The Minnesota Cell?

SHEIK OMAR ABDEL RAHMAN—THE BLIND SHEIK
One of fundamentalist Islam’s most exalted spiritual leaders; resided in Rochester between 1998 and 2002 at the Federal Medical Center prison. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1996 for conspiring to blow up the United Nations, New York’s FBI office, and all the bridges and tunnels going into New York City. After September 11th, Osama bin Laden threatened to free Rahman, using whatever force necessary. Rep. Gil Gutknecht began raising questions regarding the city’s (and state’s) security, and Rahman was soon moved to another federal prison.

JANE TURNER—DID NOT ADMIRE THE FINE CRYSTAL
Jane Turner, a twenty-five-year special agent, noticed a Tiffany globe on a secretary’s desk in the Minneapolis FBI office in August 2002. After learning it came from the World Trade Center, she brought the globe to the attention of the inspector general. No FBI agents were reprimanded or indicted. Instead, Turner received a “notice of proposed removal,” according to her attorney, Stephen Kohn. She retired on November 21, 2002.

COLLEEN ROWLEY—CELEBRATED BLOWER OF THE WHISTLE
In May of 2002, Minneapolis FBI agent Colleen Rowley sent a caustic, thirteen-page email to FBI director Robert Mueller, claiming that certain facts regarding the investigation of Moussaoui were omitted and downplayed. Minneapolis agents in August 2001 had taken Moussaoui into custody and wanted to search his computer. However, personnel at FBI headquarters disputed with the Minneapolis agents the existence of probable cause to believe that a criminal violation had occurred or was occurring. However, agents were given a warrant after September 11th.

MOHAND ALSHEHRI—MUSCLE MAN IN ROCHESTER
Was on United Airlines flight 175, the plane that hit the south tower on September 11th. He was a “muscle hijacker” who apparently had flight training (though his training was never documented) but was designated to help take control of the cockpit and keep it. Nancy Hanlon, a cardiac ward secretary at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, claimed she met him at a local bar in August of 2001. He called himself Khalid, and they had a lengthy conversation where he informed her that he was going to die soon, and it was predetermined.

ABDEL-ILAH ELMARDOUDI—DR. DOCUMENT
A Moroccan who lived in Minneapolis. In August 2002, was indicted and later convicted of conspiring to provide material support or resources to terrorists, of fraud, and of misusing documents. Convicted last year in a Michigan court of conspiring to provide material support (including forged identity documents) to terrorists.

ILYAS ALI—DRUGS, GUNS, AND TALIBAN
In November 2002, indictment unsealed against him. Born in India and lived in St. Paul. He pleaded guilty to charges that he conspired to supply weapons to terrorists through the sale of drugs. Apparently planned to sell five tons of hashish and a half-ton of Pakistani heroin in exchange for cash and four shoulder-fired Stinger missiles, which he intended to sell to the Taliban.

MOHAMMED A. WARSAME—THE UNBANK?
A Canadian man born in Somalia who lived in Minneapolis. Warsame was arrested in the Twin Cities in December 2003. He has been charged with conspiring to provide aid to al-Qaida, and federal prosecutors allege he fought with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Was charged in January 2004 with wiring money to Pakistan for alleged al-Qaida conspirators.

MOHAMAD ELZAHABI—COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
In April 2004, agents began questioning Mohamad Elzahabi, a Lebanese man living in Minneapolis. Later charged with lying to federal agents after saying he didn’t send walkie-talkies to Pakistan. Also charged with lying about his role in helping a man fraudulently obtain a Massachusetts driver’s license. An FBI affidavit says he admitted to participating in an al-Qaida training camp.—Brian Voerding


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