Update: Was TX Courthouse Scare Just a Drunken ‘Prank?’
- Posted on October 19, 2011 at 2:05pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Earlier today we brought you the curious story of five men who were arrested after some in their group broke into a San Antonio, TX courthouse. Initially, authorities were concerned about a possible terror threat, especially after the men were found to have numerous pictures of water plants and other infrastructure. Now, officials are saying it could have been just a drunken “prank.”
Some of the men, all in their 20s, wore sombreros and seemed to wield a gavel while running through the courthouse before getting caught, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said. Authorities said they had no weapons and didn’t immediately appear dangerous. ABC News has more:
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff told ABC News the three men arrested in what the FBI initially considered a “high-priority” situation were spotted on the court‘s surveillance tapes dancing in the hallways and waving the court’s gavel, all while wearing sombreros.
Wolff said they appeared to be “having a good time” and “could just be some guys on a prank.”
The identities or nationalities of the men weren’t immediately released, but officials found 90-day visas in their rented RV and earlier reports said they were French-Moroccan Muslims. Bexar County Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz said some of them arrived in New York last month and drove the vehicle to Florida, where the others joined them.
“It’s just very strange,” Wolff said. “If it was some kids in the neighborhood, you’d think it was a prank.”
Authorities said the men, who were expected to be charged with burglary, spoke little English but were cooperating with authorities through the help of a translator.
Wolff chuckled at times while describing what may have been a prank, which apparently began with some of the group entering the courthouse through a fire escape. Three of the men were caught inside, and two were outside near the RV.
The mood was far more serious around the Bexar County Courthouse when police arrested the men about 1:30 a.m. Officers called in bomb-sniffing dogs, FBI agents were brought to the scene, and downtown streets were blocked off.
Authorities also searched the nearby convention center, where dozens of top U.S. intelligence officials are attending a conference. Michael Vickers, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence, was scheduled to speak there Wednesday along with Air Force Gen. Robert Kehler, chief of U.S. Strategic Command.
Ortiz said authorities were waiting on a search warrant to comb the RV more thoroughly. Investigators said they already had found the visas, maps, cell phones and computers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments (113)
FreedomWatch
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 4:11pmWhat is happening to Texas…some marxist judge says it’s a prank when two of the pigs are on the FBI watch list…please, Wake Up people – do not be stupid and led down the path of complacency by progressive muslim loving marxist judges or you may find yourself and/or your family victims of the muslim hordes…
Report Post »Seasoldier
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 5:03pmThese guys were traveling around country taking pictures of things that could be likely terrorist targets, not your normal tourist spots. They should be sent to Guantanamo Bay until they are fully investigated, tried, cleared and/or held indefinitely until the Global War to Defend Ourselves from Radical Islamist Jihadism is over. Supreme Court Justices Robert Jackson and Arthur Goldberg have written that the Constitution is not a “suicide pact”. Semper Fi
Report Post »gena t
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 5:29pmSan Antonio is full of Muslims, many of whom are hard core believers. One of my friends was married to an Iranian for several years. The guy owned yellow cab, until he sold it for over $4 million. His drivers were for the most part Iranians who sought refuge after the Shah was overthrown, although many are still strict Muslims and if you rode with them would try to “teach” you the errors of your religon and why Islam was superior. Up until shortly after 9/11 they had free access to all the military bases in San Antonio, Ft Sam, Lackland, Randolph, etc, although now all cabs are closely searched before being allowed on the bases. Many of them settle in the San Antonio area because if they were in a foreign military likely they attended the Lackland Langage School while in their country’s military and so are familiar with San Antonio. I am not at all surprised that there would be terrorist activity in San Antonio, and I am really concerned that a major military convention was being held blocks from where these ******** were caught. And if no one remembers, the 9/11 attackers partied big time right before their terrorist attacks, at bars with “lap dancers,” hardly what you would expect from people who want you to believe the Muslims live a superior cleaner life than other people. I would really be concerned, and from what I’ve spoken of with friends and neighbors in San Antonio, most of us do not feel it was a drunken prank.
