Flight From Chicago: Two Arrested in Amsterdam on Terror Charges
- Posted on August 30, 2010 at 7:35pm by
Meredith Jessup
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Despite security concerns surrounding one passenger with an out-bound ticket from O’Hare airport last night, security officials now say two men–Ahmed Mohamed Nasser al Soofi and Hezem al Murisi–were allowed to board the trans-Atlantic flight in Chicago. ABC News is reporting that the men were picked up in Amsterdam this morning as they were in “preparation of a terrorist attack.”
Airport security screeners in Birmingham, Alabama first stopped al Soofi and referred him to additional screening because of what officials said was his “bulky clothing.”
In addition, officials said, al Soofi was found to be carrying $7,000 in cash and a check of his luggage found a cell phone taped to a Pepto-Bismol bottle, three cell phones taped together, several watches taped together, a box cutter and three large knives. Officials said there was no indication of explosives and he and his luggage were cleared for the flight from Birmingham to Chicago O’Hare.
Once in Chicago, officials say they learned al Soofi checked his luggage on a flight to Washington’s Dulles airport for connections on flights to Dubai and then Yemen, even though he did not board the flight himself.
Instead, officials say, al Soofi was joined by the second man, Al Murisi, and boarded the United flight from Chicago to Amsterdam.
When Customs & Border Protection figured out al Soofi wasn’t on the flight from Dulles to Dubai, the flight was ordered to return and his luggage was searched, though officials report they found no evidence of explosives. Upon arriving in Amsterdam, the pair of men were reportedly detained by Dutch authorities.
Though it’s unclear at this point whether either men has committed an actual crime, you can see how their actions would raise some serious suspicions and warrant further investigation.
This also raises more questions about airline security as it seems that no bag should be able to board a flight without its corresponding owner. It doesn’t seem likely that this was an honest mistake. More plausibly, this may have been one way for America‘s enemies to once again test air travel’s security structure to find potential weaknesses to exploit in the future.
Stay tuned… more information will likely become available as Homeland Security gets involved in the investigation.
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Comments (30)
BeingThere
Posted on August 31, 2010 at 5:10pmWhen are people gonna learn? You can’t say Obama on an airplane!!
Report Post »OH linda
Posted on August 31, 2010 at 12:44pmNow, now…as our “fearless” leader always reminds us..DON’T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS!
Report Post »ya right! Or maybe they will use the Paris Hilton excuse…it wasn’t their luggage.
morgan98
Posted on August 31, 2010 at 10:57amRecent flight between Phoenix & Rapid City TSA pulled elderly couple out of line and had them so confused and scared that I thought the rest of us would “rush” the screeners. There was NO reason for how they were treating this couple – obviously American citizens – who will likely NEVER fly again. But 2 guys with Middle Eastern names and tons of red flags can get on several different planes in the US and end up in Amsterdam. And we’re saying “possible” terror plot/test run. OMG!!! When will this country get serious about our security???
Report Post »Judie in Va
Posted on August 31, 2010 at 8:47amThey won’t do one single thing to them….watch and see!
Report Post »Osis
Posted on August 31, 2010 at 6:58amThis is probably Tea Party people who are still upset at Obamascare and are therefore acting stupidly.
Report Post »fedup
Posted on August 31, 2010 at 2:17amhey look over there something shiny!!!!
Report Post »Margie10
Posted on August 31, 2010 at 1:50amHow is Holder gonna explain away this one?
Report Post »I can’t believe they were even allowed on the damn plane!
And, I agree:
DRY RUN
Gigantopithecus
Posted on September 7, 2010 at 7:12pmDuring Bush’s day these two losers would be tucked away somewhere taking the Nestea plunge, and we would be able to stop a future attack. Obozo and Holder will just make sure they get the best defense tax dollars can buy. We better get rid of the Demwits and Libturds and get serious about Islamic terrorism, or we are going to get hit again HARD. 9/11 – NEVER FORGET.
Report Post »WIDE SPREAD PANIC
Posted on August 31, 2010 at 12:44amI guess we avoided another “man made disaster”. Thus narrowly avoiding castigation from the left for not “reaching out” and “pressing the reset button” while “acting stupidly” as after all it is America’s fault you know.
Ahmed Mohamed Nasser al Soofi and Hezem al Murisi are being oppressed by racial profiling as cell phones taped to a Pepto-Bismol bottles, three cell phones taped together, several watches taped together, a box cutter and three large knives are common Muslim travel items.
