Two arrested from "Dearbornistan"

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hillbilly

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Here's an article on the pair of "All American" young men from Dearborn, Mich, arrested for several interesting things....

Especially in light of the breakup of the British Terror plot.

http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new21_810200683105.asp


Local probe may have federal link


By Brad Bauer, [email protected]

Airport security information and airline manifests were among the items seized from two Michigan men arrested Tuesday in Marietta, now being held on felony terrorism charges.

Federal authorities were working Wednesday evening to determine the significance of the documents.

“We also found instructions detailing how to access certain airline databases,” said Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks. “We passed all that information along to the FBI, and they’re reviewing it as we speak.”

Although the findings have caused authorities some concern, the documents do not relate to terrorism charges filed Wednesday in Marietta Municipal Court against Osama Sabhi Abulhassan, 20, and Ali Houssaiky, 20, both of Dearborn, Mich. Those charges surround the purchase of TracFones the men were said to be buying in bulk across the mid-Atlantic states.

Authorities say terrorist groups are illegally modifying the pre-paid cell phones to place untraceable international calls. Microchips in some of the phones are being shipped overseas for the production of roadside bombs.

The men were arrested Tuesday after purchasing several phones at a Marietta business. Police said employees at the store called and reported being concerned by the suspicious purchase and the demeanor of the men. Officers responded and stopped Abulhassan and Houssaiky after observing a minor traffic violation, according to court records.

A search of their vehicle led to the discovery of several phones and more than $11,000 in cash.

Mincks said the men first told police the phones were for a family construction business. He said Abulhassan and Houssaiky later admitted they were taking the microchips from the phones and selling them to an individual in Dearborn. That individual, whose name was not released, is the target of an ongoing FBI terrorist investigation, Mincks said.

Dearborn is a known location of several terrorist cells and most recently has been the site of rallies in support of the Islamic terrorist group, Hezbollah.

A Dearborn police sergeant said he was not aware of any reports or investigations surrounding TracFones.

According to court records, this is the first time the men have been charged with a serious crime.

Mincks said Abulhassan and Houssaiky admitted to buying more than 600 of the phones in Ohio over the past few weeks.

In their vehicle were maps detailing the location of stores where the phones can be purchased from Michigan, through Ohio and as far south as the Carolinas.

Each phone costs about $20.

“We know these cell phone chips are being used as a means for detonating roadside bombs and that people from Dearborn, Mich., are coming to this area to buy them,” Mincks said. “They’ve bought between 600 and 1,000 of these phones and they’ve giving phony names, had people poised as lookouts at businesses when they were buying them, and were evasive and lied when they were questioned about it by our officers. I think we can say for certain that something isn’t exactly right.”

Abulhassan and Houssaiky are being held in the Washington County Jail on $200,000 bond, each charged with fourth-degree felony money laundering in support of terrorism. A bond hearing and arraignment is scheduled for 1 p.m. today in Marietta Municipal Court.

Each man faces up to 18 months in jail and $5,000 in fines, if convicted.

During an initial court appearance Wednesday, Abulhassan was made aware of the terrorism charges. Initially, the men were only being held on misdemeanor charges of obstructing official business. Those charges were dismissed when the felonies were filed.

“I was told I was being held on obstruction,” Abulhassan said. “Is there a bond?”

Houssaiky had already been served with the new charges by the time he appeared. He briefly answered questions about his legal residence and education, and did not question the new charges.

The men have been held separately since their 2 p.m. Tuesday arrest.

Both men claimed to be life-long residents of Michigan and said they are enrolled in college. Abulhassan said he is a junior at the University of Michigan and Houssaiky claimed to be a student at Wayne State University.

Assistant Washington County Prosecutor Susan Vessels called the men flight risks and asked Dyar-Welch to set a high bond.

“These men are linked to terrorist activity and are an extreme flight risk,” Vessels argued. “I would ask bond be set at $1 million. Ideally, the state would prefer no bond be issued.”

Vessels declined to elaborate further on her terror allegations, saying her case is still in its infancy.

Marietta Municipal Court Judge Janet Dyar-Welch said she would revisit bond at today’s hearing and that she expected more evidence from the state in order to keep a higher bond set in the case.

Abulhassan and Houssaiky each requested the court-appointed public defenders.
 
since when is it a crime to

- buy and sell cell phones?
- have airport security information in one's possession?
 
Too many suspicious coincidences. Glad the storeowner and cops were vigilant enough to spot it. If you'll recall before 9/11 Mohammed Atta and several others were stopped on traffic violations but let go.
 
We have a set of circumstances similar to Dearborn, MI, here in Richardson, TX.
 
Uh yeah, when someone buys $12,000 worth of telephones with cash and has enough cash for another 500 leftover and then communicates with someone on a terrorist watch list it does look like of suspcious...

But the ACLU will just argue that he talks ALOT on the phone and pull out the race card.
 
Cell phones are a prime method used to set off IEDs in Iraq, which are killing out troops. Roaving groups of operatives buy these by the bucket full, and send them to AlQueida.

Money raised by these folks is used to support Hezbollah, and Al Queida. There are laws against supporting terrorists, as well there should be.

