Al-Qaeda Threat in Philadelphia?

ABC Channel 6 Action News - Philadelphia ^ | June 27, 2002 | David Henry

[all4one]

Al-Qaeda Threat in Philadelphia?

Philadelphia, PA June 27, 2002 — David Henry reports from the Action Newsroom.

An Action News investigation reveals that a chain of jewelry stores operating in the Delaware Valley is being investigated by the FBI for possible connections to the Al Qaeda terror network.

A series of raids were carried out yesterday in Philadelphia and across the state of Pennsylvania.

The stores are mostly kiosks in shopping malls operating under the name "Intrigue Jewelers." They are all owned by Pakistanis under franchise agreements with a company called Gold Concepts, based in Pennsacola, Florida.

Intrigue operates stores at malls in Philadelphia, Plymouth Meeting, Harrisburg, and Monroeville. Until recently, they also had a kiosk at the Lehigh Valley Mall near Allentown. Owners and employees of the Intrigue shops at the Gallery in Center City and at the Plymouth Meeting Mall were questioned yesterday by agents from the FBI and INS. An employee at the shops in the Monroeville Mall tells us he was detained for hours yesterday.

Tariq Hussain says his home was searched and his computer was taken. He says the FBI accused him of funneling money to Ossama bin Laden's terror network. He says they questioned him about a photo he took two years ago of the NASDAQ building in New York, but he doesn't know how they knew about the photo.

The man in the photos taken at the World Trade Center just days before the attacks also worked at the Intrigue Jewelry store at the Lehigh Valley Mall. Two days before the attacks Ashar Iqbal Butt came to a photo shop in the mall looking for the pictures. The clerk says Butt seemed anxious to get them.

He was picked up on September 12th and was later charged with entering the country on a false passport just a month before the attacks.

Action News has confirmed that yesterday's sweep is part of a nationwide investigation involving at least 60 jewelry outlets. The justice department confirms that a number of people have been detained for questioning, but no charges have been filed yet.

[Dog]

If this what we all think this is.......this is very clever.....can you imagine the panic...would you want your family going to the local mall....

Very clever......we need to think outside the box......they won't hit us like before next time it will be aimed at the heartland ......you and me....not the high value target in DC and LA and NYC...

They want to wreck the economy....what better way than to blow up malls across America..

[Miss Marple]

Also Dayton, West Demoines, and San Francisco.

[Dog]

Whoa......how many does that make???... we need a count!

[Miss Marple]

That's West DesMoines, Iowa.

[Grampa Dave]

Just more of your fun loving Islamic terrorists making a living in America, the American way!

[Dog]

Jeff I think al-qaeda read your book....about the attacks on the mall.

[Chairman Fred]

Ashar Iqbal Butt

Is this a real name??

[Mo1]

Sheet ... I my neighbor just recently quite her job at a different jewlry store at the mall .. wanted to ask her about this place but she is not home ...

[Miss Marple]

I am only on page 2 of the google search. It takes a while because some of the malls have generic names, and I have to get directions from their sites to see what cities they are in.

And I haven't started searching that other store mentioned in the Pensacola paper yet.

[Miss Marple]

Tried to call my sister who works at a Simon Mall department store, but she isn't home yet.

[Mo1]

This got my attention one of those malls I go to all the time ..

[Miss Marple]

OK...just went to the phone book and we have one in Indy.

[Miss Marple]

Dog, I have to leave. Please keep people paying attention on this. I will be back in a couple of hours.

[all4one]

Suitable name...many illegals add generic first or last names, I guess he chose one that suited his intelligence the best. A big "way to go" to the clerk at the photo processing center for getting the pictures to the proper authorities.

[Dog]

Mail call both of you.

[Mo1]

Got it and right back at ya

Need to shut down the computer for a bit and nasty storm just rolled in and the lights are flickering

BBS

[McGavin999]

He says they questioned him about a photo he took two years ago of the NASDAQ building in New York, but he doesn't know how they knew about the photo.

Uh....could it be because it was found in a cave in Afghanistan labeled "Submitted by Brother Triq Hussain of PA"?

[Shermy]

Tariq Hussain says his home was searched and his computer was taken. He says the FBI accused him of funneling money to Ossama bin Laden's terror network. He says they questioned him about a photo he took two years ago of the NASDAQ building in New York, but he doesn't know how they knew about the photo.

Well, being "accused" can be a tool of inquiry. Pic of NASDAQ building? Same skill investigative skill as in fortune telling - or they knew he was there for some other reason. ..

[Shermy]

Ashar Iqbal Butt

Is this a real name??

Perhaps a relative of Mr. Cukoo Butt?

[anniegetyourgun]

I don't find any in WA state.