A Short List of Terror Plots Disrupted by Muslim Community Assistance

Muslim Public Affairs Council Data on Post-9/11 Terrorism in the United States
Last Updated: January 2012

For the full report, see http://www.mpac.org/assets/docs/publications/MPAC-Post-911-Terrorism-Data.pdf.

See footnotes for links to source information.

•  October 2001: The conviction of “Portland 7” case was substantially helped after a local police officer encountered the suspects engaged in target practice. The police officer was sent to the area after a local citizen notified police he heard gunfire.40

•  September 2002: Members of the “Lackawanna 6” are arrested. FBI first becomes aware of their activities in June 2001 when a local Muslim community member tips off the FBI.41

•  April 2003: A citizen notifies local police after he mistakenly receives a suspicious package sent by anti-government terrorist William Krar. The tip-off starts a Federal investigation eventually leads to Krar’s arrest and the discovery of small arms and
chemical weaponry.42

•  June 2003: FBI receives two tips from community members notifying them “military-style training” being conducted suspect by Ali Al-Tamimi. The tips start an investigation leading to the arrest of the “Paintball 11” in Northern Virginia.43

•  August 2004: James Elshafay and Shahwar Matin Siraj are arrested largely based on the controversial use of an informant in the investigation. However NYPD were first notified of Siraj after a Muslim community member anonymously notifies New York police about consistently troubling rhetoric coming from the suspect.44

•  February 2006: Muslim community members in Ohio provide information help into arrest and eventually convict 3 suspects planning attacks in Iraq.45

•  August 2006: British authorities arrest a group of British Muslim violent extremists suspected of plotting to blow up several airplanes over the Atlantic. Authorities first become aware of the plot based on a tip from a Muslim community member.46

•  November 2006: Neo-Nazi terrorist Demetrius “Van” Crocker is arrested after an investigation is set in motion by a tip-off from a concerned citizen.47

•  November 2006: Adnan Babar Mirza, a Pakistani national studying in Houston, TX and is arrested for illegal firearms training and possession. Adnan come to the attention of the FBI when local Houston community members tip them off about Adnan’s activities and alleged intentions.48

•  October 2008: Neo-Nazis Daniel Cowart and Paul Schesselman are arrested by local police, who received a tip from a concerned friend of the two suspects, before seeking to go on a shooting spree against African-Americans.49

•  July 2009: Mosque leaders in Raleigh, North Carolina contact law enforcement to notify them of “violent, threatening action… considered to be dangerous” leading to the arrest of Daniel Boyd and 6 other individuals.50

•  September 2009: Queens Imam Ahmad Afazali, a community liaison to the NYPD, helps local police and the FBI in the investigation and arrest of suspect Najibullah Zazi. Though Zazi is initially accused of tipping off Zazi to police surveillance, information in the court complaint 51 and corroborating reporting from mainstream media sources 52 found this notion to be false. (Afzali was, however, deported on charges of lying to FBI agents, but subsequent media reporting also strengthens Afzali’s claims that he was scapegoat for getting caught up in a turf battle between NYPD and FBI officials.)53

•  November 2009: Five Virginia Muslim youth are arrested in Pakistan, allegedly seeking to join a terrorist group, after family members told American federal authorities they went missing.54

•  March 2010: Michigan Militia member and Muslim convert Matt Savino refuses aid to a fugitive member of the Hutaree Militia and instead helps law enforcement authorities track him down.55

•  April 2010: Senegalese Muslim Alioune Niass first spots the suspicious vehicle used as a bomb to attack Times Square in New York City. Clues from the vehicle and defused explosive immediately led to the suspect, Faisal Shahzad’s, arrest.56

•  June 2010: Suspects Mohammed Mahmoud Alessa and Carlos Eduardo Almonte are arrested, after the FBI first receives an anonymous report in 2006 from one of the suspects’ family members. News reports indicate one of Alessa’s family members
provided the tip.57

