FBI arrest four in alleged plot to bomb Bronx synagogues, shoot down plane

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The FBI busted a homegrown terror cell late Wednesday night as the men sneaked around a Jewish temple in Riverdale planting what they thought was packages of C-4 explosives, sources told the Daily News.

The four African American men, three of whom were said to be jailhouse converts to Islam, also allegedly had what they believed was a working Stinger missile in their car.

Officials said they hoped to shoot down a plane at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh in Orange County.

Sources said the four men were arrested after a year-long investigation that began when an informant connected to a mosque in Newburg said he knew men who wanted to buy explosives.

FBI agents posing as militants sold them what they thought was 30 pounds of C-4 and a plane-downing Stinger missile.

The weaponry was all phony.

The men were arrested as they planted fake bombs in front of the Riverdale Temple in the Bronx and under cars parked in front of the synagogue.

They also allegedly planned to blow up a nearby Jewish Community Center.

Witnesses said an NYPD vehicle blocked a black SUV outside the temple and then officers broke in the windows and handcuffed the four men inside the car.

All four men were US-born.

Arrested was alleged ringleader James Cromitie of Newburgh, the son of an Afghan immigrant and his African American wife.

Cromitie served a long stretch in prison in the past.

Alleged henchment David Williams, Onta Williams and Leguerre Payen were busted with him.

Sources said the three were jailhouse converts to Islam.

"This shows the real risks we face from homegrown terror and jailhouse converts, and the need for constant vigilance," said Rep. Pete King (R-NY).

The four alleged terrorists are expected to be arraigned Thursday in White Plains federal court.

"These guys were angry, they had intent and they were searching for capacity," a senior federal law enforcement official told The News.

But, the official added, "It's not exactly Al Qaeda."

link

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Sounds like great canidates for a good waterboardin!

[Peikko 1,575]

Why? Just for the fun of it? I don't think even Bush and Cheney could justify that...

Edited May 21, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[scandal 951]

On a serious note: This is indeed a very sobering incident. If these guys had access to real weapons and bombs and were not part of an FBI sting, who knows how many innocent lives could have been lost here? Kudos to alert Law Enforcement everywhere, keeping the homeland safe.

The FBI agents who conducted the sting were dedicated professionals doing their job - they deserve our greatest thanks and respect.

On a less serious note: I thought according to Cheney, Obama is unable to keep the homeland safe as GWB did? How is it we're stopping the bad guys on the Dem's watch? Could it actually be that when it comes to Homeland Security it's time to stop playing politics and treat this as the serious grown up subject it is?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Sounds like great canidates for a good waterboardin!

For starters.

[Nagishkaw 510]

As the OP would say....Business as usual.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Radicalised in jail.

Hmmm....

[justashooter 430]

idiots.

[fozzie 41]

It's no coincidence that after weeks/months of debate about national security and how you go about it we get a news story about a foiled attack. Every administration does it.

There are probably dozens of plots such as this getting foiled on a regular basis and we only hear about a few. Why? Partly to keep you vigilant and aware that attacks are a possibilty, but also to keep you scared. Fear is a powerful weapon, extremists from all corners of the globe use it to gather followers to their cause.

[Caladan 19]

On a serious note: This is indeed a very sobering incident. If these guys had access to real weapons and bombs and were not part of an FBI sting, who knows how many innocent lives could have been lost here? Kudos to alert Law Enforcement everywhere, keeping the homeland safe.

The FBI agents who conducted the sting were dedicated professionals doing their job - they deserve our greatest thanks and respect.

On a less serious note: I thought according to Cheney, Obama is unable to keep the homeland safe as GWB did? How is it we're stopping the bad guys on the Dem's watch? Could it actually be that when it comes to Homeland Security it's time to stop playing politics and treat this as the serious grown up subject it is?

The FBI has generally been very good at preventing acts of terrorism with regular old law enforcement techniques. What these agents did was commendable, but certainly not out of the ordinary!

[Nagishkaw 510]

Well, nothing like giving them credit.