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Not grinning now
Taking a page from the venerable Alger Hiss Playbook, who wondered to the end of his days how Whittaker Chambers got into his house and used his typewriter to type out copies of secret State Department documents, Mohamed's father, Abdel Latif Sherif, says: "This was created and put on his computer to blame him." But for those of us who may have been on the receiving end of Mohamed and Megahed's plans, whatever they were, for their explosives and ammunition, it is becoming increasingly clear that they were not the "naive kids" that CAIR's Ahmed Bedier insisted they were.
"'Jihadi' Images, Detonator Video Found," by Elaine Silvestrini for the Tampa Tribune (thanks to Cumulus Nine):
TAMPA - A laptop computer deputies found when they pulled over two University of South Florida students in South Carolina contained a video made by one of the men showing how to use a toy to detonate a bomb remotely, a federal prosecutor said Friday.On that video, the student, Ahmed Mohamed, said the detonator could 'save one who wants to be a martyr for another day, another battle,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hoffer said.
The prosecutor said that video was posted by Mohamed on YouTube, a popular Web site.
Also on the laptop were 'jihadi' images and footage of rockets used by Hamas, Hoffer said.
Although a judge granted bail for the other student, Youssef Megahed, prosecutors immediately appealed, delaying his release until at least next week. Mohamed waived his right to a bail hearing.
Hoffer disclosed the computer evidence Friday as he laid out the prosecution's case that Megahed should be denied bail because he is a danger to the community and a flight risk.
U.S. Magistrate Elizabeth Jenkins ruled Megahed could be released on $200,000 bail if he meets a number of strict conditions, including what amounts to house arrest. 'I do agree he poses a danger, no question about that, based on what was found in the car,' Jenkins said. She also said the government failed to demonstrate a specific danger to the community, as required by law.
Hoffer acknowledged under questioning from the judge that he had no specific evidence of Megahed's intentions. Hoffer said that under the current charge, Megahed likely faces less than three years in prison if convicted.
A defense attorney maintained his client was not dangerous and that he has strong ties to the community and no record of violence. The federal courtroom was packed with Megahed's family members and friends, and Jenkins said she had received numerous letters in Megahed's support.
Neither the defense nor the prosecution presented sworn testimony during the hearing.
Megahed's public defender, Adam Allen, said there was no evidence his client made or saw the video that prosecutors said Mohamed made.
Both defendants are Egyptian citizens. Megahed is a legal, permanent resident of the Unites States, and Mohamed is here on a student visa.
Hoffer said that when deputies in South Carolina pulled the pair over for speeding on Aug. 4, they saw Megahed, who was the passenger, trying to put away the laptop computer that belonged to Mohamed. When investigators analyzed the computer, they found that the last-viewed images showed Qassam rockets, which are used by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Also on the computer were videos of discussions of martyrdom and videos showing the firing of M-16 rifles, Hoffer said.
'Explosive Mixture'
In the trunk, deputies found four small sections of PVC pipe, at least three of which were stuffed with a 'potassium nitrate explosive mixture' of potassium nitrate, Karo syrup and kitty litter, Hoffer said. He said the kitty litter served as a binder to keep the substance from coming out of the pipes, which were not capped.
Investigators also found a container of gasoline, 20 feet of safety fuse and an electric drill, which Hoffer said could be used to drill holes in the pipe so fuses could be attached.
'Obviously, that raised the hackles of law enforcement in South Carolina,' Hoffer said. 'That's why we're here.'
Both men are charged with transporting explosives without a permit, relating to the stuffed PVC pipes deputies have described as pipe bombs. Hoffer conceded in court, however, that the devices, while explosive, were not pipe bombs and were not 'destructive devices' under the law.
Allen maintained that the filled PVC pipes couldn't do much damage because there were no caps and no metallic material that could serve as shrapnel.
Mohamed also is charged with demonstrating how to make explosives with the intent of helping terrorists. That charge evidently refers to the video, which Hoffer said Mohamed admitted making in his home in July using a camcorder. Hoffer said Mohamed posted the video on YouTube under another name. It shows Mohamed from the chest down standing in front of a tabletop and taking apart a radio-controlled toy car and pulling a wire from the remote control.