•  October 2010: Former Hawaii resident Abdel Hamid Shehadeh is arrested for attempting to join the Taliban. Local media noted that the Muslim Association of Hawaii “assisted law enforcement agencies in the case” and that it has “in the past reported suspicious activities.”58

•  October 2010: Farooque Ahmed is arrested on charges of allegedly attempting to bomb the Washington, DC metro railway system. The FBI first learns of Ahmed’s intentions from a community tip-off.59

•  October 2010: An attempt by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to bomb Western targets using air cargo transportation is prevented by US and European authorities. Intelligence that prevented the plot came from ex-militant Jabr al-Faifi, who voluntarily handed himself into Saudi authorities.60

•  November 2010: Mohamed Osman Mohamud is arrested for attempting to bomb a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony in Portland, Oregon. The New York Times notes, “In the Oregon [Mohamud] case, the FBI received a tip from a Portland Muslim.”61

•  December 2010: Antonio Martinez is arrested for attempting to bomb a military recruiting center in Maryland. Statements from Justice Department officials indicate a Muslim community member reported Martinez to the FBI during its ongoing investigation.62

•  June 2011: Two Al-Qaeda inspired violent criminals planning to attack a military installation in Seattle are arrested by law enforcement. FBI officials first become aware of the planned attack after a fellow Muslim who was trying to be recruited into the conspiracy went to Seattle Police and informed them of the plot.63

•  January 2012: Violent Al-Qaeda sympathizer Sami Osmakac is arrested for planning to attack several sites in Tampa, Florida using guns and explosives. The U.S. Attorney for Central Florida noted, “This investigation was also predicated, in part, by assistance from the Muslim community.”64

FOOTNOTES:

40 McCormack, “State and Local Law Enforcement.”

41 “Complete 911 Timeline: ‘Lackwanna Six.’” History Commons, (N.D.). Available at:
http://www.historycommons.org/timeline.jsp?complete_911_timeline_al_qaeda_by_region=complete_911_timeline
__lackawanna_six_&timeline=complete_911_timeline.

42 Reynolds, “Homegrown Terror”

43 Mary Beth Sheridan, “Hardball Tactics in an Era of Threats.” Washington Post, (September 3, 2006). Available
at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/02/AR2006090201096_pf.html.

44 Craig Horowitz, “Anatomy of a Foiled Plot.” New York Magazine, (May 21, 2005). Available at:
http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/features/10559/.

45 Mike Wilkinson and Christina Hall, “3 Charged in Terror Plot; Local Suspects Planned Attacks in Iraq.” Toledo
Blade, (February 22, 2006). Available at:
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060222/NEWS03/60222005.

46 Craig Whitlock and Dafna Linzer, “Tip Followed ’05 Attacks on London Transit.” Washington Post, (August 11,
2006). Available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/10/AR2006081001654.html.

47 “Domestic Terrorism: Tip Leads to Sting, Prison for Plotter.” Federal Bureau of Investigation, (November 29,
2006). Available at: http://www.fbi.gov/page2/nov06/terror112906.htm.

48 Arun Kundnani, “The FBI’s ‘Good’ Muslims.” Agence Global, (September 1, 2011). Available at:
http://www.agenceglobal.com/article.asp?id=2629.

49 Ed Pilkington, “The Plot to Kill Barack Obama.” The Guardian, (June 6, 2009). Available at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/06/barack-obama-racism-assassination.

50 Sheyenne Rodriguez, “Leaders Speak Out About Terror Arrests.” WTVD-TV, (August 2, 2009). Available at:
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6944847.

51 Garrett Gumbinner, “Criminal Complaint United States v. Najibullah Zazi.” United States Department of Justice,
(September 19, 2009). Available at: http://www.9news.com/pdfs/N.Zazi.pdf, P. 5-6.

52 Eileen Sullivan, “FBI to Senators: Terror Case Wasn’t Damaged.” Associated Press, (September 30, 2009).
Available at: http://wire.antiwar.com/2009/09/30/fbi-to-senators-terror-case-wasnt-damaged/; A.G. Sulzberger,
“Imam and Informant Tells Why He Lied.” New York Times, (April 15, 2010). Available at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/16/nyregion/16imam.html?_r=1.

