Two Men Charged in Alleged Plot to Assassinate Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States

U.S. Dept. of Justice Press Release:

WASHINGTON – Two individuals have been charged in New York for their alleged participation in a plot directed by elements of the Iranian government to murder the Saudi Ambassador to the United States with explosives while the Ambassador was in the United States.

The charges were announced by Attorney General Eric Holder; FBI Director Robert S. Mueller; Lisa Monaco, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; and Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

A criminal complaint filed today in the Southern District of New York charges Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen holding both Iranian and U.S. passports, and Gholam Shakuri, an Iran-based member of Iran’s Qods Force, which is a special operations unit of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that is said to sponsor and promote terrorist activities abroad.    

Both defendants are charged with conspiracy to murder a foreign official; conspiracy to engage in foreign travel and use of interstate and foreign commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire; conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction (explosives); and conspiracy to commit an act of international terrorism transcending national boundaries.   Arbabsiar is further charged with an additional count of foreign travel and use of interstate and foreign commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.

Shakuri remains at large. Arbabsiar was arrested on Sept. 29, 2011, at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and will make his initial appearance today before in federal court in Manhattan.   He faces a maximum potential sentence of life in prison if convicted of all the charges.

“ The criminal complaint unsealed today exposes a deadly plot directed by factions of the Iranian government to assassinate a foreign Ambassador on U.S. soil with explosives,” said Attorney General Holder. “Through the diligent and coordinated efforts of our law enforcement and intelligence agencies, we were able to disrupt this plot before anyone was harmed.  We will continue to investigate this matter vigorously and bring those who have violated any laws to justice.”

“The investigation leading to today’s charges illustrates both the challenges and complexities of the international threat environment, and our increased ability today to bring together the intelligence and law enforcement resources necessary to better identify and disrupt those threats, regardless of their origin,” said FBI Director Mueller.

 “The disruption of this plot is a significant milestone that stems from months of hard work by our law enforcement and intelligence professionals,” said Assistant Attorney General Monaco.   “I applaud the many agents, analysts and prosecutors who helped bring about today’s case.”

“As alleged, these defendants were part of a well-funded and pernicious plot that had, as its first priority, the assassination of the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, without care or concern for the mass casualties that would result from their planned attack,” said U.S. Attorney Bharara.   “Today’s charges should make crystal clear that we will not let other countries use our soil as their battleground.”  

The Alleged Plot

The criminal complaint alleges that, from the spring of 2011 to October 2011, Arbabsiar and his Iran-based co-conspirators, including Shakuri of the Qods Force, have been plotting the murder of the Saudi Ambassador to the United States.   In furtherance of this conspiracy, Arbabsiar allegedly met on a number of occasions in Mexico with a DEA confidential source (CS-1) who has posed as an associate of a violent international drug trafficking cartel.   According to the complaint, Arbabsiar arranged to hire CS-1 and CS-1’s purported accomplices to murder the Ambassador, and Shakuri and other Iran-based co-conspirators were aware of and approved the plan.   With Shakuri’s approval, Arbabsiar has allegedly caused approximately $100,000 to be wired into a bank account in the United States as a down payment to CS-1 for the anticipated killing of the Ambassador, which was to take place in the United States.

According to the criminal complaint, the IRCG is an arm of the Iranian military that is composed of a number of branches, one of which is the Qods Force.  The Qods Force conducts sensitive covert operations abroad, including terrorist attacks, assassinations and kidnappings, and is believed to sponsor attacks against Coalition Forces in Iraq.   In October 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department designated the Qods Force for providing material support to the Taliban and other terrorist organizations.

The complaint alleges that Arbabsiar met with CS-1 in Mexico on May 24, 2011, where Arbabsiar inquired as to CS-1’s knowledge with respect to explosives and explained that he was interested in, among other things, attacking an embassy of Saudi Arabia.   In response, CS-1 allegedly indicated that he was knowledgeable with respect to C-4 explosives.   In June and July 2011, the complaint alleges, Arbabsiar returned to Mexico and held additional meetings with CS-1, where Arbabsiar explained that his associates in Iran had discussed a number of violent missions for CS-1 and his associates to perform, including the murder of the Ambassador.  

$1.5 Million Fee for Alleged Assassination

In a July 14, 2011, meeting in Mexico, CS-1 allegedly told Arbabsiar that he would need to use four men to carry out the Ambassador’s murder and that his price for carrying out the murder was $1.5 million. Arbabsiar allegedly agreed and stated that the murder of the Ambassador should be handled first, before the execution of other attacks.   Arbabsiar also allegedly indicated he and his associates had $100,000 in Iran to pay CS-1 as a first payment toward the assassination and discussed the manner in which that payment would be made.  

