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| Denver bus driver indicted for plotting to use WMD |
| 2009-09-24 |
| (CBS) Najibullah Zazi, the Denver man believed to be the central figure in a terror plot against the New York City transit system, has officially been indicted on charges of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in the United States, CBS 2 has learned. WMD are actually chem, bio, or nuclear weapons by definition and by treaty. Anything that's not chem, bio, or nuke is merely an "explosive," even if it produces a big kaboom. Zazi was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday in Denver on a count of lying to terrorism investigators. The new charge of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction was filed in New York City, and authorities plan to transfer him to the federal court in Brooklyn to face the new charges. Zazi has publicly denied making any terrorist plots. Counterterrorist agents fear he and others may have been planning to detonate homemade bombs on New York City commuter trains. Zazi's father and the Queens Imam Ahmad Afzali were also charged with lying to investigators in the case. Afzali was ordered freed on $1.5 million bail, and elder Zazi was set free under court supervision until an Oct. 9 hearing. The court documents do not identify any conspirators or targets and sheds no light on the scale of Zazi's intended plot, but the newly revealed evidence coupled with the discovery of backpacks and cell phones in the recent Queens raid add to the suspicion that Zazi and his partner were intending on developing portable bombs for use at muliple targets. According to the Department of Justice, a federal grand jury in Brooklyn returned a one-count indictment alleging that between Aug. 1, 2008 and Sept. 21, 2009, Zazi knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to use one or more weapons of mass destruction, specifically explosive bombs and other similar explosive devices, against persons or property within the United States. The indictment also alleges that Zazi and others traveled in interstate and foreign commerce, used email and the Internet, and that this offense and the results of the offense would have affected interstate and foreign commerce. If convicted, Zazi faces up to life in prison. "The indictment alleges that Najibullah Zazi conspired with others to use explosive devices against persons or property in the United States," said Attorney General Eric Holder. "We are investigating a wide range of leads related to this alleged conspiracy, and we will continue to work around the clock to ensure that anyone involved is brought to justice," said Attorney General Eric Holder. "We believe any imminent threat arising from this case has been disrupted, but as always, we remind the American public to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement," he added. According to a detention motion filed, "Zazi received detailed bomb-making instructions in Pakistan, purchased components of improvised explosive devices, and traveled to New York City on September 10, 2009 in furtherance of his criminal plans." Authorities have said they found bomb-making instructions on a hard drive on Zazi's laptop computer, but still were unsure of the specific target or scope of a possible terrorist attack. On Wednesday, the NYPD was showing a new training video in precincts citywide detailing the intelligence from the agencies. Bomb Squad Commander Lt. Marc Torre narrates the video, giving regular cops some tips on how to spot evidence of homemade bombs. "Of particular concern to us is a family of explosives called peroxide-based explosives," he says in the video. It's part of the now-nationwide alert as police try to locate whoever might have been working with terror suspect Zazi. Police are being told to watch for any large quantities of hydrogen peroxide, drain cleaner, acetone, or nail polish remover – various types of acids – and large quantities of ammonia nitrate or urea fertilizer. That's coupled with visits to public storage areas to enlist the assistance of employees there, and stepped-up security on mass transit, hotels, stadiums, and entertainment complexes. The first arrests came after the raids of several apartments in the Queens neighborhood, where Zazi had driven from Denver to visit earlier this month, and were followed by a flurry of nationwide warnings of possible strikes on transit, sports and entertainment complexes. On Wednesday, hundreds of federal agents and NYPD investigators again fanned out in the neighborhood where apartments were searched -- and backpacks and cell phones removed -- over a week ago, to re-interview "people previously encountered" during previous raids there, and to locate others who know them, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the probe. The effort also includes a review of phone and other records that could link potential suspects to one another or identify new ones. "Many of the people we've spoken to have been cooperative," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the investigation is ongoing. The official said business owners also are on the list of possible witnesses in a potential homemade-bomb plot. The official declined to identify those businesses, but authorities regularly monitor sales by suppliers of chemicals that could be used in improvised explosives. |
| Posted by:Frozen Al |
| #8 You should see the Phoenix airport. It's mostly staffed with what look like somali refugees. I think they only hire people who appear to be muslims |
| Posted by: Snuting Scourge of the Platypi5315 2009-09-24 22:14 |
| #7 I live in Denver. Local news channels and papers report that Zazi worked for a van shuttle service that transports passengers to/from Denver International Airport. There is no Denver Transit Agency. Our local bus & light rail are called RTD or Regional Transportation District. |
| Posted by: Hupomoting the Prolific7452 2009-09-24 17:46 |
| #6 I want to see his birth certificate. It could be that Zazi is really the U.S. President! For sure, Obama is really an alien bus driver! |
| Posted by: whatadeal 2009-09-24 17:28 |
| #5 And just WHY is an Alien working for the city of Denver, Transit Authority? Because of what DTA pays? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-09-24 15:45 |
| #4 Previous articles have talked about at least twelve others, in cells of three or four, plus others abroad. The problem, apparently, is that the Feds have emails and phone taps, but don't necessarily know who was at the other end of the communication. So given, f'r instance, an IP address, was it Susie or Sammie or Daddy or Mummy who uses Iwannablowuptheworld@fuse.net? Or Cousin George or Aunt Tammy, who happened to drop by for coffee that day? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-09-24 14:40 |
| #3 Right now its a conspiricy of one. I guess Zazi knows he isn't going to get any enhanced interrogation. |
| Posted by: lord garth 2009-09-24 13:23 |
| #2 "...Zazi knowingly and intentionally conspired with others..." Probably be nice to know who/where the 'others' are. I certainly hope they don't hurt him in their efforts to obtain that info. |
| Posted by: Woozle Uneter9007 2009-09-24 12:56 |
| #1 Najibullah Zazi, Yup a nice American name? And just WHY is an Alien working for the city of Denver, Transit Authority? |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-09-24 12:56 |