I am somewhat taken aback by support in this and other forums for these people, and such rampant distrust of America. I expect that from the enemy. Maybe some are posting here?
 
Mannlicher...

I'm no enemy of America - I served my country for nearly three years - but I don't equate my government with America. I reserve the right and likely responsibility to distrust my govt.
Make it an 'either or' proposition and you'll lose every time.

Biker
 
Mannlicher, as well, I inherently distrust my government (especially anything said by a USA).:evil: :neener:

I served my country (by typing, filing and making coffee, no helicopters to jump out of:D) and am a former LEO, however, I reserve the right to question my government and to occassionally mock them.:D
 
Judging by what I've seen on the evening news, there doesn't appear to be a shortage of cell phones in the Middle East; at least half the population seems to have one grafted to their ear. It seems somewhat odd that they have to be smuggled out of the U.S. to Al Quaida to be made into detonators.
 
since when is it a crime to

- buy and sell cell phones?
- have airport security information in one's possession?

Did you read the part where they've ADMITTED BEING STRAW BUYERS?!

Mincks said the men first told police the phones were for a family construction business. He said Abulhassan and Houssaiky later admitted they were taking the microchips from the phones and selling them to an individual in Dearborn. That individual, whose name was not released, is the target of an ongoing FBI terrorist investigation, Mincks said.

I don't get it. The press makes a BFD about the arrest of a bunch of clowns in Florida for pledging allegiance to OBL, but when actual Hezbollah terrorists from Hezbollah High are actually setting up actual detonation devices for actual bombs, it's no big deal. I suspect it's because we're nervous about attacking a viper that's resting around our neck.

Look, guys, you need to take the fricking PC blinders off. When a muslim called OSAMA and his buddy are buying cell phones in bulk so another muslim can use the microchips, it's time to CALL A FRICKING DUCK A FRICKING DUCK. We need to stop worrying about looking at everyone's shoes and drinks at the airport and start worrying about the source of the actual problem--RADICAL MUSLIMS WHO ARE RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW.

And what makes you think these were going to be used overseas?
 
Breeding Terrorism

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Mzc3YzRiYjk1MGI4MDVlNWI2NTVmNmFhZjhhZDZhNzc=
John Derbyshire(emphasis jfruser) said:
Breeding Terrorism
I can't resist pointing out (since Andy McCarthy is apparently too much of a gent to do so) that this latest plot illustrated an important point about terrorism: If you want to breed terrorists and give them the opportunity to mature their plans, there is no environment better than a free, open, "diversity"-whipped Western nation.

Rubble doesn't make trouble. Neither do complaisant amoral dictators, so long as you keep their Swiss bank accounts well stuffed. The trouble comes from neat English suburbs with herbaceous borders and privet hedges, with bobbies on the beat and milkmen making daily deliveries.

Nor do poverty, oppression, and madrassas make terrorists. Comfortable lower-middle-class surroundings, authorities terrified of being called "racist," and the British educational system, will accomplish the job perfectly well.
We have our own terrorist incubators in the US, too.
 
I'll be the first to be suspicious of big brother but if this went down the way other serious things have the tendency is for the gov. to seek the lowest charge that can get them off the street, see who they talk to afterwards monitor comunications and get things right, stuff went down in upstate NY years ago after some born in the USA muslim college kids went to a friendly middle east country took a bus out of same country and then went through genuine certificated terrorist training camp. they were watched for a long time, it's a dangerous trade-off when to take these guys in and how long of a leash to put them on. who knows if these guys were already being watched and the concerned citizens tripped things up somewhat and they had to be taken in on something. I sure wouldn't want all the cards put down, if it means getting convictions and tracking down bigger fish I don't care if they get them for spitting on the sidewalk. if there's genuine concern and real charges will be brought out in good time.
 
I'm glad these guys are in custody. The circumstances are certainly suspicious enough for me to support having them stopped (legally -- which it apparently was) and checked out. If it turns out there is no substantial evidence linking them to terrorism or other crimes, they will go free.

I'm just glad they didn't decide to use SWAT to apprehend them at home using a nighttime no-knock dynamic entry.... :neener:
 
Catch & release?

pedaldude:
I'll be the first to be suspicious of big brother but if this went down the way other serious things have the tendency is for the gov. to seek the lowest charge that can get them off the street, see who they talk to afterwards monitor comunications and get things right, <snipped run on sentence>...

OIC, you want to practice catch & release on muslims caught in what well could be terrorist acts. First, the majority of these people are violating the terms of their visas, if they have any. Second, you expect them to provide valid information after they've been released?

Maybe sometime back in the last century, there might be some leads from this, but currently, it would not be unreasonable to expect that "once caught" terrorists would no longer have contact with their associates and go back where they came from.

Yes these people are Luddites, but assuming they are stupid could get you killed.
 
This is bad.

Without being able to buy SIM chips on the grey market how can us normal citizens use cheap throw away cell phones for communication?

First Arab people -- then all of us?:scrutiny:

My freedom is more important then the nebulous idea that they might be using these phones for IEDs - its not like they dont have cell phones there.
 
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