David Park
Member
U.S. Officials Arrest 8 in `Virginia Jihad Network' (Update3)
June 27 (Bloomberg) -- Eight men were arrested on charges they formed a ``Virginia jihad network'' with ties to the Kashmiri separatist group Lashkar-E-Taiba and planned terrorist attacks overseas, the U.S. government said.
The men, along with three others believed to be in Saudi Arabia, are accused of plotting to engage in a ``jihad,'' or holy war, in Kashmir, Chechnya, the Philippines and other countries. U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty, who announced the indictment today in Alexandria, Virginia, declined to say whether any attacks were planned in the U.S.
``After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Virginia jihad network members were told that it was time to engage in violent jihad,'' McNulty said. He said ``some reports have established some connection'' between Lashkar-E-Taiba and Osama bin Laden's al- Qaeda network, which the U.S. has blamed for the Sept. 11 attacks.
The men gathered for training and worship in Northern Virginia and conducted war games at paint ball facilities, McNulty said. They were charged with providing support to a terrorist organization and weapons violations.
Lashkar-E-Taiba was designated by the U.S. as a terrorist group after the December 2001 attack on the national parliament in India, which left 14 dead.
``When individuals meet here in the shadow of our nation's capital to prepare for violent jihad, we will take action,'' Assistant Attorney General Alice Fisher said at the press conference.
The eight men were arrested in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Fairfax County, Virginia.
`Violent Extremist' Group
Lashkar-E-Taiba, which McNulty described as ``violent extremist'' group, was formed in Pakistan but banned by its government after India accused it and another Islamic group, Jaish- e-Mohammad, of the attack on the Indian parliament. Lashkar-E- Taiba also has been linked to the deaths of hundreds of Hindus in Kashmir, McNulty said. India and Pakistan have fought several wars over the disputed Kashmir border region.
McNulty said group members purchased weapons, including AK- 47s, and trained at firing ranges in Virginia and Pennsylvania. They also trained in military tactics at a paintball range in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
Seven of the men also traveled to Pakistan; one member allegedly trained at a Lashkar camp and used his experiences to recruit others into the group, McNulty said.
He said the charges could lead to ``dozens of years'' in prison.
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aff9sXPzxHyk&refer=us
another article in the Baltimore Sun:
http://www.sunspot.net/news/custom/attack/bal-terror0627,0,991209.story?coll=bal-home-headlines
June 27 (Bloomberg) -- Eight men were arrested on charges they formed a ``Virginia jihad network'' with ties to the Kashmiri separatist group Lashkar-E-Taiba and planned terrorist attacks overseas, the U.S. government said.
The men, along with three others believed to be in Saudi Arabia, are accused of plotting to engage in a ``jihad,'' or holy war, in Kashmir, Chechnya, the Philippines and other countries. U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty, who announced the indictment today in Alexandria, Virginia, declined to say whether any attacks were planned in the U.S.
``After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Virginia jihad network members were told that it was time to engage in violent jihad,'' McNulty said. He said ``some reports have established some connection'' between Lashkar-E-Taiba and Osama bin Laden's al- Qaeda network, which the U.S. has blamed for the Sept. 11 attacks.
The men gathered for training and worship in Northern Virginia and conducted war games at paint ball facilities, McNulty said. They were charged with providing support to a terrorist organization and weapons violations.
Lashkar-E-Taiba was designated by the U.S. as a terrorist group after the December 2001 attack on the national parliament in India, which left 14 dead.
``When individuals meet here in the shadow of our nation's capital to prepare for violent jihad, we will take action,'' Assistant Attorney General Alice Fisher said at the press conference.
The eight men were arrested in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Fairfax County, Virginia.
`Violent Extremist' Group
Lashkar-E-Taiba, which McNulty described as ``violent extremist'' group, was formed in Pakistan but banned by its government after India accused it and another Islamic group, Jaish- e-Mohammad, of the attack on the Indian parliament. Lashkar-E- Taiba also has been linked to the deaths of hundreds of Hindus in Kashmir, McNulty said. India and Pakistan have fought several wars over the disputed Kashmir border region.
McNulty said group members purchased weapons, including AK- 47s, and trained at firing ranges in Virginia and Pennsylvania. They also trained in military tactics at a paintball range in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
Seven of the men also traveled to Pakistan; one member allegedly trained at a Lashkar camp and used his experiences to recruit others into the group, McNulty said.
He said the charges could lead to ``dozens of years'' in prison.
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aff9sXPzxHyk&refer=us
another article in the Baltimore Sun:
http://www.sunspot.net/news/custom/attack/bal-terror0627,0,991209.story?coll=bal-home-headlines