Speaking later from Cairo, Mohamed's father, Abdel Latif Sherif, said his son is being framed.
'This was created and put on his computer to blame him,' Sherif said. 'I can take a computer and put anything on it. They are making this up to make him look bad.'...
Under the passenger seat of the car in South Carolina, deputies found ammunition, said Hoffer, but no firearms.
Hoffer said investigators also searched a commercial storage facility. Inside they found a .22-caliber rifle that Megahed had purchased lawfully. Hoffer said Megahed recently tried to purchase a handgun.
Also in the storage facility were welding supplies and scuba diving equipment. Hoffer said Megahed has skill as a welder, so there could be a legitimate reason for those items.
The prosecutor said that when deputies questioned Megahed, he initially denied knowing about 'these rockets or fireworks in the trunk.' But when both defendants were put in the back seat of a patrol vehicle, their conversation in Arabic secretly was recorded, Hoffer said.
A translation summary of the recording shows Megahed asking about what happened to the explosives, Hoffer said, which the prosecutor said shows Megahed was aware of what was in the trunk. The car, Hoffer said, was registered to Megahed's brother.
Posted by Robert at September 15, 2007 1:29 PM
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Well mehahed has had hs bail set so he will be on the street side soon.
Posted by: KAOSKTRL![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 15, 2007 2:02 PM
People - I'm putting this link here so if anyone wants to read about the poor, victimized Muslims living in Baton Rouge, La., they can. A sickeningly PC article in the "Faith" section:
http://www.2theadvocate.com/features/faith/9792302.html
at September 15, 2007 2:03 PM
"The prosecutor said that when deputies questioned Megahed, he initially denied knowing about 'these rockets or fireworks in the trunk.' But when both defendants were put in the back seat of a patrol vehicle, their conversation in Arabic secretly was recorded, Hoffer said"....from headline.
They lied? Big surprise there!
Perhaps Arabic is the foreign language American schools need to teach and American citizens need to learn.
Posted by: champ at September 15, 2007 2:05 PM
This is interesting. Read all the links in the article.
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2007/09/another-benign-dry-run-in-friendly.html
at September 15, 2007 2:15 PM
kids" that CAIR's Ahmed Bedier insisted they were.
This maggot Bedier recently got his youtube account nuked. He had lots of video there and was on a nuking spree of his own. He and his Mohammedan buddies would complain to you tube and get lots of anti-Jihad video removed.
Bedier is a smart Alec. I'd love to see him deported. He doesn't fit in here. Saudi or some other atavistic nation would suit him better
Posted by: dennisw at September 15, 2007 2:16 PM
"...scuba diving equipment.?..."
...underwater jihad....lets see...seaboard coastline....numberous ports....naval facilities...recreational facilities....bridges....tunnels...yep....lots of possibilities....
Posted by: exsgtbrown at September 15, 2007 2:17 PM
More pointless smiles from those 2 face bastards.
They will smile in your face, than stab you in the back.
Muslims please go home to the middle east yesterday.
Since you brag so much of hating us WHY do you come here?
Nobody dragged you here so get out.
Posted by: Hungarian Crusader at September 15, 2007 2:30 PM
Potassium Nitrate and Karo syrup; that's the makings of a bomb! I just finished a DHS course in bombs, and one we talked about was Vaseline and a nitrate. It's almost the same as (black) gunpowder. No end caps on their pipe bombs? Not really needed! The end caps just serve to keep the explosive in place, but compression's not needed to make the pipe bomb go "bang". There is NO purpose in mixing a nitrate and Karo syrup other than to make a bomb!
Posted by: kenprice at September 15, 2007 2:32 PM
'This was created and put on his computer to blame him,' Sherif said. 'I can take a computer and put anything on it. They are making this up to make him look bad.'...
I have an observation about Muslims. The religion of Islam places so many unreallistic demands on its practitioners that they learn from an early age to deceive, lie, cheat and be hypocrites.
The statement above reinforces this. Look at the father how he places all blame outside himself and his son.
