Two "Middle Eastern" Men Pulled Over in SC with Explosives (Updated)

But the boys arrested were living in a home along with one of the parents also in a home connected to someone else who was charged and convicted of passing funds to PAlestinians.

There is much more to this that is being released more than likely based on the fact that they are going to prosecute these guys. There is no way in hell that all they had were model rocket parts at this point ot have some 300 ft on the air fun. None.

This is, if anything, something that law enforcement should be appluaded for because these morons are now off the street.

I just spent a few days in Cleveland county NC, just above the South Carolina border and I finally saw an evening news story on these two young men. It was about their arraignment. I have yet to see a report on this case on the national evening news programs NBC, CBS or ABC.

This primary reason I find this whole episode odd especially given this administration's tendency to jump the gun as it were and run to the nearest microphone with even a whiff of a "terrorist" story.

To suggest that they have learned not to do anymore that is funny. That would have to go down in the record books as the first time this administration has learned from their mistakes.

Seems that the state charges have been dropped and this is now a federal case, and the two may be held as enemy combatants depending on the hearing September 21st.

The fact that this is no longer a state issue and a federal issue is telling us that there is alot more here than is bieng released. This is why hte FEDs at first backed off because they want this to go away.

Seems that cell calls and GPS will show if the story that they told was true and jsut exactly what they were up to.

HEre is some more. Seems that the laptop was 'very' important and I am beginning to wonder if this was a 'random' stop.

www.homelandsecurityus.com...
At issue with regard to the larger security implications is the criminal background of Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif MOHAMED, who was previously arrested in Egypt on terrorism-related charges. He reportedly produced an Internet instructional video illustrating how to construct a bomb in a remote controlled vehicle, such as hobby-sized car, boat or helicopter. Despite his known arrest and ties to potential terrorist activities, MOHAMED was nonetheless granted legal entry into the United States. Both men are Egyptian citizens; MEGAHED is a permanent, legal U.S. resident and MOHAMED is in the U.S. compliments of a student visa. With the news of MOHAMED’S previous arrest in Egypt, questions have arisen concerning proper coordination between all of the federal agencies regarding the granting of student visas and background considerations.

MOHAMED, a graduate student and teaching assistant at the University of South Florida, and MEGAHED, an undergraduate student, were charged with transporting explosives without permits, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. MOHAMED was also charged with one count of explosives training, which carries a possible prison sentence of 20 years.

Students here on VISA's, the one working in a hospital facility like the guys in Britan. Is there a connection somewhere? There is al least one we know of

The dwelling at 12402 Pampas Place, Tampa is familiar to investigators. Owned by Noor and Ana SALHAB, the residence was previously leased to the World and Islam Studies Enterprise (WISE), one of two groups founded by convicted terrorism supporter Sami Al-Arian, a former professor at the University of South Florida, which is the same university that MEGAHED and MOHAMED attended. Both have been suspended from the university pending the outcome of their case.

Noor SALHAB publicly confirmed that his son, Ghassan SALHAB, has been living in the home and renting to college students while waiting to sell it. Noor Salhab said a friend of MOHAMED’S rented a room there, and MOHAMED planned to move in on August 7.

Still no mainstream media coverage. Would this not be something to use to 'stir up fear' as so many state the government is doing? Here is the perfect boogeyman yet it is hidden.

quote esdad

I am beginning to wonder if this was a 'random' stop.

It wasn't. Remember what I posted when this first happened?

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Lombardo also said information from an investigation in another jurisdiction raised the suspicions of the deputies.

The article is gone now, but others also documented it, and Google Cached it.

I remember reading that same article, Weren't they stopped somewhere else and released and then stopped again that same day?

Add this to the cell in Germany that was jsut taken down and there is alot of activity.

This is interesting.

USF says they dont know that Mohamad had been arrested in Egypt, and that its Homeland Securities job to check.

Chertoff says its the Universities job to check.

Is this some kind of a Who's on first game?

USF Students Indicted

USF spokesman Ken Gullette said the university is unaware of any criminal charges against Mohamed in Egypt. Mohamed came to USF on an F-1 student visa, "which means he was cleared by Homeland Security," Gullette said. Homeland Security and State Department officials had no comment.

Chertof Questioned by Congress

Question: Does DHS have ability to monitor student visa holders to determine whether visas are simply being used to get into the country?

Chertoff: We do to a limited extent. We rely upon the schools…Most schools try to honor their obligation…some do not…

Looks like the Feds pulled off a coup.

The boys are going to be headed back to Tampa, and out of the hands of the S.C. law enforcement.

Are the Fed under pressure from external forces to set the stage for the charges to be discredited?



[edit on 9/7/07 by makeitso]

SC carolina dropped the charges that now included interstate transport of explosives which makes it Federal. THey live in Tampa so that is why they are going home.

Also, in the article is the first mention of firearms ammunition. It also stAtes that one of them will be bought up on terror charges. This is far from over.

Oh, I agree theres more to it.

I'm just not sure the fed will be allowed to make the case. Too many outside influences, (read politics), will push their agenda into the case now that the fed is in charge. I'm feeling that you can already see the slant change in the media coverage. Thats why I posted what I did with the previous linked example.

Another example, is this new article explaining why they were 40 miles off I-95. It paints a picture that they were just loyal Wal-Mart customers, thats all.

This from a guy who was no longer his attorney at the time of the article. The same guy who earlier told reporters that Mohamad was arrested in Egypt on terror charges, has suddenly changed up to a new, "just stopping for gas at Wal-Mart", point of view.

