German Gunman’s Pistol Jammed, Saving U.S. Airman
- Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:02am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
KARLSRUHE, Germany (The Blaze/AP) –The pistol used by the 21-year-old who admits killing two U.S. airmen at Frankfurt airport jammed with six rounds left, possibly saving the lives of other airmen, a German investigator said Friday.
Two other U.S. Air Force personnel were wounded in the attack Wednesday by Arid Uka, an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo.
Uka refused to speak when formally charged Thursday before a judge with two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. But he made lengthy statements to police shortly after the attack, according to prosecutor Rainer Griesbaum.
Uka told authorities he had taken the FN 9mm pistol and two knives to the airport specifically to kill Americans “as revenge for the American mission in Afghanistan,” Griesbaum said.
He said a YouTube video he saw the day before the attack allegedly showing a raid on a home by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan had inspired him to prevent “further cruelties.”
When he saw the busload of 16 airmen parked outside Terminal 2 awaiting transport to the nearby Ramstein Air Base, he approached one standing outside and, under the pretext of asking for a cigarette, asked if they were servicemen were on their way to Afghanistan.
“When he said yes, he shot the 25-year-old serviceman from behind in the head,” Griesbaum said.
Uka then stormed onto the bus, yelling “Allah Akbar!” — Arabic for “God is great!” — and shot the driver in the head, killing him as well, Griesbaum said.
He then shot twice at a 25-year-old airman seated on the bus, wounding him, then fired once at a 21-year-old airman, wounding him as well, Griesbaum said.
“Then he tried to shoot a 22-year-old,” Griesbaum said. “He pointed his pistol at his head and pulled the trigger twice, but the pistol jammed and no shots came out.”
Uka fled, and the airman he had tried to shoot chased him down in the airport terminal and overpowered him along with police.
None of the airmen were in uniform, except for the driver.
Despite the attacker’s admission, U.S. officials have still stopped short of calling the incident a terrorist attack, sparking outrage by some:
The U.S. Air Force identified the two slain airmen as 25-year-old Senior Airman Nicholas J. Alden of South Carolina, and Airman 1st Class Zachary R. Cuddeback of Virginia.
Alden was assigned to the 48th Security Forces Squadron at RAF Lakenheath in England. Cuddeback was assigned to the 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
German authorities believe that Uka recently became radicalized and acted alone — but Griesbaum said the incident shows there is a serious danger from what he called “virtual Jihad” even if extremists are not part of a radical network.
“It underscores the danger of Islamists acting alone,” he said.
Police said Uka was shy and had few friends, and appeared to get his ideas not from mosque attendance or personal contact but from the Internet. He had not been observed at any of the mosques that German police keep under surveillance, they said.
Police said they have not been able to identify the video he said had inspired him to violence, or whether such a video even exists.
Griesbaum said the case underscored the threat from Internet extremism but added that the investigations could be slow and painstaking.
“Gathering the evidence is extremely difficult,” he told reporters.
____
David Rising and Juergen Baetz contributed to this report from Berlin.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 691 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 490 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 375 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 342 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 326 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 314 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 326 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 230 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 314 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (101)
EqualJustice
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:51amWHY would they not call this a TERRORIST attack? Just like they said the Fort Hood TERRORIST Nadal Hasan had “workplace stress?” what is wrong with these people? I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK. They wonder what we mean by that statement.. here’s a PERFECT example.
Report Post »Beware of Romans
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:47amIf this was done by a Nazi Socialist, I guarantee you a ‘Jesuit’ freemason was hiding in the shadows nearby.
Report Post »chuck_wagon
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:41amThis may be a simple question, but why didn’t the military guys fire back and kill this guy immediately?
Report Post »gunkgy
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 10:35amJust like American bases, our Military personel are not allowed to carry weapons, while off duty, in foriegn Countries. Our Military men and women are trained & trusted with some of the most advanced weapons systems in the world, while in trainning or war zone. But at home, they cannot carry a side arm on base because the libby whinners say they can’t be trusted not to go on rampages.
Report Post »chuck_wagon
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 11:03amBoy that makes a lot of sense doesn’t it? Train the best military in the world and then unarm them. And what’s really assinine is to unarm them in a foreign land full of ENEMY mooooslims. Sad to see our once great country in such decline.
Report Post »commentloading
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:41amWe can only hope that this hero airman introduced this animal’s face to the concrete with extreme prejudice when he took him down. Every one of those soldiers on that bus should have been armed with live rounds to prevent this type of thing. Stop tying our professionals hands behind their backs, they can handle the responsibility as well as any law enforcement, if not better. LEO’s carry loaded weapons everyday at the airport. Cowards like this are far less likely to attack our soldiers if they know they will get an immediate response.