During the same meeting, Arbabsiar allegedly described to CS-1 his cousin in Iran, who he said had requested that Arbabsiar find someone to carry out the Ambassador’s assassination.   According to the complaint, Arbabsiar indicated that his cousin was a “big general” in the Iranian military; that he focuses on matters outside Iran and that he had taken certain unspecified actions related to a bombing in Iraq.

In a July 17, 2011, meeting in Mexico, CS-1 noted to Arbabsiar that one of his workers had already traveled to Washington, D.C., to surveill the Ambassador.   CS-1 also raised the possibility of innocent bystander casualties. The complaint alleges that Arbabsiar made it clear that the assassination needed to go forward, despite mass casualties, telling CS-1, “They want that guy [the Ambassador] done [killed], if the hundred go with him f**k ‘em.”  CS-1 and Arbabsiar allegedly discussed bombing a restaurant in the United States that the Ambassador frequented.   When CS-1 noted that others could be killed in the attack, including U.S. senators who dine at the restaurant, Arbabsiar allegedly dismissed these concerns as “no big deal.”

On Aug. 1, and Aug. 9, 2011, with Shakuri’s approval, Arbabsiar allegedly caused two overseas wire transfers totaling approximately $100,000 to be sent to an FBI undercover account as a down payment for CS-1 to carry out the assassination.   Later, Arbabsiar allegedly explained to CS-1 that he would provide the remainder of the $1.5 million after the assassination. On Sept. 20, 2011, CS-1 allegedly told Arbabsiar that the operation was ready and requested that Arbabsiar either pay one half of the agreed upon price ($1.5 million) for the murder or that Arbabsiar personally travel to Mexico as collateral for the final payment of the fee.   According to the complaint, Arbabsiar agreed to travel to Mexico to guarantee final payment for the murder.  

Arrest and Alleged Confession

On or about Sept. 28, 2011, Arbabsiar flew to Mexico.   Arbabsiar was refused entry into Mexico by Mexican authorities and, according to Mexican law and international agreements; he was placed on a return flight destined for his last point of departure.    On Sept. 29, 2011, Arbabsiar was arrested by federal agents during a flight layover at JFK International Airport in New York.   Several hours after his arrest, Arbabsiar was advised of his Miranda rights and he agreed to waive those rights and speak with law enforcement agents.   During a series of Mirandized interviews, Arbabsiar allegedly confessed to his participation in the murder plot.

          

According to the complaint, Arbabsiar also admitted to agents that, in connection with this plot, he was recruited, funded and directed by men he understood to be senior officials in Iran’s Qods Force.   He allegedly said these Iranian officials were aware of and approved of the use of CS-1 in connection with the plot; as well as payments to CS-1; the means by which the Ambassador would be killed in the United States and the casualties that would likely result.

Arbabsiar allegedly told agents that his cousin, who he had long understood to be a senior member of the Qods Force, had approached him in the early spring of 2011 about recruiting narco-traffickers to kidnap the Ambassador.   Arbabsiar told agents that he then met with the CS-1 in Mexico and discussed assassinating the Ambassador.   According to the complaint, Arbabsiar said that, afterwards, he met several times in Iran with Shakuri and another senior Qods Force official, where he explained that the plan was to blow up a restaurant in the United States frequented by the Ambassador and that numerous bystanders could be killed, according to the complaint.   The plan was allegedly approved by these officials.  

In October 2011, according to the complaint, Arbabsiar made phone calls at the direction of law enforcement to Shakuri in Iran that were monitored.  During these phone calls, Shakuri allegedly confirmed that Arbabsiar should move forward with the plot to murder the Ambassador and that he should accomplish the task as quickly as possible, stating on Oct. 5, 2011, “[j]ust do it quickly, it’s late . . .”  The complaint alleges that Shakuri also told Arbabsiar that he would consult with his superiors about whether they would be willing to pay CS-1 additional money.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI Houston Division and DEA Houston Division, with assistance from the FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force.   The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Glen Kopp and Edward Kim, of the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and the U.S. State Department provided substantial assistance.  We thank the government of Mexico for its close coordination and collaboration in this matter, and for its role in ensuring that the defendant was safely apprehended.

The charges contained in a criminal complaint are mere allegations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Dept. of Justice email announces some details regarding the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund

I'm not sure why the email was sent to me but I thought you might like to know what "progress" looks like 10 years after we watched the towers fall.  At the bottom is a link to a Youtube Video.  It is 26 minutes of pain and suffering.  Watch it and never forget...

Dear Friend,

I am writing to let you know that I have sent to the Federal Register the Final Rule governing the September 11^th Victim Compensation Fund. Since issuing the proposed regulations in June, I have met with hundreds of you at town halls in New York and New Jersey and reviewed the formal comments submitted in response to the proposed regulations. I am so grateful for and have benefited from having met so many of you and having heard your concerns and suggestions.

