3 arrested in terrorist missle-smuggling plot
THE MEN’S NAMES were not immediately made available because the arrests and charges were under court-ordered seal.
One of the three men who was arrested, a British citizen of Indian origin, was taken into custody at a hotel near Newark International Airport, according to a federal official.
Two New Jersey newspapers, The Star-Ledger of Newark and The Record of Bergen County, said the British suspect would be charged with material support of terrorism and weapons smuggling.
Justice Department officials had no immediate comment on the case. The Star-Ledger, citing a law enforcement source, reported that evidence against the Briton was expected to include audio and videotapes in which he speaks favorably of Osama bin Laden and refers to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as “a good thing.”
The Briton was arrested after agreeing to sell a sophisticated Russian SA-18 Igla missile to an undercover FBI agent posing as a Muslim extremist, according to a federal law enforcement official who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Chechen rebels have used Igla shoulder-fired missiles against Russian military aircraft. Last week they used a missile to shoot down a Russian helicopter, killing three of the crew. And last year the rebels shot down a Russian troop-carrying helicopter, killing more than 100 people.
The understanding between the man and the undercover agent was that the missile needed to be capable of bringing down a commercial airliner, the official said.
NBC’s Pete Williams reported that two additional men — one from Afghanistan — were arrested later Tuesday at a building in New York City’s diamond district. They were believed to be involved in money laundering.
I heard the two americans arrested work in the diamond district. This was done for money
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I hope they all get the death penalty!!
One of the three men who was arrested, a British citizen of Indian origin, was taken into custody at a hotel near Newark International Airport, according to a federal official.
Two New Jersey newspapers, The Star-Ledger of Newark and The Record of Bergen County, said the British suspect would be charged with material support of terrorism and weapons smuggling.
Justice Department officials had no immediate comment on the case. The Star-Ledger, citing a law enforcement source, reported that evidence against the Briton was expected to include audio and videotapes in which he speaks favorably of Osama bin Laden and refers to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as “a good thing.”
The Briton was arrested after agreeing to sell a sophisticated Russian SA-18 Igla missile to an undercover FBI agent posing as a Muslim extremist, according to a federal law enforcement official who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Chechen rebels have used Igla shoulder-fired missiles against Russian military aircraft. Last week they used a missile to shoot down a Russian helicopter, killing three of the crew. And last year the rebels shot down a Russian troop-carrying helicopter, killing more than 100 people.
The understanding between the man and the undercover agent was that the missile needed to be capable of bringing down a commercial airliner, the official said.
NBC’s Pete Williams reported that two additional men — one from Afghanistan — were arrested later Tuesday at a building in New York City’s diamond district. They were believed to be involved in money laundering.
I heard the two americans arrested work in the diamond district. This was done for money
I hope they all get the death penalty!!
