(now old news): Padilla admits plot to "simultaneously blow up 20 buildings" - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

MSD · 06-01-2004, 09:16 AM

No article yet. Tune into nat'l news for coverage of presss conf.

Alleged "dirty bomber" Jose Padilla has admitted to taking an assignment from the mastermind of the 9-11 attacks to simultaneously detonate explosive devices intended to collapse 20 builidngs in several US cities. He recieved training in secure phone lines and Al-Quaeda email protocls, as well as large amounts of cash, from al-Quaeda sources

More to come when it is available

edit: http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/06/01/us....ap/index.html

Quote:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Jose Padilla, a former Chicago gang member now held as a terrorism suspect, sought to blow up hotels and apartment buildings in the United States in addition to planning an attack with a "dirty bomb" radiological device, according to government documents.

The documents, released Tuesday by the Justice Department, said that Padilla and an al Qaeda accomplice were to enter the United States through Mexico or Puerto Rico.

"Padilla and the accomplice were to locate as many as three high-rise apartment buildings which had natural gas supplied to the floors," the government summary of interrogations revealed.

"They would rent two apartments in each building, seal all the openings, turn on the gas, and set timers to detonate the buildings simultaneously at a later time," the papers alleged.

The documents said al Qaeda officials were skeptical of Padilla's ability to set off a dirty bomb but were very interested in the apartment operation.

Top al Qaeda officials "wanted Padilla to hit targets in New York City, although Florida and Washington, D.C. were discussed as well," the summary said.

Padilla was to conduct an Internet search on buildings that had natural gas heating, open a bank account and obtain documents needed to rent an apartment. The plot called for blowing up 20 buildings simultaneously, but Padilla said he could not rent multiple apartments under one identity without drawing attention.

The FBI arrested Padilla in May 2002 as he returned from a trip to Pakistan. The U.S. government has designated Padilla an "enemy combatant."

The Supreme Court is considering Padilla's case to determine whether the government has the authority to designate U.S. citizens enemy combatants and deny them quick access to lawyers or courts.

url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/02/20/scotus.enemy.combatant/]full story[/url]

Tophat665 · 06-01-2004, 09:18 AM

Now, isn't this exactly the kind of thing we have treason on the books to cover?

Averett · 06-01-2004, 09:19 AM

Well, that would have been impressive if he pulled it off.

Pretty far fetched though... Sounds like a really bad movie plot.

absorbentishe · 06-01-2004, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Averett
Pretty far fetched though... Sounds like a really bad movie plot.

I was thinking the same. A bad movie plot for a Steven Segal movie perhaps.

Averett · 06-01-2004, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by absorbentishe
I was thinking the same. A bad movie plot for a Steven Segal movie perhaps.

Maybe a Steven Segal & Jean Claude Van Dam buddy flick?

Cynthetiq · 06-01-2004, 10:18 AM

while it does seem far fetched those of you who are XFiles fans will note that the first episode of defunct spin off, The Lone Gunmen, was in fact about a plane (remotely controlled) being flown into one of the World Trade Towers.

Art imitates life, which imitates art.

Now please stop wishing for a Steven Segal/Jean Claude flick.
brrrr
shivers down my spine.

bookerV · 06-01-2004, 10:30 AM

Steven Segal & JC is a bit much. I think it should be Steven Segal and Dennis Rodman. DR did a flick with JC, so I think its time SS & DR teamed up to fight terror... It's the natural progression of things...

NoSoup · 06-01-2004, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Averett
Pretty far fetched though... Sounds like a really bad movie plot.

Pre 9/11, wouldn't flying a couple of passenger jets into targeted buildings seem a little farfetched as well?

IMHO, this doesn't really strike me as farfetched at all, the terrorists seem to be extremely intelligent and resourceful, utilizing whatever they can as weapons of terror.

Farfetched is what caught us by surprise in the first place...

water_boy1999 · 06-01-2004, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NoSoup
Pre 9/11, wouldn't flying a couple of passenger jets into targeted buildings seem a little farfetched as well?

My thoughts exactly.
Sure, a Steven Seagal and Jean Claude movie raises the hairs on the back of my neck, but the thought out process of blowing up 20 buildings simultaneously sends chills through my bones!

With 9/11, we all know just how dangerous and intelligent these terrorists are. Why not assume that they could do much worse?

Crack · 06-01-2004, 12:53 PM

Reminds me of Fight Club...

maleficent · 06-01-2004, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NoSoup
Pre 9/11, wouldn't flying a couple of passenger jets into targeted buildings seem a little farfetched as well?