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 5:30pmAh,
Muslims do not drink.
Report Post »Tired-of-fools
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 7:21pmstring them up anyway as a deterant.
Report Post »John the Doe
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 7:25pmThey should be shot yesterday.
Report Post »DiscoDave
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 7:33pmA couple of things from the local news…
I am sure that the local channels took their direction in executing a “drunken prank” cover story from the Feds. The cat was out of the bag when it was revealed that several of the perps were on the FBI terror watch list…
Video surveillance of two of the courthouse intruders looked suspicious, particularly the time/date info in the upper left that was garbled beyond all recognition.
Another report said that the police originally investigating found pictures and a whole bunch of evidence from “soft” targets around the country. Now, tonight, they are saying that the RV is impounded, awaiting a search warrant!!! No mention of anything REMOTELY incriminating except “beer bottles” (allegedly) recovered in the court house. HOWEVER, the news was less diligent their covering up when they showed footage of the uniformed police (first responders) entering and walking in and out of the RV this morning… NO SEARCH WARRANT!!! The vehicle’s occupants were abetting a crime… WHY WOULD YOU NEED A SEARCH WARRANT IN THE FIRST PLACE??? The cover “waiting for a warrant” is to give enough time for this story to die out, for the truth to disappear down the “memory hole”, and for some more cases of beer and party gear to be brought in an paraded out for evidence.
SOMEGTHING SMELLS HERE, AND IT IS NOT THE FOUL STENCH OF SOCIAL JUSTICE COVERING FOR THESE FOREIGNERS! THIS IS A COVERUP!!!
-Dave
Report Post »Jwmajic
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 10:42pmI agree I smell manure on this one what are they covering up with the second story:?
Report Post »Jwmajic
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 10:49pmI bet these guys are somehow connected to somebody important or somebody high up screwed up. If I had to bet at least one of these guys are connected to the government and went rouge.
Report Post »Doris
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 11:21pmThis is truly scary. Why the cover up?Not trying to keep us safe you can bet.This is not a drunken prank. With a high level meeting down the street.Texas is big enough to get lost in. Cooperating? Sure they are. Who is calling it a prank?
Report Post »Ruprickt
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 11:32pm@Teamarcheson….ah, yes they do. You should go talk to an Arab and they will confirm that muslims do indeed drink.
Report Post »kae-II
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:29amYou can’t fix “stoopid” and the judge is just that…… STUPID!!!
Report Post »poorrichard09
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:47amPrank my a$$! It‘s chilling to see how fast the gov’t covered this over. Nothing to see here-move along.
Report Post »robert
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:33am“Wolff chuckled at times while describing what may have been a prank, which apparently began with some of the group entering the courthouse through a fire escape. Three of the men were caught inside, and two were outside near the RV.”
A Ptank? Muslim who allegedly do not drink alcohol this moron judge says is drunk? Breaking and entering a dwelling with cameras and photos of infrastructure is a prank?
Personally, if I lived in the area I‘d want to get rid of this brainless dork in the black robes and send him backj to his pig farm where he can conduct the sort of business he’s best qualified for.
I don’t know what his motivation is for lying, but he needs to be ousted and CLOSELY watched by those in his area.
He opened his big yap once too often and gave himself away.
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:36amHardly a drunken prank. I’d take this so seriously with finding all the other material found in their vehicle.
Report Post »Time to get smart guys. No prank here.
Bluebonnet
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:41amYes, muslims do drink. Remember the ones who flew into the WTC? As I remember, while they were taking flying lessons, they went out & got drunk and picked up women. One had a girl friend. Because they say Muslims don’t drink or fornicate, don’t believe a word from these type people.
Report Post »If you can blow up airplanes and buildings and other people, you can drink too.
walleye01
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 7:49amAmen! I am a Texan and absolutely can not believe what I am witnessing in my state…God please save us from ourselves!
