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NYC College Student Accused Of Plotting Terror Attack Thought Al-Qaeda Is "Too Moderate"
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 17, 2015
Modified Jun 17, 2015
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Tien Mao/Gothamist
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 17, 2015
Modified Jun 17, 2015
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A New York City college student who believed Al Qaeda is "too moderate" was plotting to blow up various landmarks around the city, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Brooklyn. After a months-long investigation, Munther Omar Saleh, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly ran toward an undercover law enforcement vehicle that was tailing him.
According to court papers, Saleh "viewed images on the Internet of various notable New York City landmarks and tourist attractions," and the investigators who filed the complaint believed Saleh was planning a terrorist attack. On two consecutive days in March, Saleh was spotted by a Port Authority police officer walking on the George Washington Bridge. Believing his conduct to be suspicious, the officer asked Saleh to come to the Port Authority office in New Jersey for an interview, and Saleh consented.
The complaint says that Saleh allowed investigators to search his computer, where they found ISIS propaganda translated to English. They soon learned that Saleh was studying electrical circuitry at an unnamed college in Queens, and began surveillance. From the NY Times:
Starting in May, Mr. Saleh conducted extensive online searches for materials for an explosive device, the complaint says, including Crock-Pots, beads, propane, vacuum cleaners, lamps and watches. A watch was the only one of those materials that the complaint says he bought.
Authorities also watched him in May walk into a spy store in Queens that sells microphone detectors and hidden cameras, though he left without any bags. He later searched online for disguises, including beards and wigs.
The complaint cites a conversation between a confidential informant and Mr. Saleh in May, during which Mr. Saleh said, “Well I’m in N.Y. and trying to do an op,” referring to an operation. He later cut off communication with the informant, saying he was “ordered by dawlah officials not to talk to anyone.” The complaint says that “dawlah” refers to the Islamic State.
Looking back over his Twitter account, investigators found a tweet in September declaring that Al Qaeda was "getting too moderate,” and another in February praising ISIS "for their high end videos, great weaponry and quality fighters."
On Saturday, Saleh and two unnamed co-conspirators allegedly tried to evade an investigator following them as they drove through Queens. When that failed, the vehicle pulled over near the Whitestone Bridge, and Saleh and a co-conspirator allegedly got out and ran toward the investigator's car. The co-conspirator, who was not charged, had a folding knife in his waistband.
Special Agent Christopher Buscaglia alleges that "Saleh is making efforts to prepare an explosive device for detonation in the New York metropolitan area on behalf of ISIL." Saleh is charged with conspiring to support a foreign terrorist organization.
Like other recent alleged terrorist arrests in NYC, it's unclear whether Saleh actually had the means to execute any of the vague attacks he's accused of plotting.
Tagged
gw bridge
jttf
Munther Omar Saleh
terrorism
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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