Report Post »Tonio
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:15amP. G. Crowley is a sniveling coward! what the hell is wrong in America.
Report Post »Aschlub
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:11amMust not have been a Glock.
Report Post »freeedomusapa
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:10amthis is sad, I thank God that it wasn’t worse. may the Lord bless our troops and protect them
Report Post »Toastery
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:07amHe said he wanted to kill them because of the war in Afghanistan. He targeted US soldiers. He’s a terrorist!! He’s a war criminal. Take him to Gitmo!!
Report Post »va_magoo
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:06amHow many Americans will be killed by the members of the religion of peace before we wake up to realize they want to kill us all? This is the only religion on earth that desires to KILL all non-believers.
Report Post »No amount of aid, talk, or preaching is going to get them to change what the have believed for 1300 years. No more than you will be talked out of your beliefs will they be talked out of theirs. I believe in Jesus Christ and no one on this Earth will make me change. They feel the exact same way. The difference, I do not wish them dead, nor do I wish to rule the world. They do……..
I Believe In American Exceptionalism
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:55amBarack Hussein Obama said that race was a key element of the Tea Party – denigrating and marginalizing millions of PATRIOTIC AMERICAN CITIZENS. But he won’t call out Islamic terrorists even when they shout “Allah Akbar” before murdering AMERICAN SOLDIERS at Fort Hood and now Germany? Once again – Who’s side is Obama on?
Report Post »jblaze
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:19amJesus said,“You will know them by their fruits”. Can’t get much clearer than that!
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:47am=======
Uka then stormed onto the bus, yelling “Allah Akbar!” — Arabic for “God is great!” — and shot the driver in the head, killing him as well, Griesbaum said.
=======
More poor reporting from The Blaze. Allah Akbar means Allah is Great. Please leave God out of this.
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:46amFor GODS sake can we “effin” call a duck a duck for once in this country. Hes a muslim TERRORIST! end of story. If you have to investigate whether or not he is or isnt is shere cowardice its not even rampant political correctness at this point in the game.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:44am=======
Two other U.S. Air Force personnel were wounded in the attack Wednesday by Arid Uka, an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo
=======
Albania is a muslim controlled land. Read the sad history of the Islamic Jihad in Albania.
This was not a “german gunman”, it was a muslim engaged in jihad.
The Blaze, you do a great service to The Jihad by allowing it operate concealed behind the false label of “terrorism.” FAIL
Report Post »takemout
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:40amuka, you must keep gun clean for jihad.
Report Post »SC Now
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 10:38amTo take another‘s life is a terrible thing no mater what it’s called. I add this only FYI. He may have been using Russian ammo. It jams all the time. If that’s the case then thanks Russia.
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:35amWe must be careful not to offend all of the other peace loving Muslims in the world by calling this a terrorist attack. Instead we must be PC and call it…uh…what’s the term now? Oh yeah, ‘Man made disaster’ I think it is ? What a load of crap.
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:35amWhy is the government refusing to call it an act of terrorism? His family says he is a devout muslim. He shot Americans while yelling allah akbar, and the government wants to “wait and see”? They didn’t “wait and see” when they called that nut job in Tuscon a terrorist when he shot the Congresswoman. Of course he was a non-muslim American and white also, so they didn’t have to worry about “offending” anyone. Maybe it’s time to worry more about putting an end to this kind of crap and less time worrying about “offending” those who are trying to kill us.
Report Post »ZeitgeistBuster
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:42amThe government is refusing to call it an act of terrorism because they feel a kinship with these pukes.
America is the Great Satan.
America is the greatest terrorist threat in the world.
Jihadists must fight back against American agression and oppression.
America is the greatest exploiter and oppressor of the third world.
See a symmetry of belief between the Progressives and Muslim Jihadists? I do.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:45amBecause it is not.
It was an act of Jihad.
Report Post »ZeitgeistBuster
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:52amMike,
The “Perfect Day” will be a bunch of individual acts of Jihad too. Jihad in part is designed to “strike terror” into the hearts of the infidel, so therefore every violent act of Jihad is an act of terrorism, whether large or small, coordinated or isolated…… because it is all coming from the same poisonous spiritual well-spring.
Report Post »ZeitgeistBuster
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:34amGood on the Airman who ran his butt down. I can taste the adrenaline in my mouth thinking what I would do to this coward who shot one of my brothers in the back of the head. I hope he resisted capture and got a good beat down for it, ’cause it’s gonna be smoothe sailing for him from this point forward. Damn us for becoming so wussified and weak in the West.
Report Post »Pocono Countryboy
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:04amYes..a good job but he should have killed him. I would have.