Based on your feedback, as well as further review of the best scientific and medical evidence that is available, I have made some changes to the regulations for the Final Rule. First among them, I have expanded the geographic zone recognized as a “9/11 crash site.” The proposed rule suggested that the term “9/11 crash site” included the area in Manhattan south of Reade Street – boundaries that were substantially broader than those used in the Fund’s first iteration. However, in light of the comments that were submitted, as well as further examination of the available evidence, the Final Rule expands the zone of geographic eligibility to include the area south of Canal Street. In addition to the dust that was present most heavily in the area south of Reade Street, there is also evidence suggesting that prolonged exposure to dust between Reade Street and Canal Street created a risk of physical harm. There are also substantial numbers of patients who live between Reade Street and Canal Street who are receiving treatment in the World Trade Center (WTC) Environmental Health Center program.

While there is evidence that the smoke plume from the site traveled beyond Manhattan south of Canal Street, the concentrations of contaminants in the smoke cloud were most intense within and very near Ground Zero. By the time the smoke cloud had reached other areas, such as Brooklyn, the particulate concentrations were significantly diluted. Thus, the initial zone of coverage will include the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Shanksville sites; the buildings that were destroyed; the area south of Canal St. in lower Manhattan; and the routes of debris removal.

One area that has remained unchanged since the draft regulations involves the determination of which physical harms and deaths were “a result of” the crashes or debris removal within the meaning of the statute. The Rule requires the Fund to maintain and publish a list of presumptively covered conditions that resulted from the air crashes or debris removal. This list will consist of the physical injuries and conditions that are found, under the WTC Health Program, to be WTC-related health conditions. I will update this list so that it includes not only those physical conditions listed in Title I of the Zadroga Act, but also any additional physical conditions that the WTC Health Program subsequently determines to be WTC-related.

I know many of you will be disappointed by this decision; in particular, because it means that, at least at the beginning of the Fund’s operations, the Fund is not able to identify any particular type of cancer as a WTC-related condition. Congress, in drafting the Zadroga Act last year, did not include cancer in the list of illnesses and health conditions that experienced medical professionals have determined could be found to be substantially likely to have been aggravated, caused, or contributed to by exposure to conditions resulting from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Since that time, the first periodic review by the WTC Health Program Administrator similarly found insufficient scientific and medical evidence for adding cancer to the list of covered conditions. After considering all of the comments and the available scientific and medical evidence, I have decided that it is important, and consistent with the intentions of Congress, that I continue to rely on the medical judgment made by the WTC Health Program. While the Fund will evaluate new evidence as it becomes available, and will add to its list of presumptively covered conditions any physical injury condition that the WTC Health Program recognizes as WTC-related, the Final Rule will not add any additional conditions at this time.

Although exceptions can be made to this list of covered conditions, the rules require such exceptions only in extraordinary circumstances, and where the claimant satisfies other eligibility criteria, including presence at a 9/11 crash site.

The Final Rule contains other changes as well. For example, we have attempted to provide greater consistency with the WTC Health Program by adding additional forms of proof that may be used to establish eligibility. We have also clarified the types of fees and charges that would come within the caps on amounts that a claimant’s representative may charge in connection with a claim made to the Fund.

I encourage you to read the Final Rule in its entirety. I am placing the signed copy of the Final Rule that was submitted to the Federal Register on the Fund’s website, www.justice.gov/vcf. I expect the Rule to be published later this week, and we will put the official version on the website when that happens. The Rule will go into effect when the Fund opens its doors on Monday, October 3. Much more information, including detailed instructions on how to file a claim, will be made available at that time. In addition, we will continue to update the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section of our website, www.justice.gov/vcf.  

I can’t promise that everyone will be satisfied with every decision that the Fund makes, but I do hope you feel that the process is fair, transparent, and easy to navigate. As I said when I was first appointed, as a lifelong New Yorker, the opportunity to serve the country and the 9/11 community in this way is a tremendous honor. I have been touched by how many of you have expressed appreciation or good wishes for the Fund’s operations.

Thank you for your continued faith and support. I look forward to meeting more of you, and to serving you the best that I can.

Yours,

Sheila

http://youtu.be/wNNTcHq5Tzk

BROOKLYN MAN CONVICTED OF CONSPIRACY TO KILL U.S. SOLDIERS

BROOKLYN MAN CONVICTED OF CONSPIRACY TO KILL U.S. SOLDIERS ABROAD AND ATTEMPTING TO PROVIDE MATERIAL SUPPORT TO AL-SHABAAB

BROOKLYN, NY – Following a two-week trial in the Eastern District of New York, a federal jury convicted Betim Kaziu today of conspiring to commit murder overseas, conspiring to provide material support to terrorism, attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and conspiring to use a machine gun in furtherance of those crimes. The evidence at trial established that the defendant traveled from Brooklyn to Cairo, Egypt, in February 2009 in order to wage violent jihad against United States troops in the Middle East and the Balkans. While in Cairo, the defendant also attempted to acquire automatic weapons and to travel to Somalia to join al-Shabaab, a Somali terrorist organization allied with al-Qaeda. Ultimately, the defendant traveled to Kosovo in an effort to target American troops stationed there, or to travel onward to Pakistan to join al-Qaeda.

