2 Egyptian Students Face US Explosives Charges
U.S. officials are bringing federal charges against two Egyptian engineering students who were detained near a naval facility in South Carolina, carrying what authorities describe as pipe bombs in their car.
The two men, students at a university in Florida, have been in jail since their arrest four weeks ago. They told police the objects in their car were fireworks.
An indictment by a federal grand jury in Tampa, Florida, charges Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed and Youssef Samir Megahed with illegally transporting explosives. In addition, Mohamed is charged with distributing information about building and using an explosive device for criminal purposes.
Authorities in South Carolina stopped Mohamed and Megahed for speeding on August 4, about 10 kilometers from a Navy base that also houses a military prison for suspected terrorists.
Mohamed, a graduate student of civil engineering and a teaching assistant at the University of South Florida, faces the more serious of the two charges in the indictment, "distributing information about building and using an explosive device." Although no further details have been released, U.S. officials say he "taught and demonstrated the making and use of an explosive and destructive device," which was to be used in a crime of violence. The charge is considered an act of terrorism, and carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
In Washington, U.S. Justice Department officials said Friday, "The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless [they are] proven guilty."
The two men, students at a university in Florida, have been in jail since their arrest four weeks ago. They told police the objects in their car were fireworks.
An indictment by a federal grand jury in Tampa, Florida, charges Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed and Youssef Samir Megahed with illegally transporting explosives. In addition, Mohamed is charged with distributing information about building and using an explosive device for criminal purposes.
Authorities in South Carolina stopped Mohamed and Megahed for speeding on August 4, about 10 kilometers from a Navy base that also houses a military prison for suspected terrorists.
Mohamed, a graduate student of civil engineering and a teaching assistant at the University of South Florida, faces the more serious of the two charges in the indictment, "distributing information about building and using an explosive device." Although no further details have been released, U.S. officials say he "taught and demonstrated the making and use of an explosive and destructive device," which was to be used in a crime of violence. The charge is considered an act of terrorism, and carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
In Washington, U.S. Justice Department officials said Friday, "The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless [they are] proven guilty."
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saw these guys on the news. they look like terrorists to me. i still dont understand why america is letting young arab males from foreign countries into our country. do we even need them ? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by BarkingDog
saw these guys on the news. they look like terrorists to me. i still dont understand why america is letting young arab males from foreign countries into our country. do we even need them ?
Well here ya go, It's a sticky issue.
Fear of Iraqi man speaking Arabic delays plane
AN American Airlines flight from San Diego to Chicago was delayed when passengers complained about a group of Iraqi men speaking Arabic, US media reported today.
The flight was supposed to leave about 11pm on Tuesday when a woman boarding the plane complained about the other passengers, airline spokeswoman Mary Francis Fagan said.
The dispute delayed the plane which was then forced to cancel when it fell under the curfew at SanDiego airport, Ms Fagan said, acccording to the Daily Herald online.
According to media reports, the woman complained because the men were speaking Arabic.
Irene McCormack, a spokeswoman for the San Diego Unified Port District said the woman expressed concerns to the flight crew before boarding that six men were speaking a foreign language and exhibiting "strange behaviour".
The passenger continued telling the crew her concerns, within earshot of the men, after the jet taxied from the gate, Ms McCormack said yesterday.
She said the pilot decided to return to the gate and police were called.
An Associated Press report said the six Iraqi men had been training Marines at Camp Pendleton and worked for Defense Training Systems, a unit of International Logistics Services.
The six Iraqis had been training US Marines at Camp Pendleton and worked for Defence Training Systems, a unit of the Alaska-based International Logistics Services Corp, said the company's chief executive R David Stephens.
"They did nothing wrong," he said.
A company news release called it "an unfortunate situation for all flight passengers."
"We were hired for this Government. We can prove ourselves. We are good people, not a bad people," said one of the men involved, Dave Alwatan, who is a US citizen.
"How can we be bad if we are helping our people here - American people? Why are we getting treated like that?" he was quoted as saying by ABC7 Chicago.
All 126 passengers had to be acccommodated overnight and put on other flights on Wednesday.
Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Chicago, was upset about the airline's actions.
"It is one thing to flag suspicious behavior, but to flag a global language? We are deplaning people for who they are, not what they do," Mr Rehab said.0 -
Quote: " i still dont understand why america is letting young arab males from foreign countries into our country. do we even need them ? "
You, me and about 280 million other Americans wonder thee same thing.
To hell with "Foreign Relations", lets worry about this countries safety.0 -
Hmmmmmm, wonder what they were up to? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by watrulookinat
Hmmmmmm, wonder what they were up to?