Report Post »Vixvenom
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 10:22amI’m sure he was trying Countryboy. I just got back from Ramstein, 4 years over there. It makes me sick. Believe me when I tell you, Germany is full of legal and illegal Muslims from various countries and the Germans are sick of them. 95% of all crime is attributed to them. If not for immagrants, there would be virtually no crime in Germany. Keep an eye out, the people are tired of it. Change is coming….
Report Post »wash1776
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:32amThere is always some weak excuse for these terrorists. Pure and simple it is they have been and are being taught to hate Americans. They act as if they are so benevolent and are trying to correct perceived wrongs. All of these countries that claim to disrespect us because we are such a corrupt nation seem to fail to see their own corruption. Sure we have corruption in the government, big business, etc. But the only difference is that a VERY FEW run a lot of these other countries and control everything. They are just as corrupt and even more so than this country. The BIG DIFFERENCE is there corruption is centralized and everything goes to the people controlling the country. So the people that need the help sent to these countries live in poverty while the corrupt leader and his cronies live in luxurty. Gadhafi in Lybia is a prime example. They are finding out he has stashed away so much money they are having a hard time finding it all. The amount they have found so far is incredible. Just shows where all of the money donated to that and other countries winds up. In the hand of the few who have the power to steal it. All aid to these countries should stop until there is found a way to know where the money goes and some true results are seen.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:31amHe is a Muslim. They are afraid of being mean to him. Probably will let him go with a fine.
Report Post »Lucky Strikes
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:34amA fine? That would be insensitive.
Report Post »PA PATRIOT
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:45amExactly, Call an ace an ace and a spade a spade. NO GREY AREA
Report Post »Lucky Strikes
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:28am“Allah Akbar!” I think that says it all, WAKE UP PEOPLE RUNNING THIS COUNTRY!!!!! ARE YOU STUPID OR IGNORANT
Report Post »joesample
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:29amThey are both.
Report Post »curmudgeon60
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:27amDear Lord, when will it all end-soon I pray! TO any american soldier that may read this page-WE SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND SERVICE FOR US, yes even for serving the cowards in this country. GOD BLESS YOU AND THOSE THAT STAND FOR THE USA.
Report Post »joesample
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:25amAnother act inspired by the religion of peace. You have to love those peaceful muslims and how they shout “God is Great” right before they start killing people.
Report Post »rabblechat
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:17amThis isn’t just terrorism its islamic terrorism. Not surprising that the administration is afraid to admit to this fact, they can’t even admit that what happened on Fort hood was islamic terrorism.
Report Post »Its pretty obvious, where these people are getting their motivation from when they are shouting “Allah Akbar!”
as they kill Americans.
http://www.rabblechat.com
Gonzo
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:44amDid you see P.J. Crowley, from the State Dept., doing everything but hiding under the table when he was asked if the guy was a terrorist? He countered the question by asking if “the Giffords shooting was terrorism”. I’ve never seen an administration more scared of leading. It’s pathetic.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 11:14amWe souldn’t hurt the feelings of muslim terrorists , they’re so sensitive .
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:08amFirst of all, he wasn’t German.
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:14amI think he is. German police reports (and news) classify him as a “home-grown terrorist”.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:38am“Two other U.S. Air Force personnel were wounded in the attack Wednesday by Arid Uka, an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo.”
Report Post »I assumed when they said that he is from Kosovo that he is from Kosovo.
stogieguy7
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:43amNon Seq, according to the reports coming from Germany, the perp was an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo. Not German.
So, what does it take for something to be a *terrorist* attack – according to the Obama Administration? Apparently quite a lot unless an alleged right-wing organization is involved. Failing that, our useless government refuses to admit the truth lest it should offend any of the president’s Muslim kin.
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:46amOriginally, yes. But he was employed at the Frankfurt airport (which enabled him to plan his act of terror) and has German citizenship. More importantly, he was radicalized in Germany thus: home-grown.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:01amThen it proves Angela Merkel’s words to be true. Multiculturalism has failed in Germany.
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:12amMulticulturalism in the way the Germans dreamed of is not going to work, no. All this caused were 70% (I’ll make this up here, take it as a kind of rough guesstimate) of immigrants adapting to German culture and keeping the good parts of their own but 30% being rejected by German culture and becoming encapsulated in some kind of more radical sub-culture that exists parallel to German society.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 11:21am@Gonzo
Report Post »Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:38am
“Two other U.S. Air Force personnel were wounded in the attack Wednesday by Arid Uka, an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo.”
I assumed when they said that he is from Kosovo that he is from Kosovo.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ROFLMAO!
Sorry, Gonzo, but that comment was tongue-in-cheek priceless!