Why can’t you people reach out?
Report Post »GeeWhiz
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 11:58pmMy vote is dry run. Testing the current system to see what they can get away with.
Doesn’t say much for the TSA. They’re too busy patting down old ladies and xraying the shoes of toddlers.
Report Post »SusieQ
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 11:33pmThis is insane! We need answers as to why they were allowed to get on a plane at all!
Report Post »MarineOne
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 11:16pmMiddle Eastern men flying without females or kids and between the ages of 30 and 50 – flight plan includes Yemen. Hmmmmm.
Now I’m no $180,0000/yr Homeland Security expert and I am a bit of an Islamophobe who thinks profiling is a GREAT idea but I’ll make this deal with our Government “Protectors” – you just tell me if someone meeting such criteria are flying on a fight I’m scheduled on and I will remove myself. THEY can fly and I’LL stay on the ground – sound like a deal?
Report Post »morgan98
Posted on August 31, 2010 at 11:03amCertainly sounds logical to me but WAY to logical for the TSA. Just heard that a relative of one of these creeps says “he’s just a funny guy”. RIGHT!!!!!! Great joke – but you can’t holler “fire” in a crowded theater as a “joke” either. It is time that we as citizens DEMAND that profiling be used and stomp out “politically correct” before it gets a whole lot of people killed.
Report Post »TPARTY RADIO
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 11:13pmBut do Ahmed Mohamed Nasser al Soofi, and Hezem al Murisi favor the Ground Zero Mosque? Surely they do.
Report Post »Ima
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 11:06pmal Soofi was found to be carrying $7,000 in cash and a check of his luggage found a cell phone taped to a Pepto-Bismol bottle, three cell phones taped together, several watches taped together, a box cutter and three large knives.
Exactly the same stuff I packed for our family vacation at Disney. What is everyone so concerned about?
SERIOUSLY, why were these freaks not thrown down on the tarmac and strip-searched and then hauled away for x-rays and fingerprinting and waterboarding? WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THE FAA AND DHS????
Report Post »Doc Savage
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 10:59pmI’m sure its nothing.
Report Post »bofh47
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 10:09pmSince there is no Global War on Terror ™, what charges can they hold these guys on? Nothing illegal about taping wierd stuff together. I mean, it’s pretty obvious what they were doing, but I can’t picture AG Steadman Holder actually admitting that he gets it as well.
They’ll probably have to give these guys an apology and a big payoff, like they ended up doing with the Flying Imams ™.
Report Post »Tony737
Posted on August 31, 2010 at 1:29am“… the Flying Imams …” – Bofh47
You mean the “Sheiks on a Plane”?
That‘s exactly what they’re doing, trying to get a lawsuit … to help fund the jihad, use the infidel’s own money against them.
Report Post »newsguyfyi
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 9:40pmRelated parody: Terrorists Evade Security Officials By Dressing as Giant Dots http://optoons.blogspot.com/2010/01/terrorists-evade-security-officials-by.html
Report Post »FeralCat
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 9:32pmMore misunderstanders of Islam, no doubt. As soon as the NYC Mega Mosque is built the Imams there can straighten them out with love.
Report Post »HomeoftheBrave
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 9:20pmI am sure these two had a pat down search, or maybe security was busy with the 85 yr old woman with a cane!
Report Post »KenM2
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 9:20pmThat DRY RUN was our EARLY WARNING, hope someone is paying attention!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 9:13pmThose white racist bitter clingers bible-thumping homophobes teabaggin hicks…oh wait…they were muslim men ..well never mind
Report Post »supermurder
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 9:10pmDRY RUN
Report Post »Politicat
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 8:48pmOh, yeah, guys…we’ll all be perfectly safe once the lady leader of Homeland Security takes charge.
Report Post »Eyore
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 8:45pmJust remember when the muslims attack US targets we caused it, Just ask the Ground Zero mosque Imam. We asked for it
Report Post »J.J. Sefton
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 8:44pmThe 5 cell phones were bitterly clinging to the bottle of Pepto. Nothing to see here. Move along…
Report Post »Freddd
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 8:40pmScary that they can send their luggage with knives, box cutter, cell phones taped together, and get on a separate plane, and get to their destination…What is the TSA and Obama Administration doing? Oh yeah, American citizen’s upholding the Constitution and believing in the Almighty God, are the ones they watch…