2007 Fort Dix attack plot: Difference between revisions
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Six [[Islamic]] men planning an '''attack on the [[Fort Dix]] military base''' in [[New Jersey]] were arrested by the [[FBI]] late Monday night, [[2007-05-07]], and charged with planning an attack against [[United States]] soldiers to "kill as many soldiers as possible."<ref name="wpost">{{cite news |first=Wayne |last= Parry |title= |
Six [[Islamic]] men planning an '''attack on the [[Fort Dix]] military base''' in [[New Jersey]] were arrested by the [[FBI]] late Monday night, [[2007-05-07]], and charged with planning an attack against [[United States]] soldiers to "kill as many soldiers as possible."<ref name="wpost">{{cite news |first=Wayne |last= Parry |title= |
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6 Charged in Plot to Attack Army Post |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/08/AR2007050800454.html|work=[[Washington Post]] |date= 2008-05-08|accessdate=2007-05-08 }}[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/08/AR2007050800454.html Six Arrested In Alleged Terror Plot Against N.J. Soldiers]</ref>. The group consisted of four [[Albanians in Kosovo|Kosovar Albanians]] (Eljvir Duka, Dritan Duka, Shain Duka and Agron Abdullahu), one [[Turks|Turk]] (Serdar Tatar) and one [[Jordanians|Jordanian]] (Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer).<ref name=" |
6 Charged in Plot to Attack Army Post |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/08/AR2007050800454.html|work=[[Washington Post]] |date= 2008-05-08|accessdate=2007-05-08 }}[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/08/AR2007050800454.html Six Arrested In Alleged Terror Plot Against N.J. Soldiers]</ref>. The group consisted of four [[Albanians in Kosovo|Kosovar Albanians]] (Eljvir Duka, Dritan Duka, Shain Duka and Agron Abdullahu), one [[Turks|Turk]] (Serdar Tatar) and one [[Jordanians|Jordanian]] (Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer).<ref name="nbc">{{cite news |publisher=NBC 10 |url=http://www.nbc10.com/news/13274843/detail.html |title=Terror Suspects Arrested In N.J. After FBI Foils Fort Dix Attack |date=[[2007-05-08]] |accessdate=2007-05-08}}</ref> |
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==Preparation== |
==Preparation== |
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The six men traveled to the [[Poconos]] where they practiced firing [[automatic firearm|automatic weapons]] |
The six men traveled to the [[Poconos]] where they practiced firing [[automatic firearm|automatic weapons]]. Authorities were altered shortly thereafter (January 2006), and an informant from the FBI infiltrated the group in order to gather information about it.<ref name="wnbc">{{cite news |title= 6 Charged In Alleged N.J. Terror Plot|url= http://www.wnbc.com/news/13274813/detail.html|work= WNBC |date= 2007-05-08|accessdate=2007-05-08 }}</ref> |
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The men considered attacking several other military bases, such as the [[Dover Air Force Base]] and [[Fort Monmouth |
The men considered attacking several other military bases, such as the [[Dover Air Force Base]], and [[Fort Monmouth]]. It is probable that the group selected Fort Dix because they knew it well from delivering pizza there;<ref name="wnbc"/> one of the suspects could "[draw] a detailed map of Fort Dix from memory".<ref name="atlantic">{{cite news |first= Richard|last= Degener|title= Six Islamic militants, one from Atlantic County, charged with plot to attack Fort Dix|url= http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/story/7477509p-7372344c.html |work= Press of Atlantic City |date= 2007-05-08|accessdate=2007-05-08 }}</ref> |
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As the men continued to plotted, they continue to hold normal jobs. The Duka brothers (Eljvir, Dritan, and Shain), illegal immigrants from Yugoslavia, operated a roofing business known as Qadr. Inc., Colonial Roofing and National Roofing. Agron Abdullahu (a legal immigrant from Yugoslavia), Serdar Tatar (a Turkish legal immigrant), and Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewe (a U.S. citizen from Jordan) also held a variety of jobs, including that of a taxi driver and clerk for 7/11.<ref name="nbc"/> |
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On January 31, 2006, they had recorded [[VHS|video footage]] of themselves shooting assault weapons and shouting "Allah Akbar" (Allah is Great")<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |coauthors= Hauser, Christine; Kocieniewski, David |title= 6 Arrested in Plot to Attack Fort Dix|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/08/us/08cnd-dix.html?bl&ex=1178769600&en=1fa60d70cd462544&ei=5087%0A|work=[[The New York Times]] |date= 2007-05-08|accessdate=2007-05-08 }} |
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Five of the men intended to attack the [[Fort Dix]] military base and killing as many servicemen as they could.<ref name="wpost"/> Abdullahu merely was to provided weapons (aiding and abetting). The group revealed to the FBI informant (a conversation which was recorded) that the five other men intended to "hit a heavy concentration of soldiers [...] You hit four, five or six Humvees and light the whole place [up] and retreate completely without any losses".<ref name="nbc"/> |
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==Arrest== |
==Arrest== |
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An informant from the FBI had been aware of the group since at least a year before the incident.<ref name="wpost" /> |
An informant from the FBI had been aware of the group since at least a year before the incident.<ref name="wpost" /> |