Just an observation. I am busy studying Arabic so I can see how the language also reinforces not taking responsibilty for your actions. I believe we all should be studying Arabic. Take it upon yourself to do so. They hide behind our inability to ready, write and speak their bedoiun scrawl. This is part of the taqiyyaa or deception used.
Posted by: detocquevilledisciple at September 15, 2007 2:49 PM
See anything worrysome in these sentences?:
"Hoffer said that under the current charge, Megahed likely faces less than three years in prison if convicted."
"U.S. Magistrate Elizabeth Jenkins ruled Megahed could be released on $200,000 bail if he meets a number of strict conditions..."
"A defense attorney maintained his client was not dangerous and that he has strong ties to the community and no record of violence."
This is what happens when we don't let the military deal with enemy combatants. We are in a war, and our military needs to be dealing with this scum-not our court rooms.
In less than 3 years, this idiot will be back out on the streets doing more jihad.
----
And how can these two sentences be in the same paragraph?
"'I do agree he poses a danger, no question about that, based on what was found in the car,' Jenkins said. She also said the government failed to demonstrate a specific danger to the community, as required by law."
Is this not a "specific danger"?:
"In the trunk, deputies found four small sections of PVC pipe, at least three of which were stuffed with a 'potassium nitrate explosive mixture' of potassium nitrate, Karo syrup and kitty litter, Hoffer said. He said the kitty litter served as a binder to keep the substance from coming out of the pipes, which were not capped."
at September 15, 2007 2:53 PM
Megadeths megadad said "if they were white boys they wouldn't have been arrested.."
He's been hanging out with "the reverend" jesse jerkson too long.. Jerkson is as capable in taquiya as the next moslem..
Jerxon is NO Christian imho.
Posted by: Allahfanculo at September 15, 2007 3:19 PM
One of the 'conversations' recorded in the back of the squad car was Yousef asking Ahmed, "What did you tell them about the gas canister?"
As I have perused sites posting on this incident over the last few weeks, I've noticed many people who were adamant that this was an over-reaction to some wayward kids by law enforcement. Today, like roaches running from the light, those supporters seem to be disappearing. Even Bedier seems to be distancing himself.
Although I realize the amount of explosives found in the trunk wasn't huge, I found it interesting that they had the same lenth of fuse Ramsey Yousef used in the 93 WTC bombing. Probably another one of those pesky coincidences.
These guys are as dirty as the day is long. Why in the name of blue blazes any judge would allow bail in any amount is beyond my comprehension. They are clearly a danger. They were clearly up to no good. When you factor in that one of their friends already fled to Canada two days after their arrest, the decision to grant bail becomes even more delusional.
I applaud you for keeping up with this story. The MSM sure avoids it like the plague as they are doing with our little AK47 doctor jihadi from Dearborn. If you want to hear a worrisome comment, listen to what the police are saying in that one!!! "He may be a disturbed individual. There is evidence he's been having 'problems' at school and at home". DISTURBED???.....PROBLEMS??? I can't believe it!!!! We are living in a world of ZOMBIES!!!!
Keep up the coverage, we need someone to.
Posted by: billyoblog at September 15, 2007 3:49 PM
The face of immigration in America today. Brought to us courtesy of our congressional representatives past and present. I thought these jihadists were angry at our gubment policies? If that were true why are they targeting us civilians? The pols made the policy and they sit there with legions of bodyguards selling us out a little more each day. I do not believe they hate our policies and I think they prove my point when they primarily target average citizens. They hate us, they like our pols, they are their allies. Extreme, exaggerated, over hyped, trumped up? No, I don’t think so.
Posted by: tgusa at September 15, 2007 4:02 PM
We were very lucky that these guys were caught. I'm intrigued by the underwater angle as North Charleston has a large naval station.
Probably these guys are too amatuerish to do any big damage, but there seems to be a pattern, and I'm thinking of the med student recently nabbed with the AK47 in Dearborn, of young Muslims who admire Islamic militant groups and then fancy themselves as freelance jihadis. And then there was the young Paki guy who shot people in the Jewish center out west.
