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2005 Los Angeles bomb plot

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The 2005 Los Angeles bomb plot was a 2005 effort by a group of ex-convicts calling themselves Jamiyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh to bomb several military bases, a number of synagogues, and an Israeli consulate in California.[1][2]

On 31 August 2005, Kevin James and three other men were indicted on terrorism charges related to conspiracy to attack military facilities in the Los Angeles area and of attempting to fund their campaign by robbing gas stations in Southern California over the previous three months. Kevin James, a Muslim convert, was accused of founding a radical Islamic group called J.I.S (Jam’iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheehجمعية الإسلام الصحيح , Arabic for "Assembly of Authentic Islam") from his cell in Folsom Prison in California, and of recruiting fellow inmates to join his mission to kill infidels.[3]

The announcement of the arrests was made by the Attorney-General Alberto Gonzales in the presence of the director of the FBI Robert Mueller in Washington D.C.[4] Robert Mueller mentioned the incident in a "Major Executive Speech" in June 2006 on the day that the 2006 Sears Tower plot was announced.[5] The Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI outlined the case in his congressional testimony in September 2006.[6]

Background

See also: Islam and antisemitism and Terrorism in the United States

The attack is one in a series of Islam-related attacks and failed attacks by Muslims on military installations in the United States, including the 2009 New York terrorism plot, the 2007 Fort Dix attack plot, the 2009 Little Rock recruiting office shooting, and the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon.

Suspects

  • Kevin James, 29, Muslim convert, a U.S. national, founded J.I.S. (Jam’iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh) in 2004 while in prison, recruiting fellow inmates, and then others after his release in December 2004.
  • Levar Haley Washington, 25, Muslim convert, a U.S. national; arrested 5 July for armed robbery.
  • Gregory Vernon Patterson, 21, Muslim convert, a U.S. national; purchased a .223-caliber rifle and arrested 5 July for armed robbery.
  • Hammad Riaz Samana, 21, born Muslim, a lawful permanent U.S. resident originally from Pakistan; allegedly trained with firearms; arrested 2 August.[1]

Samana is the only Muslim by birth. Two of the others converted to Islam in prison, where they formed a terrorist organization, calling themselves Jam’iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh.[7] About a month later, Washington was released from prison and recruited Patterson and Samana, neither of whom had a criminal record, at an Inglewood mosque.

Conviction

On 14 December 2007, Kevin James pleaded guilty to "conspiracy to levy war against the United States through terrorism" and faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Levar Washington also pleaded guilty to the same in addition to a weapons charge and could get 25.

Gregory Patterson is expected to accept a plea deal, and Hammad Samana is currently undergoing psychiatric treatment.[8]

In an interview with the prosecutor, the reporter remarked that "the cell appears to have been remarkably indiscreet about committing plans to paper. They even left the text of a press release Mr. James had written for use once they committed a successful attack. And one of the ringleaders, James, was in prison the whole time."[8] Documents such as these formed the basis of the evidence, since the group hadn't gotten to the point of gathering materials to make explosives.

A 2011 NPR report claimed some of the people associated with this case were imprisoned in a highly restrictive Communication Management Unit.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Marquez, Jeremiah (2005-09-01). "Four indicted in alleged terrorist plot against LA-area targets". SFGate.com. Archived from the original on 2006-08-15.
  2. ^ "Four charged with hatching prison terror plot". NBC News. 2005-08-31. Archived from the original on 2018-10-29. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
  3. ^ "Four Men Indicted on Terrorism Charges Related to Conspiracy to Attack Military Facilities, Other Targets" (Press release). Department of Justice. 31 August 2006. Archived from the original on 10 June 2009. Retrieved 2006-10-17.
  4. ^ "Prepared Remarks of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales at the California Terrorism Indictment Press Conference" (Press release). Department of Justice. 31 August 2005. Archived from the original on October 4, 2006.
  5. ^ Robert S. Mueller, III (23 June 2006). "Remarks Prepared for Delivery by Director Robert S. Mueller, III". FBI Major Executive Speeches (Press release). FBI. Archived from the original on 10 June 2009. Retrieved 2006-10-17.
  6. ^ Donald Van Duyn (19 September 2006). "Statement of Donald Van Duyn Deputy Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division Federal Bureau of Investigation Before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Related Agencies" (Press release). FBI. Archived from the original on October 3, 2006.
  7. ^ New York Times, Imams Reject Talk That Islam Radicalizes Inmates Archived 2018-09-24 at the Wayback Machine, DANIEL J. WAKIN, May 23, 2009.
  8. ^ a b Murr, Andrew (15 December 2007). "Thwarting Terror". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  9. ^ DATA & GRAPHICS: Population Of The Communications Management Units Archived 2011-03-07 at the Wayback Machine, Margot Williams and Alyson Hurt, NPR, 3-3-11, retrieved 2011 03 04 from npr.org
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