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Abdi described as a family man, hard worker
I think that this can be seen as an illustration of just how adept these sleepers are at blending in with the local community. The Somali connection is also interesting, since both Fazul Abdullah Mohammed and his flunky Ghailani have both served as leaders within al-Ittihaad al-Islamiyyah.
Friends and family of a Columbus man who was charged Monday with plotting to blow up a local shopping mall said that they were shocked by the news of an alleged terrorist threat. Nuradin M. Abdi, a 32-year-old Somali national, was indicted and charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to provide material support to al-Qaida, and two counts of fraud and misuse of government documents. The FBI said that Abdi conspired with admitted al-Qaida member Iyman Faris, who also lived in Columbus, and was jailed previously for a plan to sabotage the Brooklyn Bridge. Authorities said the pair allegedly planned to detonate a bomb at an unidentified mall. "We are shocked," said Abdi Shakur, a friend of Abdiâs family. "We believe that Nuradin Abdi is innocent until found guilty." Abdiâs friends and family said that he is like any immigrant who escaped the clan-based war in Somalia, looking for a better life. They described Abdi as a family man and hard worker, who co-owned a north side cellular phone business. | I'll wager the FBI is having a good look at his customer list. |
They said the terrorist allegations against Abdi seem unreal and very unlike the Somali mindset. | Errr, is there another Somalia I don't know about? |
"As a Somali man, I donât see any reason that you know to cause you, as a Somali man, to be an American hater," said Mohamoud Guleid of the Columbus Somali Community Association. "Weâve been helped by the United States for 10 years or more than that." | Ever seen "Blackhawk Down"? |
Posted by: Dan Darling 2004-06-15 |