Ban Muslim immigration now!
at September 15, 2007 4:14 PM
These pols are playing a game of Russian roulette. It is only a matter of time before their policies backfire on them and one of these friends sells them out. A majority of pols may be completely unaware of whom their colleagues are in bed with but it won’t matter. The jihadists love terror attacks but that alone is not enough. They need images, video, frenzied media coverage as well. Does anyone think that the jihadists would not like to be on c-span live having a beheadathon? They are fools. Don’t get angry with me when I fail to show any sympathy for them when it happens. Moratorium on immigration until the current problem is dealt with completely.
Posted by: tgusa at September 15, 2007 4:36 PM
"he has strong ties to the community..."
-- from the argument presented by one of the defense attorneys for Megahed -- or was it Mohamed?
What "strong ties" to which "community"? To the community here and everywhere of the umma al-islamiyya, the Community of Believers who are taught never to take "Christians or Jews" as friends, but are taught to slay the Unbelievers when certain months have passed, who are taught to regard the Jihad or struggle to spread Islam, to remove all obstacles to the spread of Islam, as a solemn and central duty, who are taught that no loyalty exists for Muslims outside the loyalty to fellow Believers and to Islam -- that "community"?
Of course he has ties, ties that make him more loyal to Muslims anywhere in the world than to any of his non-Muslim Americans with whom he for now may share citizenship (a "citizenship" devoid of meaning) or, if he did not manage to get that all-important citzienship, with whom he now shares a geographical area, for he and millions of other Muslims have been allowed by those who haven't bothered to study or make sense of Islam to settle deep within the Bilad al-kufr, behind what Muslims themselves have been taught to regard as enemy lines.
That's what his "strong ties to the community" amount to. And that is exactly why the Believer who has "strong ties" to the community of other Believers, to the physically present or virtual (via the Internet, satellite television, videocassettes) umma al-islamiyya, is much more worrisome than one who did not have such "strong ties."
Posted by: Hugh at September 15, 2007 6:20 PM
...and some moronic judge & state attorney tried to dismiss this as mere fireworks...LMAO
Another mike nifong moment...
How many of us have ever needed detonators for our "fireworks"? Talk about "well, DUH!"
LOL
at September 15, 2007 7:07 PM
Suicide bombers like these two thugs leave very little behind to drag into a CourtRoom for a Trail AFTER the crime is done , and Bedier knows this because the CAIR lawyers coach Muslims on how to lie by not telling the whole truth .
At least the Nazis wore a Uniform to show what they stood for and to show us which Germans to kill, but these Muslim cowards hide among civilians while plotting to slaughter children or mothers while having a Team of Lawyers at CAIR that will run to their aid if the mission fails.
CAIR also loves to "Allege" Torture by Police and Prison guards and use Racial-Profiling to explain the basis for any arrested Muslim with bombs in the car trunk , Lawsuits by CAIR are the new Financial-Jihad to bankrupt people and set an example for other to what happens when you see suspicious behaviour and report it when the person reported is a Muslim.
Oddly though , CAIR is now saying that if I saw a van scouting a Mosque parking lot and thought I saw TNT sticks in the rear when a door was opened , I must realize i don't have to allow the Police or FBI into my home without a warrant and they can't force me to report the van and i have the right to a Lawyer before i say anything.
GOOD.......thank you very much Mr.Hooper because I see how those bombers in the Van could find out who I am and Sue me for reporting them to Police merely from my Racism and not facts.
They could have been Real Estate Agents spying to assess the property value for their buyer , and those red sticks could have been Highway Flares if they got a flat tire , and the blacked-out rear windows were from the sensitivity by one Agent for Sunlight since he's a Red-head or Albino .
And when the Mosque is blown up on a Friday with a full house for prayers that are slaughtered by a truck bomb , Hooper can educate me while were on CNN to be interviewed about my Islamophobia for NOT reporting the van and TNT.
at September 15, 2007 7:09 PM
If it looks like a piece of &hit, and smells like a piece of &hit, and acts like a piece of &hit--IT'S A PIECE OF &HIT!!!!!
