Terror News from the US & other bits

University of Memphis Student Arrested on Possible Ties to Terrorism

September 16, 2005: Mahmoud H. MAAWAD, 29, an undergraduate student from Egypt attending the University of Memphis - and an illegal alien - was arrested last Friday by federal authorities and is currently under investigation for ties to possible terrorism.

MAAWAD, residing at 3557 Mynders, apartment 5, Memphis, TN was arrested on September 9, 2005 on charges of wire fraud and the fraudulent use of a Social Security number. Federal authorities searched his apartment and found a desk, chair, computer and a Qu’ran. In addition, authorities also found an airline pilot's uniform, a chart of Memphis International Airport, and instructional DVDs, including one called "How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act."

U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Thomas Anderson ruled yesterday that MAAWAD is to be held without bond and jailed until his trial. MAAWAD has been in the country illegally since 1999, and has used a false Social Security number to enroll in schools and open a bank account, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Parker. He's been working off-the-books for cash at a North Memphis convenience store, and was arrested by Shelby County sheriff's deputies last spring for selling alcohol to a minor.

Currently, federal agents are downloading information from MAAWAD’S computer and analyzing materials from his apartment in search of a terrorism connection.

According to FBI agent Thad Gulczynski, MAAWAD ordered about $3,000 in aviation materials, DVDs titled "Ups and Downs of Takeoffs and Landings," "Airplane Talk," "Mental Math for Pilots" and "Mastering GPS Flying," between April and August of this year. He also ordered a pilot's coat and hat, and a chart of the Memphis airport terminal area. When the company didn't receive payment from MAAWAD for the merchandise it had delivered, officials called the FBI, which launched an investigation, according to Gulczynski.

Huge caches of weapons unearthed in Kabul

September 16, 2005: The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) unearthed huge dumps of weapons following two separate operations in the outskirts of the Afghan capital city.

Reports indicate that the two caches included 200 rockets and other weaponry was recovered in Bagrami and Deh Sabz areas of Kabul. Following a tip, ISAF units consisting of British, Canadian and Italian troops raided an area in the Bagrami district north of Kabul and recovered two Russian-made 107mm rockets along with fuses.

In a second operation in the Deh Sabz area of the capital, French, Norwegian and Italian troops unearthed 188 107mm caliber rockets with fuses, 3 ground-to-air missile launchers, 3 anti-tank mines and 3 boxes of C3-type explosives. All of the weapons and ammunition found was in good condition.

The huge weapons caches were found within two days of the “landmark” parliamentary elections, as the government and coalition forces stepped up security in and around Kabul to secure the polls.

When FBI agents walked into Mahmoud Maawad's spartan apartment at 3557 Mynders # 5 on Sept. 9, they found a desk, chair, computer and a Koran.

They also found an airline pilot's uniform, a chart of Memphis International Airport, and instructional DVDs, including one called "How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act."

A federal magistrate Thursday ordered Maawad, a 29-year-old University of Memphis student from Egypt, jailed until his trial on charges of wire fraud and fraudulent use of a Social Security number.

"The specific facts and circumstances are scary," Asst. U.S. Atty. Steve Parker said, arguing against Maawad's release.

Since Maawad can't get a Social Security number, "he can't get a pilot's license, and can't go to flight school," Parker said. "But he wants to get behind the wheel of an aircraft."

Parker said "we don't know either way" if Maawad is a terrorist or connected to any terror groups.

U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Thomas Anderson ruled that Maawad be held without bond.

EXTREMIST GROUPS IN UK UNIVERSITYS - (NO CHANGE THERE THEN REALLY)

Extremist organisations are operating on university campuses across the country and pose a serious threat to national security, according to a new report.

Yesterday the education secretary, Ruth Kelly, ordered vice-chancellors to clamp down on student extremists in the wake of the July terror attacks in London.

But a report due to be published next week by Anthony Glees, the director of Brunel University's centre for intelligence and security studies, lists more than 30 institutions - including some of the most high-profile universities in the country - where "extremist and/or terror groups" have been detected.

"This is a serious threat," Professor Glees told the Guardian. "We have discovered a number of universities where subversive activities are taking place, often without the knowledge of the university authorities."

The study states that the Islamist groups Hizb ut-Tahrir and al-Muhajiroun, which are subject to a "no-platform policy" by the National Union of Students, are active on many campuses and often operate under different names....

Among the universities named are...the London School of Economics and Manchester University, which both had active Islamist extremist groups.

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