HAMILTON — You never know what you'll find on a spring cleaning sweep, but sheriff's deputies were surprised to find something "explosive" May 5 while participating in the Hamilton citywide cleanup. A used military rocket launcher, specifically a M72 light anti-tank weapon, covered by brush and leaning against a telephone pole, was spotted by a Butler County Jail inmate in the 500 block of South Third Street, Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said.
The sheriff said during his military training he shot similar weapons, known as LAW rockets, and was told to stomp on them after firing so they could not be reused by the enemy. A portion of the rocket launcher found in Hamilton was missing, making it inoperable and of no danger, Jones said. According to the U.S. Bureau of Tobacco, Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives, M72 launchers with a training tube installed for firing smaller projectiles than the usual rocket fall under the same regulations as firearms. A used, inoperable tube, however is not federally regulated, an ATF official said Friday. "Makes you wonder what they were using it for," Jones said.
Specialist Mike Grimes, commander of the sheriff's bomb unit, estimated the rocket launcher as circa 1970s, most likely used in the Vietnam war. He said it is possible children were using it to shoot fireworks or someone ditched it because the person who took it as souvenir could be charged with receiving stolen property since it technically belongs to the U.S. military.
http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/26/hjn052607rocket.html
Homeland Security Investigates Martins Ferry Doctor (Ohio)
May 26, 2007
MARTINS FERRY, Ohio -- The investigation into Martins Ferry Dr. Ashraf Badour has taken a major turn. Now, the doctor is under investigation by the Department of Justice and Homeland Security, along with Martins Ferry police and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department. Police said it all started with speed, turned to alleged assault on officers, and now Badour is accused of making threats, warranting the federal government’s assistance with the investigation.
Officials said Badour should be sitting behind bars at the Belmont County Jail, but instead he's on watch at Hillcrest Mental Heath Facility. Belmont County Sheriff Fred Thompson confirmed Badour was taken to Hillcrest Thursday after acting out at the jail. Neighbors in his Bethlehem neighborhood said they barely knew Badour and that he kept to himself. "It's just so quiet and peaceful up here. To hear about anything going on out of the ordinary, it's really strange," said Paul Johnson.
Now, federal agents, police, and doctors are working to find out as much as they can about Badour and what's behind his recent behavior. Police said that at this point in the investigation they can't elaborate on the types of threats Badour allegedly made or whom they were to. Friday in court, Judge Frank Fregiato denied him any chance of bond.
"I believe there are some extremely serious public safety issues involved in this case. I'm ordering an emergency community mental health evaluation. And until I see that, I'm not setting bond at this time," said Fregiato. After Badour's court appearance, he should have gone back to jail, but doctors have recommended he stay at Hillcrest through the weekend. NEWS9 was told there will be guards at his room around the clock as the investigation continues.
http://www.wtov9.com/news/13393984/detail.html
Norwegian Explosion Under Investigation
May 26, 2007
The Norwegian Pollution Control Authority has called for more inspections of the company that owns a facility where a large explosion occurred. The blast at Vest Tank caused no serious injuries, Aftenposten reported. Two tanks exploded Thursday morning. The facility is on the other side of a fjord from the Mongstad oil refinery, the largest refinery in Norway.
Vest Tank processes crude oil left in the holds of tankers and cleans contaminated drilling mud from offshore rigs. Bjorn Bjornstad of the pollution control authority told Bergens Tidende the company has a history of violations and poor controls for keeping track of waste. The Directorate for Civil Defense and Emergency Planning and police have begun an investigation into the cause of the explosion.
http://www.postchronicle.com/news/breakingnews/article_21282863.shtml
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Six customs inspectors at the Orlando Sanford International Airport have told federal officials that they were instructed to falsify passenger information. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers allege that in 2005, supervisors told them to falsify information typically gathered during direct interviews and inspections of international passengers or crew members, according to documents originally obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.
The Associated Press received the documents from federal officials Saturday. The whistle-blowers, Selma Ocasio, Jose Vazques-Quinones, Eilliam Errico and three other inspectors who are not named in the report, allege that supervisors told them to falsify information entered into a computer database, such as race, length of stay and number of bags. When questioned about the practice, supervisors allegedly said "things were done differently in Sanford."
Excerpted
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070526/APN/705261785
Mohmand elders fear Taliban, decline invite to Sunday’s jirga
Saturday, May 26, 2007
PESHAWAR: A proposed jirga of Saafi tribe in Mohmand Agency has been postponed after tribal elders declined the invitation to avoid being “victims of Waziristan-like target-killings”, tribal elders said on Friday.
The Mohmand Agency political administration has been pressing major tribes of the area to unite against increasing Taliban-linked activities and had summoned a jirga for the purpose tomorrow (Sunday).
“No tribal elder is ready to openly support the administration against the Taliban,” a tribal elder, asking not to be named, told Daily Times. Security agencies have warned the government that Mohmand Agency was “exposed” to the Taliban phenomenon because the area borders Bajaur Agency and overlooks Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Kunar provinces where there is a resurgence of the Taliban. “Frankly speaking, I am not mad to take on the Taliban … I know what happened to the people who tried this in Waziristan,” said another elder asking not to be named.
As fears of “Taliban reprisal” are gripping the Mohmand region, a meeting was held in Gandahab near Ghalanai, the regional headquarters of Mohmand Agency, on Friday where speakers paid tribute to Nazar Muhammad who was ‘martyred’ in Kunar province while fighting US forces. A participant of the meeting told Daily Times on the telephone that speakers highlighted the need for jihad against the Americans in Afghanistan. He said that Karachi-based cleric Sheikh Fazal Muhammad told the gathering of about 1,500 men including “armed and masked Taliban” that the mujahideen lacked modern weapons, but were using suicide bombers to fight back the enemy (the US). The source said that Umar Baacha, a youth introduced to the gathering as provincial head of the mujahideen, also spoke on the occasion. “We will sacrifice thousand more lives to drive out the Americans from Afghanistan,” the source quoted Baacha saying to the gathering.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007/05/26/story_26-5-2007_pg7_4