2011 Manhattan terrorism plot: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:17, 30 April 2018

Revision as of 21:53, 31 August 2018

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==Plot==

On May 12, 2011, New York City law enforcement officials announced that two suspects, Ahmed Ferhani and Mohamed Mamdouh, had been arrested for trying to purchase weapons, including three pistols and hand grenades, as part of a terror plot to attack an unspecified Manhattan synagogue. [[New York City Mayor]] [[Michael Bloomberg]] said both suspects wanted to attack a "major synagogue.".<ref name="abc">{{cite news |title=Two Arrested in New York City Synagogue Attack Plot Sting |author1=Richard Esposito |author2=Mark Crudele |author3=Aaron Katersky |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/arrested-york-city-synagogue-attack-plot-sting/story?id=13586174 |newspaper=ABC News |date=May 12, 2011 |accessdate=May 14, 2011}}</ref> Mr. Ferhani is to also have expressed an interest in blowing up a church in Queens and the Empire State Building. Prior to their arrest, the two men had already obtained some guns.<ref name="wsj"/> Ferhani allegedly was trying to sell drugs to fund the attacks.<ref>{{cite news |title=Al Qaeda's hardmen: New York terror suspect is wannabe model who worked as MAKE-UP salesman at Saks (and his co-conspirator has a record for kicking a poodle) |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1386221/Terror-suspect-Ahmed-Ferhani-worked-Saks-Fifth-Ave-salesman.html |newspaper=Daily Mail |date=May 13, 2011 |accessdate=May 14, 2011}}</ref>

According to law enforcement officials, this was the thirteenth plot thwarted against the city since the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name="abc"/>

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An undercover detective had been investigating one of the suspects, Ahmed Ferhani, for several months. In October 2010, Ferhani was arrested on a robbery charge in Manhattan, when the detective overhead Ferhani saying he hated Jews and was upset with the way Muslims, especially Palestinians, were treated around the world. According to [[New York City Police Commissioner]] [[Raymond Kelly]], Ferhani once said, "They're treating us like dogs." Ferhani also told the detective about "his intent to participate in [[jihad]]" and that "he would become a martyr." Eventually Ferhani brought Mamdouh into the plot, who prosecutors said is on tape saying he hated Jews.<ref name="ap">{{cite news |title=2 men accused of plotting to bomb NYC synagogue |author1=Colleen Long |author2=Jennifer Peltz |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/2-charged-with-terrorism-in-alleged-NY-plot-1376571.php#page-2 |agency=AP |date=May 13, 2011 |accessdate=May 14, 2011}}</ref>

According to [[Manhattan District Attorney]] [[Cyrus Vance, Jr.|Cyrus Vance]], the authorities decided to act because Ferhani's "plans became bigger and more violent with every passing week.". In several meetings with the undercover detective, Ferhani discussed the idea of attacking a synagogue, even suggesting disguising himself as a worshiping Jew so he could infiltrate the synagogue and leave a bomb inside.<ref name="ap"/>

On May 11, 2011, the NYPD set up an arms deal as a [[sting operation]] on Manhattan's West Side. In the deal, one of the undercover officers handed Ferhani a bag containing three handguns, three boxes of ammo and an inert (not operational) grenade. Once Ferhani placed the bag in the trunk of his car, the police swarmed and arrested him, as well as Mamdouh, who was nearby.<ref name="ap"/>