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Four Muslims have been arrested over a plot to shoot down US military aircraft and simultaneously blow up two synagogues in New York.
US authorities swooped on the gang after they planted what they believed to be high-explosive bombs in cars outside the Jewish centres. In fact the bombs were fakes, provided by the FBI in a sting operation. A Stinger surface-to-air missile intended to bring down military jets was also inactive.
The group identified the synagogues as targets last month and began conducting surveillance, including taking photographs of warplanes at the US airbase. The men, who face life in prison, will appear in court today charged with offences including conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction.
Sources described the charges as “some of the most significant allegations of domestic terrorism” for some time. It was suggested today some of the gang may have converted to Islam after spells in prison for drug offences.
The alleged plotters were named today as James Cromitie (also known as Abdul Rahman), David Williams (aka Daoud and DL), Onta Williams (aka Hamza) and Laguerre Payen (aka Amin and Almondo). They are all thought to have been born in the US. Cromitie, the apparent ringleader, told an FBI informant he was upset by the war in Afghanistan, where his parents were born, and wanted to “do something to America”.
He was caught on tape complaining that the “best target [the World Trade Center] was hit already”. In the same conversation Cromitie, who has been arrested 27 times, said: “I hate those motherf***ers, those f***ing Jewish bastards ... I would like to get a synagogue.”
At one stage he told the informant as they watched Jews in the street that if he had a gun he “would shoot each one in the head”. He also said that if he died a martyr he would go to paradise.
The plotters allegedly planted one fake bomb in the boot of a car outside the Riverdale Temple and two on the seat of another car outside the nearby Riverdale Jewish Center in the Bronx last night. The gang then planned to drive 60 miles north of New York to Newburgh to collect mobile phone detonating devices.
Guard: James Cromitie, one of the four men arrested is escorted from the FBI offices in New York early today
The next stage was to go to Stewart International Airport, also in Newburgh, where they would shoot down a military jet while simultaneously exploding the synagogue bombs. The airport is used by the New York Air National Guard and the US Air Force. But the weapons were supplied by an FBI informant and the gang's movements had been monitored since June last year.
FBI official Joseph Demarest said: “They had bags that were set up that they believed to be bombs carrying about 30 pounds of explosives.”
The arrest coincide with a keynote speech on terrorism due to be made today by President Barack Obama. Mr Obama is expected to hit back at critics who have accused him of making America more vulnerable to attack because of his plans to shut down Guantanamo Bay.
Reader views (22)
Alan Rex, London, UK, there is no such place as Palestine. That was a word given to the country by the Romans who fought to control a troublesome group of 12 argumentative Jewish tribes. Then it was occupied by the Islamic Ottoman empire. It was only called Palestine officially again by the British who mandated the territory following WW1. You clearly are a racist who knows little about what you are saying and only wish to make a racist statement.
- Len, Perth Australia
When is the world going to realize these blood thirsty animals mean to kill as many as they can and do not care if they die. After all, they get 70 virgins. At least that is what they are told. Of course they're idiots and fall for it.
- Rick Huffman, Saint Joseph, Michigan
Thomas - your clearly not reading the same papers or listening to the same news items that I am - Israel is constantly singled out - whilst Darfur is largely ignored, day after day Israel has been bashed by the media. Your right the percentage of Arab Israeli's isn't 25% - its 20%! That's one in 5 people, yes the poor treatment of some needs to be addressed, but many others in poll after poll say that they would, if given the choice wish to remain Israeli citizens, and don't forget amongst the 'poorly treated' are Arab Israeli politicians and judges - slightly alters the picture you paint doesn't it Thomas? I'm glad your are becoming 'interested' in the plight of Palestinians - many Israelis are too - why not include in your interests the burning question of how to free Palestinians from the stranglehold Hamas has on them?
- Heather, london england
Alan Rex's comments really made me cringe, I just want to repeat what other posters have said here, what does Israel have to do with planned terrorist attacks on Jewish communities in New York? what?
