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(Muslim) Marine reservist charged in 2010 military shootings
cnn ^ | 6/23/2011 | cnn

Posted on 06/23/2011 9:51:06 AM PDT by tobyhill

Federal authorities on Thursday formally charged a Marine reservist in connection with 2010 shootings at the Pentagon and the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

According to a criminal complaint, law enforcement officers searched the residence of Yonathan Melaku and found numerous documents concerning bomb-making and explosives.

Melaku was arrested last week after he was found trespassing in Arlington National Cemetery before dawn. A car he pointed authorities to set off a bomb scare near the Pentagon.

Officials said they seized a digital videotape in Melaku's bedroom desk. According to the criminal complaint, a review of the videotape showed Melaku in a car driving near what appears to be the National Museum of the Marine Corps and repeatedly firing a handgun from the vehicle out of the passenger-side window.

On the video, officials said, Melaku made numerous statements that "demonstrates a clear link" to shootings at the Pentagon and military recruiting stations.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; US: Virginia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 2010; arlington; islam; melaku; pentagon; recruitingoffice; recruitingstations; usmc; vajihad; yonathanmelaku

1 posted on 06/23/2011 9:51:10 AM PDT by tobyhill
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To: tobyhill

Didn’t get past the excerpt.

In what paragraph does CNN say he is an Islamic terrorist?


2 posted on 06/23/2011 9:53:57 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Sarah Palin, the only candidate to be vetted by the NY Times, the Washington Post and NBC.)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

They don’t.


3 posted on 06/23/2011 9:55:40 AM PDT by tobyhill (Real Spending Cuts Don't Require Increasing The Debt)
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To: tobyhill

http://annandale.patch.com/articles/yonathan-melaku-charged-in-military-site-shootings

“Yonathan Melaku Charged In Military Site Shootings
Franconia man had list of ingredients for a bomb, video of him shooting Marine museum”
By Will Sommer

[...] Melaku, a 22-year-old Marine Corps reservist, has been charged with two counts of using and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence and two counts of injuring United States property with a firearm, and causing more than $1,000 of damage.

If Melaku is convicted of all charges, he could receive up to 10 years in prison on each destruction of property charges and between 35 years and life in prison if he convicted on the using a firearm during a crime charges.

An affidavit supporting the complaint against Melaku reveals that a June 17 search of his home on Sage Drive in Franconia connected Melaku to the shootings. Investigators found a videotape in a desk in Melaku’s bedroom that he filmed himself.

In the video, Melaku allegedly drives by the National Museum of the Marine Corps and fires a handgun.

“That’s the military building,” Melaku allegedly says on the tape. “It’s going to be attacked.”

Melaku repeatedly exclaims “Allahu Akbar” at different portions of the tape.

The search of Melaku’s house also revealed numerous electronic documents related to bomb-making, and a “shopping list” with the necessary ingredients for making an improvised explosive device. Several items on Melaku’s list were crossed off.

Melaku came to law enforcement attention on June 17, when he was discovered in Arlington Cemetery after it had closed. Melaku was carrying a backpack that, according ot the affidavit, contained spent 9mm shell casings and a notebook with references to al-Qaeda and the phrase “defeat coalition and allies and America.”

The backpack also allegedly contained ammonium nitrate, a component for homemade explosives.


4 posted on 06/23/2011 9:58:04 AM PDT by StayAt HomeMother
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To: EQAndyBuzz

At the time of the shootings didn’t some profiler say the prep was probably some redneck POed because he was not allowed to sign up?


5 posted on 06/23/2011 9:58:22 AM PDT by PeteB570 (Islam is the sea in which the terrorist shark swims. It aids & comforts the shark on it's journey.)
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To: PeteB570

But I thought we’re not supposed to use profiling in the first place. (sarcasm)

Remember, never jump to conclusions. The guy who was planning to blow up the car bomb in Times Square could have been somebody upset about Obamacare. Mayor Bloomberg knows all about the real threats to America.


6 posted on 06/23/2011 10:00:27 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: tobyhill
Authorities also found a spiral notebook with numerous Arabic statements that referenced the Taliban, al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, the complaint alleges.

So, in the reporter's mind - and only in the reporter's mind - the reason this person did what he did, was because he was a "Marine Reservist", being Muslim had no bearing on his actions, apparently.

Also, anyone can have a notebook mentioning the Taliban, al Qaeda or Osama - that neither makes us Islamic, nor terrorists. Heck, with that criteria - almost anyone here who has commented on any thread about terrorism is a 'terrorist-in training'. I've made numerous posts where I have mentioned Osama, al Qeada and Osama - however none of those posts have been in what could possibly have been viewed as a positive light.

7 posted on 06/23/2011 10:01:02 AM PDT by Hodar (Who needs laws .... when this "feels" so right?)
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To: All
“Melaku, a Marine Corps reservist lance corporal who is Muslim,”

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/06/17/suspicious-vehicle-shuts-down-several-major-roads-near-pentagon/

Just to show that I didn't make up the “Muslim” part. I know it's hard to believe being we were all looking for the Amish guy.

8 posted on 06/23/2011 10:05:30 AM PDT by tobyhill (Real Spending Cuts Don't Require Increasing The Debt)
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To: tobyhill

Can’t say the “M” word!!


9 posted on 06/23/2011 10:15:15 AM PDT by PGR88 (I'm so open-minded my brains fell out)
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To: PGR88

Methodist? Mormon? Mennonite?


10 posted on 06/23/2011 10:44:12 AM PDT by swain_forkbeard (Rationality may not be sufficient, but it is necessary.)
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To: All

Why is he a Marine Reservist? Whose bright idea was this? /rhetorical


11 posted on 06/25/2011 5:58:38 AM PDT by PghBaldy (War Powers Res: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/warpower.asp)
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