DOn't know whast they are up to??? You must be working for the FBI.[:D]0 -
[:0][:D] 0 -
The evidence is clear - these folks were Egyptian, so let's invade Iran. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by FrancF
quote:Originally posted by BarkingDog
saw these guys on the news. they look like terrorists to me. i still dont understand why america is letting young arab males from foreign countries into our country. do we even need them ?
Well here ya go, It's a sticky issue.
Fear of Iraqi man speaking Arabic delays plane
AN American Airlines flight from San Diego to Chicago was delayed when passengers complained about a group of Iraqi men speaking Arabic, US media reported today.
The flight was supposed to leave about 11pm on Tuesday when a woman boarding the plane complained about the other passengers, airline spokeswoman Mary Francis Fagan said.
The dispute delayed the plane which was then forced to cancel when it fell under the curfew at SanDiego airport, Ms Fagan said, acccording to the Daily Herald online.
According to media reports, the woman complained because the men were speaking Arabic.
Irene McCormack, a spokeswoman for the San Diego Unified Port District said the woman expressed concerns to the flight crew before boarding that six men were speaking a foreign language and exhibiting "strange behaviour".
The passenger continued telling the crew her concerns, within earshot of the men, after the jet taxied from the gate, Ms McCormack said yesterday.
She said the pilot decided to return to the gate and police were called.
An Associated Press report said the six Iraqi men had been training Marines at Camp Pendleton and worked for Defense Training Systems, a unit of International Logistics Services.
The six Iraqis had been training US Marines at Camp Pendleton and worked for Defence Training Systems, a unit of the Alaska-based International Logistics Services Corp, said the company's chief executive R David Stephens.
"They did nothing wrong," he said.
A company news release called it "an unfortunate situation for all flight passengers."
"We were hired for this Government. We can prove ourselves. We are good people, not a bad people," said one of the men involved, Dave Alwatan, who is a US citizen.
"How can we be bad if we are helping our people here - American people? Why are we getting treated like that?" he was quoted as saying by ABC7 Chicago.
All 126 passengers had to be acccommodated overnight and put on other flights on Wednesday.
Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Chicago, was upset about the airline's actions.
"It is one thing to flag suspicious behavior, but to flag a global language? We are deplaning people for who they are, not what they do," Mr Rehab said.
Same situation as a bunch of Islamic "priests" (whatever they call them) did on a flight a year or so ago. Started praying loudly in Arabic and made other passengers nervous. They were thrown off the plane. Have now filed lawsuits (w/help of ACLU I believe) that their Civil Rights were violated.
It appears to be part of a plan to pave the way to make passengers & crew being afraid of possible lawsuits than suspicious actions. So that they will NOT act when the REAL thing comes. Of course we will fall for it.0 -
The two men arrested are here in America on student visas at a public college. That means two things. # 1 - They are taking the place of an American student compliments of the American tax payer. # 2 - We are letting into our country the EXACT profile of the people who are trying to kill us. Young arab muslim men.
Does America really need MORE people ? Do we really have to the the RISK with letting in arab muslim men ?0 -
What were these idiots thinking. This country was subjected to an attack from Arabic extremists. Now they are surprised when Arabic men speaking Arabic make US citizens nervous?
And they think the US citizen did wrong? Gee, I think they are nuts.0 -
Wait, they're middle eastern?
Boy isn't that a suprise?0 -
quote:Originally posted by Alpine
What were these idiots thinking. This country was subjected to an attack from Arabic extremists. Now they are surprised when Arabic men speaking Arabic make US citizens nervous?
And they think the US citizen did wrong? Gee, I think they are nuts.
X-RING. That's exactly what they think. And the Liberals are on THEIR SIDE!0 -
quote:According to media reports, the woman complained because the men were speaking Arabic.
Irene McCormack, a spokeswoman for the San Diego Unified Port District said the woman expressed concerns to the flight crew before boarding that six men were speaking a foreign language and exhibiting "strange behaviour".
so why dont we get some complaints/action about groups of foreign men speaking MEXICAN???0 -
quote:Originally posted by BarkingDog
The two men arrested are here in America on student visas at a public college. That means two things. # 1 - They are taking the place of an American student compliments of the American tax payer. # 2 - We are letting into our country the EXACT profile of the people who are trying to kill us. Young arab muslim men.
Does America really need MORE people ? Do we really have to the the RISK with letting in arab muslim men ?
+1
BTW, this story appeared as a 2 paragraph blurb on page 14 of the "New York Post"...after all the celebrity crap..WTH??
You think NYC would be concerned about stuff like this....??0
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