Apparently the Qazi brothers’ jihad has not ended with their arrest and imprisonment; they still find suitable objects for the divine wrath in federal marshals. This recalls the similar ferocity of some other imprisoned jihadis, including some of those imprisoned at Guantanamo and Naser Abdo, the would-be second Fort Hood jihad mass murderer.
“Accused terrorist brothers face new charge,” by Robert Nolin, Sun Sentinel, May 9, 2014:
Two Oakland Park brothers, already accused of plotting to blow up famous New York landmarks, now face additional, less dramatic, charges: attacking federal marshals, a prosecutor said Friday at a hearing in Miami federal court.
The latest twist cost one of the brothers his attorney, and will indefinitely delay the trial of Sheheryar Alam Qazi and Raees Alam Qazi, which was originally set for November. It also stirred the judge to demand increased security in court.
The assault accusation resulted in the brothers, bearded and garbed in tan jumpsuits, remaining shackled at the waist while at the defense table. Heightened security was also in effect, with a dozen armed marshals standing guard in the courtroom.
“We are bringing additional charges … as a result of the incident on April 8,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Gilbert told U.S District Judge Robert Scola.
On that date, according to court documents, the brothers “allegedly assaulted two deputy United States marshals” at a secure facility in Miami-Dade County. Officials would release no further details on the accusation because a federal grand jury is investigating the matter.
Present during the episode was Ronald Chapman, the West Palm Beach attorney for Sheheryar Qazi. Because he witnessed the alleged assault, Chapman has been subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury. He may also testify against his client at trial.
Forced into such an unusual position, Chapman withdrew from the case Friday.
“I now think that there is a conflict, and Mr. Qazi thinks there is a conflict,” Chapman told the judge. “I don’t think I can represent him.”
Scola immediately appointed William Barzee, a Miami defense attorney, as Sheheryar Qazi’s new lawyer.
Given the voluminous amount of evidence in the case, much of it secret and the result of government wiretaps, Barzee will need time to catch up. He also needs to undergo a government check for clearance to review classified material. That could take two weeks or two months, he said.
So Scola postponed until a later date the Qazis’ scheduled Nov. 3 trial. “I would like Mr. Barzee to start getting familiar with the case” he said.
Scola also called before him Amos Rojas, U.S. marshal for the Southern District of Florida, to promise he would provide adequate courtroom security, even if it means using secretly placed marshals.
“I would like some assurances from you that you will take serious measures, that everyone in the court is safe,” the judge said.
“Yes sir,” replied Rojas.
The original charges against the Qazi brothers, however, depict them as more bumbling than dangerous.
In 2011, the charges state, Raees Qazi, not yet 20, attempted to build a bomb out of Christmas lights, batteries, peroxide and a remote-controlled toy car. He was unsuccessful.
He also traveled to New York City to scout out possible bombing targets, including Times Square, Wall Street and various theaters. He used a bike on the recon mission, but ran out of money and had to return to South Florida by bus.
Sheheryar Qazi, 30, is charged with providing logistical and financial support for the plot, such as paying his younger brother’s bus fare home.
The men were caught through secret government recordings, prosecutors have said.
The pair were indicted in December 2012 on charges of conspiring to detonate a weapon of mass destruction and providing material support to terrorists. They have been jailed without bond since….