CAIR: Mohammed Atta probably had a bad case of the runs and wished to land immediately so he could violate a public restroom. So he took over the controls and was on his way to JFK when he unfortunately made a bad turn and oops...kaboom. Ironically enough there was another good Muslim on ANOTHER plane at exactly the same time who was similarly stricken. We lost some good Muslims that day. Praise be to Allah.
Posted by: JohnAdams at September 15, 2007 7:35 PM
Just a couple of college kids with fireworks in the trunk of their car.
Only an Islamophobe would find it suspicious..........
at September 15, 2007 7:50 PM
My guess is Mega-head (big head) will run. This ads a federal fugitive beef. At the moment, our courts haven't gotten the message about these animals and the threat they represent. He would be tough to prosecute and get good weapons charge on.
Ultimately the Jihadists are supremacists. As these guys are let loose they think that they have a walk in the park. Wrong. They become the ultimate Fed Marshall targets. They have no defense if they run. They will automatically go to prison. BTW, they won't have any Koran’s either. Anyone that assists them becomes an accessories to federal fugitive prosecutions.
at September 15, 2007 8:24 PM
Deport these bastards.
That CAIR spoke up for them should be enough to indite them.
Posted by: dgene at September 15, 2007 10:08 PM
kenprice -
Vaseline? That's mentioned here, too. Dry Run?
http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/090907Flt1824
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2007/09/another-benign-dry-run-in-friendly.html
Posted by: Borg at September 15, 2007 10:30 PM
I haven't read all the posts so I might be repeating things....apologies if so.
Neither of these creatures should be allowed out on bail.It surprises me that the U.S. has not made more restrictions for people who are pretty obviously a danger to everyone.
Also Daddy reckons somebody put the nasty stuff on the computer to cause problems for his little boy.......Aaaaaaaaaah poor things!!
I am amused by the ridiculous things, that people caught red-handed, will say.Sounds like a small child who gets caught but tries desperately to wriggle out of it. Most people have grown out of this by young adulthood.....obviously Daddy has a bit of growing up to do.
at September 16, 2007 12:31 AM
Potassium Nitrate and Karo syrup; that's the makings of a bomb! I just finished a DHS course in bombs, and one we talked about was Vaseline and a nitrate. It's almost the same as (black) gunpowder. No end caps on their pipe bombs? Not really needed! The end caps just serve to keep the explosive in place, but compression's not needed to make the pipe bomb go "bang". There is NO purpose in mixing a nitrate and Karo syrup other than to make a bomb!
Posted by: kenprice at September 15, 2007 2:32 PM
Did you hear about the Saudis that were trying to board a flight from Orlando to Atlanta last week? Their luggage tested postive for traces of semtex four times on four different pieces of equipment. and when TSA opened it, they found all sorts of crap---vaseline jars taped together, wires, butter, tools, a laptop, clocks, hydrogen peroxide, etc. If this wasn't a dry run, I don't know what it was unless they planned to put everything together after they boarded and detonate their bomb in Atlanta. Not one word about it in the MSN as far as I know. There were twelve of them travelling together and they were supposed to leave Atlanta for Saudi Arabia later that day. They probably did. Saudis seem to be exempt from our laws and culpable for nothing they do here.
Posted by: Susanp at September 16, 2007 12:56 AM
10 to 1 one of them had nail polish remover, too.
(npr's active ingredient, acetone, +H2O2= TATP)
at September 16, 2007 1:41 AM
Susanp - Yes, read my links above for details.
Here's part.
[-]
During a routine test of the baggage, Transportation Security Administration authorities ran the luggage through x-ray detection and then conducted an explosive trace detection of the bags belonging to the 9 Middle Eastern passengers. The x-ray of the bags found questionable items inside the luggage, and the explosive trace detection tests resulted in a “positive hit” for explosives – specifically, SEMTEX, an explosive commonly used by Islamic terrorists. To be certain, however, the luggage was test no less than 4 times by four different machines and operators. Each time, a “positive hit” for explosives was registered. “The presence of explosive traces was ‘no mistake,’” stated one federal source talking to this agency on condition of anonymity.