Report Post »tppagee
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 8:23amNelson Wolfe the judge and the mayor are both progressives in bed with the Obama admin. The hijacked dem party is thick here in San Antonio, Tx.
Report Post »bellasbrat
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 4:11pmAll of the above. Fishy, fishy, fishy.
Report Post »Airplaneguy
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 4:06pmIs it just me that finds it hard to believe the drunk Muslims and the Feds? Both are bent on destroying us. Or maybe this was an isolated incident repeated in cities across the United States.
Report Post »Lisa Caroline
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 4:05pmSo this story goes from foiled terror plot to a simple drunken prank in less than 24 hours? Something smells fishy to me. Sounds to me like they are now trying to spin a terror plot into something that‘s ’no big deal’ to downplay the significance of it. Or maybe the terrorists have gotten a bit smarter too and are pretending just to be drunk kids? Either way, something isn’t right here. My family never takes pictures of ‘water plants’ when we go on vacation cross country, or break into courthouses in the middle of the night. Something is really wrong with this story…
Report Post »thechief64
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 4:10pmI agree, Lisa. The spin-meisters are always ready to downplay anything that looks like a threat to the credibility of the Obama administration. From the evidence, these are not kids playing games.
Report Post »One Patriot
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 4:21pmJust like the downing of TWA 800. The feds (Kalstrom) would have us believe it was a spark in a fuel tank. And ignoring over 250 credible witnesses that saw the ascending missile(s);
Report Post »Like we (the American people) are unable to withstand the truth…huh?
So here we go again. Just be, or remain vigilant.
If this was a prank…I’m the Pope.
plastinoid
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 4:04pmWaterboard them!
Report Post »Islamislame
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 5:16pmWaterboarding isn’t good enough…too soft.
Report Post »Islamislame
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 4:01pmA prank? I’m sorry, but I have lost all confidence in law enforcement in this nation. We are in desperate need of a leader!! I guess we need another 911 attack or worse before these politically correct bozo’s will do the job we pay them to do!
Thank goodness for the Department of Homeland Insecurity! They’re all over it.
Report Post »John the Doe
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 7:28pmWe don’t want a 911 with the current clown we have as Gestapo
Report Post »USALBOK
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 4:00pmNo worries. Maybe they took Katie Couric’s advice and were just filming a pilot for that wacky new Muslim themed Cosby Show …
Report Post »ThatsJustCrazyTalk
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:56pmAhahahaha! I get it. That is kind of funny to climb into federal buildings and dig around at 2am. So, they’re just cruising around the US sight seeing Federal Buildings? Then they climb inside a Court House? Umm, if by “PRANK,“ you mean ”DRY RUN” then I got you.
Two of the suspects are on the watch list. So are all suspects on the terrorism watch list a bunch of pranksters?
How about we either: Treat them like an American would be treated if they were climbing into judicial buildings in Morocco. Or, we immediately deport them back to Morocco at their own expense and inform the authorities these dimwits were drinking and perusing women? Either way I’m fine with it.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 4:08pmTexas justice is needed….SHOOT THEM!!!
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:46amDry run is more like it to see if they can do it. Send in Rick Perry, he’ll argue with them.
Report Post »triper57
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:55pmJust a thought, but it has been reported that they were seen entering the building with a package, but didn’t have it when they came out. I know that bombs come to mind but what about a cache of guns? For use by someone else at a later date.
Report Post »dopie joe
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:55pmmore like a dry run,a fishing expedition,a future target?
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 4:09pm“especially after the men were found to have numerous pictures of water plants and other infrastructure”
If they had just broke into the courthouse & they were drunk I could believe it. But that is not the only thing they did. Authorities are ******* on our legs & calling it rain.
I have gone to other countries. I have got drunk in other countries. But never once did I decide to mess with the the police or the judiciary.
I think they are plants to divert our attention by some organization (ours, Iran’s, who knows). They were meant to get caught.