While in the Balkans, the defendant recorded a martyrdom video on the Albanian coast of his “last few moments” before he expected to depart for jannah, or paradise reserved for martyrs. Shortly thereafter, on August 27, 2009, the defendant was arrested in Kosovo by the Kosovo Police Service. He was then transferred to the custody of agents and detectives of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force to face terrorism charges filed in the Eastern District of New York. At the time of his arrest, the defendant had already purchased a ticket to travel to Pakistan on September 15, 2009.

Testimony at trial established that the defendant had been radicalized, in part, by Internet speeches by Anwar al-Awlaki and propaganda videos produced by al-Qaeda and al-Shabaab. The government also introduced at trial evidence from the defendant’s social networking website, including quotes by Osama Bin Laden.

The defendant faces a sentence of up to life in prison. Sentencing has been scheduled for November 4, 2011.

The convictions were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York.

“Through our judicial system, we have brought to justice a homegrown terrorist who conspired to kill U.S. troops overseas,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “We are committed to using all available tools to combat terrorism wherever it threatens our citizens and our country.” Ms. Lynch thanked the government of Kosovo, the U.S. State Department, the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance.

The government’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shreve Ariail, Seth D. DuCharme and Ali Kazemi, with assistance provided by Joanna Baltes of the National Security Division.

Source: http://www.justice.gov/usao/nye/pr/2011/2011jul07.html

Outspoken Supporter of Terrorism Coming to a Community Center Near You

I received the following information via email from a friend.  I have not had an opportunity to look into this in any detail but, considering the source, I am inclined to support the protest.  If an outspoken supporter of terrorism can conduct a fund-raising event at the Yorba Linda Community Center, I can certainly exercise my right to peacefully protest outside of the event. 

I encourage you to look into this on your own and decide where you stand. 

###########

Calling All Patriots: Come show your concern that Shariah Law is not compatible with the U.S. Constitution !! Our nation is at a cross road and hemorrhaging. Only your activism with God's help can save her.

Come partner with other Pro-American organizations: North Orange County Conservative Coalition, Tea Party Patriots, and California Republican Assemblies of Fullerton and Yorba Linda to peacefully protest this anti-American, anti-Semitic movement with American flags.

*ACTION ALERT*

Radical Imams fundraise in Yorba Linda's Community Center 

on February 13th at 5:30 pm

The Yorba Linda Community Center  has booked an organization directly connected to the Muslim Brotherhood and two terrorism, Anti American Radical Islamic activists, Siraj Wahhah & Anur-Abel Malik-Ali with the Islamic Circle for North America. 

 Both men have denounced Israel, SUPPORT HAMAS & TERRORISM. Imam spoke at University of California at Irvine in May last year and declared his support of terrorism.  Chancellor Michael Drake immediately released this statement on behalf of the University,"Let me be clear: we condemn the speaker's endorsement of terrorism... these remarks supporting terrorism were deplorable."
Who is the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)?
The Muslim Brotherhood document, "An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America” refers to ICNA as one of the Brotherhood’s 29 likeminded organizations who teach "that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and 'sabotaging' its miserable house by their hands ... so that ... God's religion [Islam] is made victorious over all other religions. “The Brotherhood’s creed is: ‘God is our objective; the Koran is our law; the Prophet is our leader; jihad is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations.’”

Who is Siraj Wahhaj?

The Muslim Brotherhood calls Wahhaj the “American Imam.” In 1993 he was named as an Unindicted Co Conspirator in World Trade Center Bombings Investigation. Believes in converting gang members to Islam for “day America will crumble.” Wahhaj says for the faithful to go into the hood and prisons and convert disenfranchised minorities, and then arm and train them to carry out an Uzi jihad in the inner cities. Wahhaj says “You know what this country (USA) is? It’s a garbage can.” He snarls. “It’s filthy.” He prays it (USA) “crumbles” and is replaced by Islam.

Who is Anur-Abel Malik-Ali?

At the Universal Heritage Foundation’s December 2003 Islamic Conference in Florida, he warned moderate American Muslims that their desire to be “liked” was turning them into “‘house slaves.’” He said, “Sooner or later, today’s Muslim students will be the parents of Muslim children. And they should be militants.” At the Sixth Annual Muslim Student Association Conference held at UC Berkeley in February 2004, Malik-Ali denounced “the white man, who is the enemy.”