Muhammad, Malvo May be Connected To Alabama Terror Camp

newscourt.com ^ | 10-24-02 | john pender

[kingfish45n]

newscourt.com - Authorities are investigating into possible ties between John Muhammad, John Lee Malvo and a training camp reportedly linked to Islamic terrorists in Marion, Alabama. European law enforcement officials believe Muslims were using the camp to prepare for a holy war, according to a July 25 2002, report by ABC NEWS.

An investigation by Britain's Scotland Yard led to the discovery of "Camp Ground Zero," in Alabama. Bullet-riddled school buses and police cars with mannequin targets were scattered around the grounds. Inside a large warehouse were shot-up mannequins, in domestic settings, with blood-like stains on them.

Ground Zero's operators - also British - offered world-class training in automatic weapons and urban warfare, supposedly to fight terrorism. Marion police became suspicious of the use of buses and police cars as targets, but the camp owners refused to comment on the matter in July.

"In the United States, it is not illegal for anyone to receive military training, high-grade military training," said Rohan Gunaratna, author of Inside Al Qaeda. We know of a number of cases where Islamic terrorists came and trained in this country in the early 1990s. It is likely that this scale of training is still continuing," Gunaratna said.

The most radical of London's Islamic clerics, Abu Hamza, told ABCNEWS in a July 2002 phone call that America's laws make paramilitary training easy, "like a picnic."

British intelligence officials told ABC NEWS they were examining ties between Hamza, who is said to have recruited alleged "20th hijacker" Zacarias Moussaoui, and Zain-ul-Albidin.

The pressing question for police is whether there is a connection between the camp, John Muhammad and John Malvo.

The credit card that Muhammad allegedly used as a transfer account for the $10 million demanded in ransom by the D.C. snipers belonged to a woman who was killed in a liquor store robbery in Marion, Ala., last month. Police also report that Malvo's DNA was found at the scene of that robbery and murder.

[FreeTally]

CNN, for a while, seemed to have a policy of ALWAYS ID'ing the warrantee as "Williams" first and "Muhammed" second. By this morning, that policy, wisely, has been reversed.

I was watchiing FOX and MSNCB all last night and they seemed to reluctantly call him anything other than John Mohammed. Saying "Alan Williams" was rare, and only after his last name was called "Mohammed".

I don't understand where people get this idea they are playing down his obvious muslin name and past conversion.

[YaYa123]

This is the Montgomery Chief of Police....I think Marion is quite a distance south of Montgomery, south even of Fort Rucker.

He's on MSNBC right now.

[FreeTally]

I didn't put that in quotes because it's not exact, but it is exactly the thought I heard him convey.

Do you find it specious that a local police chief does not know about a privately owned training facility where law enforcement, security agents and foreign government agents train?

I aint buying it.

[Fulbright]

The "unfortunate" parts are indeed its rental policy and,
of course, the name, which must be a source of amusement to the Bad Guys this morning.

[FreeTally]

Yeh, I realize the distance that Montgomery is from Marion, but I just doubt the CHIEF doesn't know this place, which is not secret by any means, exists just south of his jurisdiction.

[PJ-Comix]

Yes indeedie. Last night, Aaron "Errin'" Brown looked as though he were covering his daughter's funeral on CNN's Newsnight - wincing every time he was forced to:

It's going to get worse for Brown when he has to show video of John Mohammed standing guard over Calypso Louie at the MMM rally in DC from 1995.

[Interesting Times]

MSNBC Brian Williams says, "Hubris"..this may all come down to one word, "Hubris".

Speak for yourself, Brian.

[YaYa123]

MSNBC Brian Williams is reading quote from federal official:

"No one is certain that everyone who was involved is now off the street. The all clear has not been sounded. "We've assumed it could be two people, but we've never been certain of that". "There will be no statements from officials today, declaring this seige is over."

[twigs]

Have the local police been bought off?

[FreeTally]

That's not surprising. I heard mentioned briefly that they are looking for a relative, maybe mother, of Malvo.

I think the feds are doing there best to not screw up and make themsleves look even more like bumbling idiots, espeically considering many Americans hold them responsible for letting the 9/11 guys in the country.

[johnb838]

Frankly I've been wondering when the (anti-)American black muslims were going to be implicated in something terror related. I think their leadership (Calypso Louie) has mostly tried to stay out of it, at least publicly. This may be the end of that.

Or... it might be.... "just another isolated incident"

[Kerberos]

"The all clear has not been sounded"

I am not at all convinced that this thing is over. Today may be a good day to sit back, watch, listen, and learn. IMO

[Norman Arbuthnot]

This is the Montgomery Chief of Police

Chief Wilson of Montgomery Alabama made a professional appearance. He was very articulate. A reporter asked him if Maryland has the death penalty and he replied that he didn't know, but that "Alabama certainly does!. LOL.

[Mixer]

so much for the "angry white male" garbage...

The reverse profiling is sickening. I am so glad that they have to eat crow this morning. The fact thta most news sources are backing away from AQ or other terror group connections is still bothersome though. I mean c'mon, the guy converted to Islam and there are reports out of Seatle that they were sympathetic to the 911 Hijackers. Need more proof CNN???

I even hear WOR Radio in NY this moring refer to the guy as John Williams. He changed his name to Muhamad when he converted to Islam. Please report the facts.

[finnman69]

Add this 'diverse' guy to their banner.

[Pharmboy]

*Ping*

[Fred Mertz]

Thanks for that info, YaYa. I've been trying to figure how many more are out there that helped these two. My guess is three more.

[CapandBall]

Hi umgud, I'm listening to this news break on local WTOP radio out of DC. No details on the type of gun, and they sound like registered "militant muslims". They are trying to decide if they should search the car at the rest stop where they were caught, or transport the car then search. They are waiting for the search warrent...

Just braoadcast (Montgomery County police): "We are pretty sure these are the guys. Why, because we got tons of evidence"