Due to the multiple independent “hits” for traces of SEMTEX, TSA authorities emptied the luggage in a secured area, and were astonished by what they found. Authorities found 3 jars of Vaseline duct taped together to make one large cylinder. An inspection of this Vaseline-filled cylinder determined that someone had previously removed the Vaseline and replaced it back into the containers, something that was proven by air pockets left within the containers. Based on a thorough inspection of all the luggage belonging to these Middle Eastern passengers, authorities also found multiple strands of electrical wire with the ends stripped of the insulation, thus exposing the copper wire, small eyeglass screw drivers, clocks, cocoa butter, 2 tubs of butter, batteries of various sizes and types, a computer laptop, and multiple bottles of hydrogen peroxide – 144 ounces in all.
Even more disconcerting, TSA and security officials observed that two of the Middle Eastern men intended for the flight had smeared Vaseline on their arms and neck areas – a common tactic among hand-to-hand fighters who want the advantage in the event someone tries to grab them or put them in a headlock. Covered by the greasy agent, they are better able to extricate themselves during close-quarters, hand-to-hand fighting.
A closer inspection of the identification possessed by the Middle Eastern passengers determined that three-(3) of the men possessed false or fraudulent credentials. In fact, one of the Middle Eastern men possessed 2 passports with his picture on both, but the passport information was different on each one.
After flight 1824 had returned to the gate, all passengers were made to leave the plane and take their luggage with them. They were all re-screened and after three hours of extensive security inspection of the luggage and aircraft, were allowed to re-board the airplane and continue their journey to Atlanta. According to official sources speaking on condition of anonymity to the Northeast Intelligence Network, the Middle Eastern passengers were taken from the checkpoint to the Orlando Police Station at the airport by police and FBI officials. Ultimately, they were released by federal officials well after flight 1824 had left the airport.
[-]
Posted by: Borg at September 16, 2007 8:13 AM
Salt peter (potassium nitrate) and Karo syrup could make a nice pop—hardly dangerous unless you are in very close proximity to it. It should both make noise and produce a huge volume of dense smoke if Karo burns similarly to sugar/caramel. I think the bombs were either demonstration pieces or to be used for distraction. I am basing my conclusions on a solid rocket fuel I used to make of similar ingredients.
Fortunately we caught them before they did much harm. Unfortunately, unless something else can be dug up, they will probably just get a slap on the wrist.
"he has strong ties to the community..."
So we ought to be watching this community as well.
Posted by: St. David, King of Georgia at September 16, 2007 9:57 AM
I CANNOT for the life of me understand how all of those people do not have their passports confiscated and them run out of the country for good. We are at war, the world spends hundreds of billions of dollars a year just to stop this kind of thing, and then when we do, they get a gentle slap on the wrist and walk. These people were trying to take down an airplane!!! Our terrorism and screening laws need to be much more stringent. Whether it was a dry run or a hot plot, I don't care. Get them out!!! We screw around with tiny points of law at the risk of hundreds of innocent lives. What do these 9 people deserve in terms of justice? A kick in the ass out the door. And don't come back or you go to prison for a LONG time. And that is being KIND.
Posted by: JohnAdams at September 16, 2007 10:48 AM
Regarding the Flight 1824 story in the above comments: This is a big deal to me. People need to know about this stuff. It isn't being widely reported. Why?
And how many other such events have been happening at airports and other locations around the country without being widely reported?
A few months ago I would have said that another terrorist attack on the US is still a long way away unless they get really lucky. I've changed my mind. I think it's going to happen soon.
On the video put out by MEMRI.org called "Bridging the Language Gap," I watched several Islamic scholars and media personalities express surprise and disbelief that Osama Bin Ladin "a simple man who walks in the mountains with a stick" could pull off such a brazen and successful attack against the Americans.
Now that they see how easy and how possible it is, I think it will not be long until is is a regular occurrence. I hope I am wrong.
The authorities are covering up the dry-runs and the jihadis-in-the-park now. Will they do their best to cover up the next attacks? Gawd, I'm starting to sound like a lib...
Posted by: cumulusnine at September 16, 2007 11:15 AM
Lying sack of excrement. Spies and would-be saboteurs in time of war... We all know how they should be treated.
Posted by: MP at September 17, 2007 9:04 PM
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