53 Sulzberger, “Imam and Informant Tells”

54 Scott Shane, “Pakistan Detains Five Americans in Raid Tied to Militants.” New York Times, (December 9, 2009).
Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/world/asia/10inquire.html.

55 Kirk Johnson, “Militia Draws Distinctions Between Groups.” New York Times, (April 1, 2010). Available at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/us/01michigan.html.

56 Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, “Muslim Vendor Gets No Credit in Helping to Foil Times Square Bomb
Plot.” Democracy Now!, (May 6, 2010). Available at:
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/5/6/muslim_vendor_gets_no_credit_in; “Who is the Real ‘Hero of Times
Square’?” The Week, (May 3, 2010). Available at:
http://theweek.com/article/index/202564/Who_is_the_real_Hero_of_Times_Square.

57 Noam N. Levey and Geraldine Baum, “Two N.J. Men Arrested at JFK on Terrorism Charges.” Los Angeles
Times, (June 7, 2010). Available at: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/07/nation/la-na-nj-terrorism-20100607/2;
“Fathers of N.J. Suspects Face First Court Day of International Terrorism Case.” Newark Star-Ledger, (June 8,
2010). Available at: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/06/fathers_of_nj_terror_suspects.html.

58 Gary T. Kubota, “FBI Terror Case Aided by Hawaii Muslims.” Honolulu Star Advertiser, (October 27, 2010).
Available at:
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20101027_FBI_terror_case_aided_by_Hawaii_Muslims.html

59 Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman, “Officials: Muslim Source Turned in Terror Suspect.” Associated Press,
(October 28, 2010). Available at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39894024/from/toolbar.

60 Dan Murphy, “Who Saved the Day in Yemen Bomb Plot? Once Again, A Muslim.” Christian Science Monitor,
19 (November 2, 2010). Available at: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2010/1102/Who-saved-the-dayin-
Yemen-bomb-plot-Once-again-a-Muslim; “Wanted Saudi Al-Qaida Operative Surrenders to Saudi Authorities.”
Associated Press, (October 19, 2010). Available at: http://tinyurl.com/4whauwv; “Al-Qaeda Suspect Surrenders.”
Agence France Presse, (October 15, 2010), Available at:
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/world/Al%20Qaeda%20suspect%20surrenders/-/1068/1033766/-/9pvqofz/-/; Hamza
Hendawi and Ahmed Al-Haj, “Yemen: Al-Qaida Insider Told Saudis of Bomb Plot.” Associated Press, (November
1, 2010). Available at: http://tinyurl.com/46u4qac.

61 Liz Robbins and Edward Hyatt, “Bomb Plot Foiled at Holiday Event in Oregon.” New York Times, (November 28,
2010). Available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10332/1106671-84.stm.

62 “Post-9/11 Jihadist Terrorism Cases Involving U.S. Citizens and Residents: An Overview.” New America
Foundation/Syracuse University Maxwell School of Public Policy, (March 2011). Available at:
http://homegrown.newamerica.net/sites/homegrown.newamerica.net/files/Homegrown_Terrorism_Narrative.pdf, P.
4.; Charles Kurzman, “Muslim-American Terrorism Since 9/11: An Accounting.” University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill, (February 2, 2011). Available at:
http://sanford.duke.edu/centers/tcths/about/documents/Kurzman_Muslim-
American_Terrorism_Since_911_An_Accounting.pdf, P. 6.

63 “Informant Who Divulged Terror Plot to FBI is a Convicted Felon.” KING 5.com, (June 24, 2011). Available at:
http://www.king5.com/home/Informant-who-divulged-terror-plot-to-FBI-is-a-convicted-felon-124511549.html.

64 “Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa.” U.S. Department of Justice, (January 9,
2012). Available at: http://www.justice.gov/usao/flm/press/2012/jan/20120109_Osmakac.html.Muslim Public Affairs Council