo load for shopping.

Yep. Imagine trying to make it past the bg's to the exit to get away from them.

It makes me ponder about the fallacy of "safe" places.

There's no such thing as a "safe" place. Locations vary in frequency and severity of incidents. People are easily lulled into complacency in areas where really bad things happen fairly rarely, but no place can be counted on to have none.

[fm2]

There's no such thing as a "safe" place. Locations vary in frequency and severity of incidents. People are easily lulled into complacency in areas where really bad things happen fairly rarely, but no place can be counted on to have none.

I agree. Stats can be mis-interpreted and contribute to the fallacy.