Report Post »Carol Ingian
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:50pmA prank? Yeah, right!
Muslims who broke into an American courthouse whooping it up wearing sombreros, sounds like they are thumbing there noses at America and Mexico.
It is not the pictures they were caught with that I would be most concerned with, it would be whatever material that has been already sent to their buddies back home.
Report Post »asmurff
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:46pmTo Gitmo with them for some advanced reasoning on why you don’t pull pranks like this in America! Prank my butt, this needs to be fully investigated not swept under the carpet by our Jihad loving officals.
Report Post »grayhaired vet
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:44pmIt sounds to me like they have either the second stringers or the TSA investigating this one. It’s time to bring in the professionals.
Report Post »Michigan Vacation
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:44pmFrom news radio WOAI 1200 –
“Inside the van, officials say they found “photographs of infrastructure” including photos of shopping malls, water systems, courthouses and other public buildings which they say were taken in cities nationwide.”
Wonder what the water system photos were all about?
Al Queda works just like this.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:46pmmaybe they were trying to find the other sewer rats so they all can live happily ever after. NOT !!!
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 4:12pmCan you stay drunk that long while supposedly pulling a prank & visiting numerous sites.
Yes it was a 90 day long prank.
Report Post »jessieH
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:41pmIf it had been me, they wouldn’t say it was a drunken prank. The law is the law, whether they were drunk or not. No one is above the law, not even the Grey Alien in the White House.
Report Post »encycloman
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:37pmOkay. Dose of reality here. Muslims normally DO NOT DRINK. How better to get away with something than to pretend to be so? So far, many do not understand that they are all0in-one people: religion, politics and law all in one package. And we are their enemy.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:41pmsoured goats milk, yeah, that’s what was,
Report Post »Michael
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:46pmdidn’t the muslims from 9/11 drink and go to strip clubs?
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:46pmMuslims are not supposed to watch nude women, either, but that didn’t stop some of the 19 from going to strip clubs the night before 9/11. Who flies in on a visa, drives around our country, taking pictures of infrastructure? There’s an ulterior motive here.
Report Post »mdhawthorne
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:37pmIsn’t it funny how this story has evolved from a very serious matter to just being a prank. I smell a big fat government RAT here. There is definitely something going on here they do not want us to know. They can not even lie convincingly.
Report Post »The_Hut_In_Co
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:33pmWTH! I thought it was something worth well something!
Report Post »ghostly321
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:32pmMy only comment is that the whole world is going to hell in a hand basket…..
Report Post »pcj
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:31pmA drunken prank? By five Muslims traveling around the US taking photos of building infrastructures? In a building nearby a US intelligence meeting? Yeah, right. Sounds like another Holder/Obama ploy to let them go. “Just pretend like you were drunk and act silly if you get caught.” Don’t let them get away with it….
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:28pmIt was just a lark! Oh those nutty Muslims just crack me up!
Report Post »TelepromoterNChief
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:32pmWe are string more funny Muslims in mainstream media these days.
Report Post »Terrorism is now the new funny apparently….
randy
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:25pmInitially, authorities were concerned about a possible terror threat, especially after the men were found to have numerous pictures of water plants and other infrastructure.
Pranksters?
Yeah right, PRANKSTERS MY A$$!
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:39pm@ randy, i was thinking the same thing, prank my ass, sounds like the government is trying to swipe another terrorist threat under the rug, some thing is not right here, put a prank is not one of them.
Report Post »Lisa Caroline
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 4:07pmYou mean your family doesn’t drive RVs cross-country taking pictures of water plants? Must just be a terrorist’s idea of vacation.
Report Post »jwdant
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:16pmmuslims do not drink alcohol and it could not have been a drunken prank unless they were high on something else: like a jihad
Report Post »jwdant
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:15pmthey werent there as prank! muslims in an american court house
Report Post »((GB)) FAN
Posted on October 19, 2011 at 3:13pmnothing to see here
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