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Sep 22, 2009
NYC trains on terror alert <!--10 min-->
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In the bulletin, officials recommended that transit systems conduct random sweeps at terminals and stations and that law enforcement make random patrols and board some trains and buses. -- PHOTO: AP
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DENVER - COUNTERTERRORISM officials are warning US mass transit systems around the nation to step up patrols because of fears an Afghanistan-born immigrant under arrest in Colorado may have been plotting with others to detonate backpack bombs aboard New York City trains.
<table valign="top" align="left" width="200"> <tbody><tr><td class="padr8"> <!-- Vodcast --> <!-- Background Story --> <style type="text/css"> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </style> Bomb-making notes found
The task force feared Zazi may have been involved in a potential plot involving hydrogen peroxide-based explosives, according to two law enforcement officials.
Investigators said they found notes on bomb-making instructions that appear to match Zazi's handwriting, and discovered his fingerprints on materials - batteries and a scale - that could be used to make explosives. He also made a trip to Pakistan last year in which he received Al-Qaeda explosives and weapons training, the government said.
ZAZI AND HIS FATHER ARRESTED
Zazi and his 53-year-old father, Mohammed Wali Zazi, were arrested on Saturday in Denver. Ahmad Wais Afzali, 37, was arrested in New York, where he is an imam at a mosque in Queens. The three are accused of making false statements to the government. If convicted, they face eight years in prison.
Afzali was ordered held without bail after prosecutors said they believed he might flee if released.
</td></tr> </tbody></table> Investigators say Najibullah Zazi, a 24-year-old shuttle van driver at the Denver airport, played a direct role in a terror plot that unravelled during a trip to New York City around the anniversary of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks. He made his first court appearance on Monday and remained behind bars. Zazi and two other defendants have not been charged with any terrorism counts, only the relatively minor offence of lying to the government. But the case could grow to include more serious charges as the investigation proceeds.
Zazi has publicly denied being involved in a terror plot, and defence lawyer Arthur Folsom dismissed as 'rumour' any notion that his client played a crucial role. Publicly, law enforcement officials have repeatedly said they are unaware of a specific time or target for any attacks. Privately, officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the case said investigators have worried most about the possible use of backpack bombs on New York City trains, similar to attacks carried out in London and Madrid.
The investigation into Zazi's role and how many others may be involved was ongoing. Two law enforcement officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the investigation said late on Monday that more than a half-dozen individuals were being scrutinised in the alleged plot. The FBI said in a statement that 'several individuals in the United States, Pakistan and elsewhere' were being investigated.
Backpacks and cell phones were seized last week from apartments in Queens where Zazi visited. In a bulletin issued Friday, the FBI and Homeland Security Department warned that improvised explosive devices are the most common tactic to blow up railroads and other mass transit systems overseas. And they noted incidents in which bombs were made with peroxide. In the bulletin, officials recommended that transit systems conduct random sweeps at terminals and stations and that law enforcement make random patrols and board some trains and buses. -- AP
Sep 22, 2009
NYC trains on terror alert <!--10 min-->
<!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- show image if available --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
</td> <td width="10">
In the bulletin, officials recommended that transit systems conduct random sweeps at terminals and stations and that law enforcement make random patrols and board some trains and buses. -- PHOTO: AP
</td></tr> </tbody></table> <!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->
DENVER - COUNTERTERRORISM officials are warning US mass transit systems around the nation to step up patrols because of fears an Afghanistan-born immigrant under arrest in Colorado may have been plotting with others to detonate backpack bombs aboard New York City trains.
<table valign="top" align="left" width="200"> <tbody><tr><td class="padr8"> <!-- Vodcast --> <!-- Background Story --> <style type="text/css"> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </style> Bomb-making notes found
The task force feared Zazi may have been involved in a potential plot involving hydrogen peroxide-based explosives, according to two law enforcement officials.
Investigators said they found notes on bomb-making instructions that appear to match Zazi's handwriting, and discovered his fingerprints on materials - batteries and a scale - that could be used to make explosives. He also made a trip to Pakistan last year in which he received Al-Qaeda explosives and weapons training, the government said.
... more
ZAZI AND HIS FATHER ARRESTED
Zazi and his 53-year-old father, Mohammed Wali Zazi, were arrested on Saturday in Denver. Ahmad Wais Afzali, 37, was arrested in New York, where he is an imam at a mosque in Queens. The three are accused of making false statements to the government. If convicted, they face eight years in prison.
Afzali was ordered held without bail after prosecutors said they believed he might flee if released.
... more
</td></tr> </tbody></table> Investigators say Najibullah Zazi, a 24-year-old shuttle van driver at the Denver airport, played a direct role in a terror plot that unravelled during a trip to New York City around the anniversary of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks. He made his first court appearance on Monday and remained behind bars. Zazi and two other defendants have not been charged with any terrorism counts, only the relatively minor offence of lying to the government. But the case could grow to include more serious charges as the investigation proceeds.
Zazi has publicly denied being involved in a terror plot, and defence lawyer Arthur Folsom dismissed as 'rumour' any notion that his client played a crucial role. Publicly, law enforcement officials have repeatedly said they are unaware of a specific time or target for any attacks. Privately, officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the case said investigators have worried most about the possible use of backpack bombs on New York City trains, similar to attacks carried out in London and Madrid.
The investigation into Zazi's role and how many others may be involved was ongoing. Two law enforcement officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the investigation said late on Monday that more than a half-dozen individuals were being scrutinised in the alleged plot. The FBI said in a statement that 'several individuals in the United States, Pakistan and elsewhere' were being investigated.
Backpacks and cell phones were seized last week from apartments in Queens where Zazi visited. In a bulletin issued Friday, the FBI and Homeland Security Department warned that improvised explosive devices are the most common tactic to blow up railroads and other mass transit systems overseas. And they noted incidents in which bombs were made with peroxide. In the bulletin, officials recommended that transit systems conduct random sweeps at terminals and stations and that law enforcement make random patrols and board some trains and buses. -- AP