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The group purchased [[M16]] and [[AK-47]] rifles from the FBI informant, and shortly thereafter (Monday night), five of the men were arrested in their home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey (approximately 20 miles, or 32 km, from Fort Dix).<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |coauthors= Hauser, Christine; Kocieniewski, David |title= Arrests over US army base 'plot'|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6635669.stm|work=[[BBC]] |date= 2007-05-08|accessdate=2007-05-08 }}</ref>. They charged with [[Conspiracy (crime)|conspiring to kill]] U.S. government employees.<ref name="wnbc"/> |
The group purchased [[M16]] and [[AK-47]] rifles from the FBI informant, and shortly thereafter (Monday night), five of the men were arrested in their home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey (approximately 20 miles, or 32 km, from Fort Dix).<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |coauthors= Hauser, Christine; Kocieniewski, David |title= Arrests over US army base 'plot'|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6635669.stm|work=[[BBC]] |date= 2007-05-08|accessdate=2007-05-08 }}</ref>. They charged with [[Conspiracy (crime)|conspiring to kill]] U.S. government employees.<ref name="wnbc"/> |
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Revision as of 23:11, 8 May 2007
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (May 2007) |
Six Islamic men planning an attack on the Fort Dix military base in New Jersey were arrested by the FBI late Monday night, 2007-05-07, and charged with planning an attack against United States soldiers to "kill as many soldiers as possible."[1]. The group consisted of four Kosovar Albanians (Eljvir Duka, Dritan Duka, Shain Duka and Agron Abdullahu), one Turk (Serdar Tatar) and one Jordanian (Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer).[2]
Preparation
The six men traveled to the Poconos where they practiced firing automatic weapons. Authorities were altered shortly thereafter (January 2006), and an informant from the FBI infiltrated the group in order to gather information about it.[3]
The men considered attacking several other military bases, such as the Dover Air Force Base, and Fort Monmouth. It is probable that the group selected Fort Dix because they knew it well from delivering pizza there;[3] one of the suspects could "[draw] a detailed map of Fort Dix from memory".[4]
As the men continued to plotted, they continue to hold normal jobs. The Duka brothers (Eljvir, Dritan, and Shain), illegal immigrants from Yugoslavia, operated a roofing business known as Qadr. Inc., Colonial Roofing and National Roofing. Agron Abdullahu (a legal immigrant from Yugoslavia), Serdar Tatar (a Turkish legal immigrant), and Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewe (a U.S. citizen from Jordan) also held a variety of jobs, including that of a taxi driver and clerk for 7/11.[2]
On January 31, 2006, they had recorded video footage of themselves shooting assault weapons and shouting "Allah Akbar" (Allah is Great")[5] However, it was only when the men brought video footage of themselves using assault weapons to a store, in order to convert it to DVD, that the owner of the store alerted authorities, and a full-scale investigation was initiated.[2]
Five of the men intended to attack the Fort Dix military base and killing as many servicemen as they could.[1] Abdullahu merely was to provided weapons (aiding and abetting). The group revealed to the FBI informant (a conversation which was recorded) that the five other men intended to "hit a heavy concentration of soldiers [...] You hit four, five or six Humvees and light the whole place [up] and retreate completely without any losses".[2]
Arrest
An informant from the FBI had been aware of the group since at least a year before the incident.[1]
The group purchased M16 and AK-47 rifles from the FBI informant, and shortly thereafter (Monday night), five of the men were arrested in their home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey (approximately 20 miles, or 32 km, from Fort Dix).[6]. They charged with conspiring to kill U.S. government employees.[3]
Motivation
One of the men, Eljvir Duka, explained the group's motivation as follows:
In the end, when it comes to defending your religion, when someone is trying attacks your religion, your way of life, then you go jihad.[1]
The men claimed to be acting independently of any Islamic terrorist groups (such as the al-Qaida).[7] Officials did term the group "homegrown",[8] and press secretary Tony Snow indicated that they were "not charged with being members of an international terrorism organization".[3]
Nonetheless, the men professed a strong belief in radical Islam. They were ready to kill others and themselves "in the name of Allah",[7] and one asserted to another on the video tape that "Allah will take care of your wife and kids".[3]
References
- ^ a b c d Parry, Wayne (2008-05-08). "6 Charged in Plot to Attack Army Post". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-05-08.Six Arrested In Alleged Terror Plot Against N.J. Soldiers
- ^ a b c d "Terror Suspects Arrested In N.J. After FBI Foils Fort Dix Attack". NBC 10. 2007-05-08. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d e "6 Charged In Alleged N.J. Terror Plot". WNBC. 2007-05-08. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
- ^ Degener, Richard (2007-05-08). "Six Islamic militants, one from Atlantic County, charged with plot to attack Fort Dix". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
- ^ "6 Arrested in Plot to Attack Fort Dix". The New York Times. 2007-05-08. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Arrests over US army base 'plot'". BBC. 2007-05-08. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "6 held on terror conspiracy charges in N.J." MSNBC. 2007-05-08. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
- ^ "Feds Arrest Six In Plot Against Army Base". CBS. 2007-05-08. Retrieved 2007-05-08.