Alan also appears to have difficulty in correctly spelling Israel from time to time in the postings, this must make your boycott Israel scribbles here and there loose even more weight.
I also have to say that this fashionable nonsense of jumping on bandwagon of 'boycotting Israel' is so stupid, technically you are asking UK hospitals to toss out Israeli state of the art medicines for cancers, multiple sclerosis, parkinsons, alzheimers, and this is just a snippet of what Alan is proposing.
Here's one final clinger, if you were a gay muslim in the middle east? where would you not be BREAKING THE LAW?? Iran? Saudi? or Israel? - Answer - Israel. Arabs actually have more human rights in Israel than in Arab countries. Check it.. it's all online. But I suppose you will say AIPAC has made up these websites.
To end: I repeat, what does this sad story of terror plots have to do with Israel?!
- Ian, London
"Instead of using their manpower, resources and budget against real terrorists, they provide some sad losers with fake bombs and then milk the applause for foiling a terrorist plot!"
You just don't get it, do you. These people thought they WERE using real bombs and weapons. They were prepared to kill indiscriminately. They are only 'losers' because they failed. Hating someone is not a crime, regardless of who it is they hate. Even just talking about it can be argued down in court. They had to be caught in the commission of the crime, real or faked, for them to get the punishment they deserve (or at least, the max punishment that the society they hate so much restricts themselves to).
Would you prefer that they had been left to their own devices? Or perhaps you'd have liked to have them locked up just in case they worked up the nerve to do what they were discussing? Get real people!
- Rogan, Irving
The sting was of course orchestrated by the AIPAC and the FBI have to obey.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK
Its amazing how to prove my point that its very hard to make any criticism of Israel without being branded racist. When I criticise those dictatorships around the world or even america when Bush was in power does that make me anti burmese?, or anti egyptian, ant saudi arabian? or anti-american? Its amazing how theres one country which is not allowed to be criticised and then as usual the normal mud-slinging is used to try to suffocate a legitimate view. I have become increasingly interested in the plight of the Palestinians and I am very disturbed how I am allowed to discuss the plight of Kurds, or Sudanese in Darfur, or the Burmese, of the Tibetans freely but when it comes to Palestinians there are some who try to suppress my view through cheap insults. I am glad Obama is in power and think he shares my views and hope one day that we can have a leader like him in this country.
To suggest that 25% of the Israeli population is arab is very incorrect. It is now much smaller and it is widely documented how they are treated poorly generally in their own country.
- Alan Rex, london, uk
Another entrapment by the authorities that has nothing to do with terrorism.
Instead of using their manpower, resources and budget against real terrorists, they provide some sad losers with fake bombs and then milk the applause for foiling a terrorist plot!
The public in the UK remember countless plots foiled in the nick of time by the authorities that later result in those arrested in the full glare of the media spotlight being released without charge. What about the big fanfare about 'liquid bombs' a few years ago, by the time it got to court it was revealed that most of them did not even have passports!
This plot is another piece of theatre intended to entertain the masses as the authorities preen and pose instead of doing the real work needed to deal with terrorism.
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK
There are people many like Rex, here and all over the world, who blame the Jews and/or Israel when something upsets them.That's nothing new. What's next? Global warming?
- Chris, LOndon UK
Rex, would you also put under sanctions things produced by the 25% Israeli Arab population (who incidentally have full democratic rights) or just the Jews?
Why not just be honest in your anti-semitism and say let's boycott the Jews?
No doubt you would have a lot in common with those featured in the article and plenty to talk about if you were sharing a cell.
- Ces, london
Alan Rex clearly has only one point of view and that is the Jews are to blame for everything. Fortunately for him there are many people who share this point of view ,and of course, none of them are anti-semitic either. To such people black is white and white is black, so people, don't get mad at Mr. Rex, he is not the problem. The problem is the militant take over of Islam which threatens us all, Muslims, Jews and Christians Budhists, Hindus alike, and the fact that the leaders of the world are weak and refuse to see it, prefering to appease rather than confront, and hating anyone who does not agree with their point of view.