BeerSnob
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 1:23pm@gonzo
“I assumed when they said that he is from Kosovo that he is from Kosovo.”
Well played sir :)
Report Post »PA PATRIOT
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:06amHey Gang, Here is your homegrown enemy of my enemy (not my friend)
http://www.stopfbi.net/events/wright-college-sds/3-14-11/wright-college-presents-defend-dissent-egypt-us
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:19amIt is a mindset and it doesn’t even really need a trigger, just someone willing to do the deed. And it was an act of terrorism, or weren’t enough Americans killed to label it that? God bless the families of these soldiers and may they rest in peace. Lord, please keep our soldiers, policemen/women, fire fighters and borderguards safely in Your hands, amen.
Report Post »not funny
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:29amAccording to Michael Scheuer who was in charge of the bin Laden investigation group for the CIA, this is the way terrorists will most likely act in the future—alone. The administration will not acknowledge it as a terrorist attack in spite of the fact that he yelled Allah Akbar. Just like the Ft. Hood slayings. Why?
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:46amBoy that gun control in Germany is working pretty good. What‘s up with this administration when they just can’t seem to bring themselves to call a terrorist act just that. I imagine they will come up with some type of progressive political correct phrase for this to minimize what really took place.
Report Post »God bless all our troops and rest in peace to those murdered in this terrorist attack.
Semper Fi.
PA PATRIOT
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:47amDusty,
Report Post »I see it too. Mine were removed and were nothing but the truth. Lets see how long these posts remain?
Non-sequitur
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:53am“Boy that gun control in Germany is working pretty good.”
This, but unironically.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:59amDUSTYLUV and PA PATRIOT, haven’t had any of mine pulled that I know of, but wonder if this is in any way connected to the Huffpo woman Glenn hired. I certainly hope not. I hate to think we are being “nudged” without Glenn’s knowledge.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:01amDear Lord looking down upon us all, please keep our troops safe here at home and abroad while they seek to keep us safe from all foreign and domestic enemies; help to bring them home intact and of sound health and soul, mind and morale, to help save the Republic.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 10:22am@not funny
Report Post »Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:29am
According to Michael Scheuer who was in charge of the bin Laden investigation group for the CIA, this is the way terrorists will most likely act in the future—alone. The administration will not acknowledge it as a terrorist attack in spite of the fact that he yelled Allah Akbar. Just like the Ft. Hood slayings. Why?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Simple. To save face. People know that nothing like what happened at Ft. Hood, Detroit, New York City, and other places happened while Bush was POTUS. We were safe then. We have an Islamic Muslim in the White House. now. Different set of rules now because it’s his ballgame.
TSUNAMI-22
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 10:34am@ DUSTYLUV
I’m with you.
If it makes you feel any better, I get many of my posts removed as well. It seems as though the BLAZE want’s you to “speak your mind” as long as your entire post is “PC to everyone”. Upset one person and the opinion gets pulled.
I consider my opinion to be an indication of being pretty close to the mark when it gets deleted, and therefore evidence of success.
Report Post »BCNU
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 10:53am@DUSTYLUV
Report Post »Most of my posts pertaining to stopping the ACLU have been deleted/prohibited.
The Blaze editors probably support the ACLU……….or my posts “offended” an ACLU lemming.
Showtime
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 11:23am@Grandmaof5 ~
“God bless the families of these soldiers and may they rest in peace. Lord, please keep our soldiers, policemen/women, fire fighters and borderguards safely in Your hands, amen.”
Amen and amen!
Report Post »BeerSnob
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 12:50pm@dustyluv
Report Post »My posts seem to get deleted every time I refer to Glen as “Gandhi Beck” – and how his way aint gonna work
PA PATRIOT
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 1:52pmBEERSNOB,
Report Post »Wait until your imported milk stoudt goes to 30 bucks a bottle.
Then you will say. BECK WAS RIGHT!
BeerSnob
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 2:25pm@pa patriot
I’m a homebrewer – critical survival skills my friend.
I don‘t think Glenn’s “predictions” are necessarily wrong, I just think his method for fixing things isn’t going to solve anything.
Report Post »PA PATRIOT
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:57pmBEERSNOB
Aye Aye Cap on the home survival kit.
Although my taste buds may not know the difference between barley and hops, (I enjoy the Champaign of Beer) I must admit that I enjoy being enlightened each day with a beer in my hand. Furthermore, I believe it to be common knowledge among “Becksters” that GB is far better at unveiling the hazards of the progressive agenda than he is at changing their untrustworthy way of governance. God Bless GB for that!
Report Post »CottonMPG
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 3:21pmSure seems like a lot of acts of God saving us from these allah followers!! Thank God for His intervention when these terrorists attack!!
Report Post »