Hopefully I'm wrong. I'll keep watching.

***Update***

Both men are charged with transporting explosives without a permit, relating to the stuffed PVC pipes deputies have described as pipe bombs. Hoffer conceded in court, however, that the devices, while explosive, were not pipe bombs and were not 'destructive devices' under the law.

In the trunk, deputies found four small sections of PVC pipe, at least three of which were stuffed with a 'potassium nitrate explosive mixture' of potassium nitrate, Karo syrup and kitty litter, Hoffer said. He said the kitty litter served as a binder to keep the substance from coming out of the pipes, which were not capped.
Source:www2.tbo.com...

More info here: www2.tbo.com...

So the prosecution finally presents it's evidence. The second article seems to suggest that one of the two suspects is more "innoncent" than the other based on their backgrounds.

They seem to have found recent internet searches or links to bomb-making videos on the web. So what? Ammuniton, but no firearms. Stranger and stranger.

What do you all think of this development?

regards..kk

[edit on 16-9-2007 by kinda kurious]

A bit more info has seeped out.
Documents point to S.C. terror plot
(The title is a bit misleading)

Strange how the info gets dribbled out bit by bit.

[edit on 9/27/07 by makeitso]

reply to post by makeitso


Ooooopppsss Link not working. I tried to search their site but could not find it. Please review and fix if possible. We, and others, have been quited intriqued by this story since day one. Thanks for keeping us updated.

regards...kk

reply to post by kinda kurious


Looks like the link changed. I found it again by searching the title name. Here's the new link.

Documents point to S.C. terror plot

Perhaps I'd better quote some of it.

In a 12-minute video posted on YouTube, an Egyptian man wearing a white shirt, khaki pants and rubber gloves explains in Arabic how to turn a toy boat into a bomb. His name is Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed ~

Mohamed told FBI agents he made the video to teach “those persons in Arabic countries to defend themselves against the infidels invading their countries,” according to federal court documents released late Tuesday. Specifically, he told the FBI “the technology which he demonstrated in the tape was to be used against those who fought for the United States.”

After examining Mohamed’s laptop computer, which was in the 2000 Toyota Camry that was stopped in Goose Creek, agents found an electronic folder titled “Bomb Shock.” The folder contained several computer files about explosives, including TNT and C-4, a military-grade plastic explosive. They also found the 12-minute video on the laptop. Someone had uploaded the video onto YouTube, a video-sharing Web site. It could be found on YouTube by entering a complicated 14-word search term, which included the words “martyrdooms” and “suiciders.”

And a tiny bit of their conversation recorded when they were put in the back of the police car.

In the back of the patrol car on the way to jail on charges of possession of an explosive device, the two whispered in their native Arabic while a hidden recorder taped their conversation, according to court documents:

“Did you tell them there is something in them?” Mohamed asked, an apparent reference to the PVC pipes.
“Water,” Megahed said.
“Water! Right? The black water is in the Pepsi.”
A few seconds pass in silence. Mohamed speaks again.
“Did you tell them about the benzene (gasoline)?”
“I have nothing to do with it. I do the fireworks and so... so... so... that is it.”

But the pipes weren’t fireworks.

An examination by the FBI’s explosives unit found the materials in the PVC pipes fit the legal definition of an “explosive.”

There's a little more info in the article. Not a lot more info than we already have here. Things like Megahed having 2 passports in different names, and the gov admitting that they cant tie the explosives to a plot. Just bits and pieces dribbled out.


[edit on 9/28/07 by makeitso]

Just a couple of harmless kids right? I mean, even if you make videos and even if you possess the materials and even if you are with a known terrorist who should not be in the US...it was only models parts. I am glad that this boneheads will not be able to aid anyone in anything except maybe happy endings in a federal prison.

They have an audio tape of them conversing in Arabic just after arrest in the cop car. I imagine they didn't think they were being recorded since apparently they made some pretty damning statements.

I read those. I hope that this is a wake up call to America. I am still waiting for the post that somehow links them to Bush and why it is his fault.


Bottom line is that there are those who wish to hurt others, and with the information that these guys possessed, someone with a little more gumption could really hurt some folks. Glad to see the government looking in a better light for once.

reply to post by esdad71


I will applaude the Police when they catch all of them.
I live a few miles from the USF and I believe this area is a hot bed for terrorists.

If they only caught 2 of them can you imagine how many they didn't catch , that are still free ?

I feel like there are some more of them here in Tampa and I wish they would find them and put them all away.

I live jsut over the bridge in St Pete, and jsut as you said, there is a large presence here. I hope this prompts more local investigation.

You're probably aware that the Judge granted Megahed bail, but he hasn't been released yet pending the government appeal of the decision. Apparently the appeal has now been heard now, and part of the reason the government wants the bail denied is because of a recent closed circuit video tape.

It's claimed that a secret message was being passed to Megahed with face and hand signals. The Prosecutor says the message has been deciphered, and that its sinister, but did not publicly specify what it was.

The defense says Megaheds brother was just bored and making faces while he waited to see his brother.

Some say the hand signals are M-I-G-C-L
Anyone know sign language?

[edit] -- Forgot to add that the Judge will make a decision about releasing him on bail next week.

References including the video of the hand signals:
Video raises new questions about jailed students
Secret Tape Backfires in USF Case
USF Student’s Brother Caught Sending “Sinister” Coded Signals
Brother Filmed Sending Hand Signals






[edit on 10/6/07 by makeitso]