- Stephen Rothbart, Prague Czech Republic
Georgie - what a knee jerk and rather sad thing to say. yes an attack can happen in the UK as it can anywhere in the world. However, to say that our authorities are unprepared is ill informed and rather ridiculous. The fact that there have been several uncovered plots over recent years, reveals that the authorities are in control. Stop living in fear
- Keith Grey, North London
Dear Mickyinlondon, I am interested in purchasing some of your Colonial Paste. Please could you send through a list of stockists.
- Nj, London
Well done on America. However, here in Britain I am scared: the same thing could happen here and we are so UN-PREPARED!!!! Only thing our government is busy with is covering their expenses claims and bailing out bad banks!!
- Georgie, Islington, London
@'Worried'
For a start, the post was for the Rageh Omar article. Second, How dare you tell me whether I have a right to live in my country? Thirdly, Just because of my political views about the apartheid state of Israel this doesn't make me anti-semitic - I abhor all forms of racism (if anyone is found guilty of murder or attenpted murder of anyone from any faith then I hope the full punishment in reference to this article). Finally, Isreal is not a freedom loving democracy as you suggest. They call the west bank as their own and yet the vast majority of indigenous people (the Palestinians) have no right of movement let alone the vote (i.e no freedom and no democracy). I will not be forced into silence and I hope others will talk up against the aparthied in Isreal and the OCCUPIED territories.
- Alan Rex, London, UK
Thats what happens when you reach out to the enemy,they punish you for it,all they want is war they only understand violence
- Linda, italy
So Alan Rex's reaction to a plot to blow up Synagogues is to punish Israel.
He is clearly an anti-semite and a racist.
- Danny, London
Clearly Alex Rex cannot see the link between fundamentalist Islam and supremacist racism. What has the actions of Israel - good or bad - where Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sufis, Druze, Bedouins live together, got to do with America and the Jewish people who live in other countries? To link to two together as these terrorists have done are the actions of antisemitic racists. Those paranoids that believe in the Jewish world conspiracy and hold on the media have clearly never watched the BBC, read the Guardian or Independent. Such disturbing views are very much in keeping with the BNP and the antisemitic left - who share much in common. I hope you understand that.
- Ricky, Hackney, London
I don’t see Pro Israeli Bias; I do see a Nation that faces being pushed into the sea every day of their lives etc.
I do see a Nation that were fighting for their lives during and after WW2.
There but for the fate; go we all.
As to the Colonial Paste; they threw us out after WW2; and it all ended there etc.
Who is right and who is wrong remains to be seen; but if I was under the threat of annihilation; then I would fight to the death as well; as I think most people would etc.
- Mickyinlondon, london
@Alan Rex: You coward! How dare you live in this country and make such posts that have nothing to do with the article! a) Israel is a freedom loving hard working democracy, not a nation of lefty losers whose sense of failure means they blame all but themselves for their predicament. b) What has Israel got to do with Afghanistan? ('We' are in Afghanistan to stop the far East getting the oil nearby, and whether you approve of that or not, it has NOTHING to do with Israel that is in fact developing technologies to wean itself off oil altogether.) c) I don't see you asking the EU to punish Sri Lanka for it's treatment of the Tamils. You obviously have a beef with Jews, else why would you mention Israel when there are failed nations across the globe who treat their own people terribly? Again, you have no right to be in this country. May I suggest a dictatorship where hate and mistrust is part of everyday government?
- Worried, London
Good article, but unfortunately the UK with its huge links to its colonial past will squander this opportunity to build friendships in the face of the right wing media and pro-isreali bias in the political and media space even though they are detrimental to our interests. We should be pushing the EU to launch complete trade sanctions against Israel and supporting the Pakistani and Afghanistan governments through training(rather than having troops in the latter country) and so on. However, the pro-Israel Lobby appears to be far too strong for UK interests to prevail.
- Alan Rex, London, UK
The Enemy is within?
- Mickyinlondon, london
