Islamic extremist arrested in Florida bomb plot

[News_Editor]

Islamic extremist arrested in Florida bomb plot

2012-01-10 09:07:22 GMT+7 (ICT)

TAMPA, FLORIDA (BNO NEWS) -- A Kosovo-born was arrested over the weekend for allegedly plotting to carry out a series of attacks in the city of Tampa in Florida, U.S. prosecutors announced on Monday.

Sami Osmakac, 25, was arrested on Saturday evening after a number of meetings with an undercover officer. Osmakac, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, allegedly plotted to attack several locations in Tampa with a car bomb, firearms and other explosives.

According to the criminal complaint, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was contacted in late September by a person who said Osmakac and another individual had come into his business and asked if he had any flags which represent al-Qaeda. Osmakac soon after began working for the informant at his business.

On November 30, court records indicate Osmakac and the informant drove around the Tampa area while discussing a potential violent attack which Osmakac was seeking to execute. "During this meeting, Osmakac asked the [informant] to help him procure firearms and a belt containing explosives for use in the attack," according to the criminal complaint.

During the same meeting, the informant allegedly told Osmakac that he knew someone who would be able to provide firearms and explosive devices. However, unknown to Osmakac, the individual the informant was discussing is in fact an FBI undercover officer.

After the informant and Osmakac called the undercover officer on December 19, Osmakac allegedly met with the undercover officer in person. During the meeting, Osmakac told the undercover officer he wished to acquire at least one AK-47-style machine gun, several Uzi submachine guns, at least ten grenades, and an explosive belt with a multi-directional blast range of approximately 15 yards (13.7 meters).

Four days later, Osmakac met with the undercover officer again and provided a $500 down payment for the weapons and explosives. "Osmakac also asked the [undercover officer] if he could build explosives that could be placed in three different vehicles and detonated remotely near the location where Osmakac would conduct an attack using the other weapons he previously asked for," the criminal complaint alleged.

The undercover officer allegedly told Osmakac that it would be difficult to get three car bombs, but that he could possibly obtain a set of explosives which could be placed in the trunk of a car. "The [undercover officer] further explained that the explosive device for the car would be designed so that it could be triggered by using a cellular phone," the complaint says.

For the explosive belt, Osmakac allegedly said it should be built to function both outdoors and in an enclosed space in case he was unable to get inside his intended target. "Osmakac told the [undercover officer] that he wanted the explosive belt to be built to kill people," prosecutors allege.

Another follow-up meeting, which was recorded by audio and video devices, took place on January 1st. "I want to do something, something terrifying, like one day, one night, something's going to happen, then six hours later, something else," Osmakac allegedly told the undercover officer.

Osmakac described his attack generally by stating that he wanted to get a hotel room, park the car bomb at his target, leave the area, detonate the bomb in the car, and then retrieve the weapons and explosive belt from the hotel. Osmakac identified several places in Tampa as possible targets, but said he was looking for places with big gatherings.

Among Osmakac's alleged bomb targets were night clubs in the Ybor City area of Tampa, the Operations Center of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in Ybor City, and a business in the South Tampa area of Tampa.

During the same meeting on January 1st, Osmakac allegedly asked how far he should be from the car bomb to avoid being injured in the blast. He also expressed his desire to 'take down buildings' and 'kill people inside.'

"You know, they saying they like 3 trillion in debt, they like 200 trillion in debt, and after all this money they're spending for homeland security and all this, this is gonna be crushing them, this gonna terrify them," Osmakac is quoted as saying in the criminal complaint.

During the second portion of the plot, Osmakac said he wanted to use the explosive belt to enter a building with a lot of people and take hostages. He would then demand for certain prisoners to be released before detonating his explosive belt in an attempt to kill his hostages and police officers.

Osmakac also allegedly discussed his desire to attack a U.S. Army base and to take down bridges across the Tampa Bay area, but recognized such a plan would be unrealistic. "I mean, I made many plans, but there's not enough people," he said.

At a later point during the same meeting, the undercover officer asked Osmakac when he would be ready to carry out his plan. "I've been ready, man. Whenever we can get this done, I'm ready," he allegedly said. Osmakac later shook his head in the negative when the undercover officer said he could still change his mind because nothing had been delivered yet.

"We all have to die, so why not die the Islamic way," Osmakac allegedly told the undercover officer. When the officer asked if he didn't want to have a wife and children first, Osmakac allegedly said that Allah allows people to have children in Jannah (paradise).

On Saturday, Osmakac and the undercover officer agreed via text message and a handwritten note to meet at a hotel in Tampa later that day. During the meeting, Osmakac was shown an item in a truck bed which was designed to resemble a vehicle-born improvised explosive device (VBIED).

When they later arrived at the hotel room, the undercover officer began showing Osmakac a fully automatic AK-47, ammunition and magazines for the AK-47, a pistol, ammunition and a magazine for the pistol, grenades and an explosive belt. He later gave them to Osmakac, although none of them were functional.

After trying on the explosive belt, Osmakac allegedly told the undercover officer to film him with a digital video camera. During the 8-minute video, Osmakac says his belief is that the blood of Muslims is 'more valuable' than that of people who do not believe in Islam. He also said he wanted "pay back" for wrongs he felt were done to Muslims.

Following the meeting, Osmakac was taken into custody and charged with one count of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-01-10

[JUDAS]

Another religious nut job off the streets. Only down side is there's probably a lot more waiting in the wings.

[elgato]

I guess this guy doesn't like Tampa.

[Steely Dan]

http://www.algemeiner.com/2012/01/10/terror-in-tampa-cair-denial/

The Director of CAIR’s Florida chapter, Hassan Shibley, gave a more lukewarm and confusing response to news of the arrest. Although he stated that Osmakac “was no friend or supporter of the Muslim community” and that the Muslim community had played a “vital role” in his arrest, he also expressed “concern about a perception of entrapment.”

I love the response from Hassan Shibley, CAIR's spokesman who whines about entrapment.

Sure, he was just a regular Joe, who would never have tried to procure an AK-47, a couple of Uzis, at least ten grenades and a suicide bomber belt if it wasn't for the FBI putting the idea in his head.

P.S As an aside said Mr Shibley gives talks in U.S schools.

[Ulysses G.]

I love the response from Hassan Shibley, CAIR's spokesman who whines about entrapment.

Sure, he was just a regular Joe, who would never have tried to procure an AK-47, a couple of Uzis, at least ten grenades and a suicide bomber belt if it wasn't for the FBI putting the idea in his head.

I wonder what his nick is on Thai Visa.

[Scott]

I could make a number of educated guesses, but that would be seriously off topic.