Not if you read any Tom Clancy. Happened in.... I'm drawing a blank.. Debt of Honor I think - twas how Jack Ryan became president - plane crashed into the Capitol Building.

Renting that many apartments would be difficult but renting 20 hotel rooms I doubt would raise any suspicion, as long as different credit cards were used.

absorbentishe · 06-01-2004, 01:14 PM

I wasn't trying to make light of this in any way. To me/us, something like this would seem like it would never happen, but to them, this is plausable(sp?). 20 buildings at once is far fetched, maybe 2 or 3, then 2 or 3 more. Hopefully this news will be somewhat of a wake up call to those in charge, that anything is possible.

maleficent · 06-01-2004, 01:23 PM

In all seriousness...

How do you prevent it from happening, WITHOUT infringing, and this isn't meant as sarcastic as it is going to sound, on our precious rights to privacy

I am ashamed to admit I have no idea where the government is with the implementation of CAPPS II, which deals with airline safety but basically is a major assault on our right to privacy. Does a similar plan need to be enacted for hotels? With all the hotel chains, and individual hotels out there, i'd be a huge project to pull off.

Office space? What's to prevent someone from having a package delivered to a place, I know the mailroom of the client I am at this week, does not to any kind of security screeing, Does FEDEX? UPS? This building is 1 block from the Sears Tower, some serious damage could happen.

20 buildings is not outside the realm of possibility, and sadly, I don't see any way of preventing it.

maleficent · 06-02-2004, 05:59 AM

Interesting sidenote to this case....

Padilla been held without ever being charged

Even the most heninous mass murderer gets charged and gets a fairly speedy trial.

Is it right that a US citizen can be held for two years without charges.

The Supreme Court is considering whether the government can hold U-S citizens indefinitely as enemy combatants.

Be interesting to see where this goes...

warrrreagl · 06-02-2004, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NoSoup
Pre 9/11, wouldn't flying a couple of passenger jets into targeted buildings seem a little farfetched as well?

IMHO, this doesn't really strike me as farfetched at all, the terrorists seem to be extremely intelligent and resourceful, utilizing whatever they can as weapons of terror.

Farfetched is what caught us by surprise in the first place...

I think the "farfetched" notion was in reference to the logistics of the actual plan. In other words, it's highly feasible to fly a passenger jet into a skyscraper, but it's damned impossible to blow up a whole apartment complex using the natural gas lines.

One apartment might blow, but then the remaining gas lines would simply become torches after that (not grenades).

Ripp3r · 06-03-2004, 02:23 AM

If the general idea is to inspire terror into a countries population ... why target important buildings ?

start blowing up random buildings in random cities ... and watch the population panic. The paranoia that there is no method to the madness will send the entire country into disarray and cause general chaos, people will get so scared that they will stop to function properly in society...

When your goal is Terror, you should target the group of people most likely to become scared, and thats not the governement or the military, but the simple man in the street...

9/11 in that view was a brilliant concept, the idea that an ordinary passenger plane could be dropping on your head at any time struck fear into the population causing a major economical crisis....
That is what terrorism is about imho ... causing mayhem and disrupting the normal order of things to achieve your goal.

now do not get me wrong ... I condemn Terrorism as much as the next man, but I am a great fan of strategy, in any form.
I wage war in my mind.

06-01-2004, 09:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tophat665 Minion of the scaléd ones Location: Northeast Jesusland	Now, isn't this exactly the kind of thing we have treason on the books to cover? __________________ Light a man a fire, and he will be warm while it burns. Set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

06-01-2004, 09:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
Averett Is In Love Location: I'm workin' on it	Well, that would have been impressive if he pulled it off. Pretty far fetched though... Sounds like a really bad movie plot. __________________ Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

06-01-2004, 10:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	while it does seem far fetched those of you who are XFiles fans will note that the first episode of defunct spin off, The Lone Gunmen, was in fact about a plane (remotely controlled) being flown into one of the World Trade Towers. Art imitates life, which imitates art. Now please stop wishing for a Steven Segal/Jean Claude flick. brrrr shivers down my spine. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

06-01-2004, 10:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
bookerV Addict Location: Ontario, Canada	Steven Segal & JC is a bit much. I think it should be Steven Segal and Dennis Rodman. DR did a flick with JC, so I think its time SS & DR teamed up to fight terror... It's the natural progression of things... __________________ "That's why you're the judge and I'm the law-talking guy." Lionel Hutz

06-01-2004, 12:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
Crack Misanthropic Location: Ohio! yay!	Reminds me of Fight Club... __________________ Crack, you and I are long overdue for a vicious bout of mansex. ~Halx

06-01-2004, 01:14 PM	#12 (permalink)
absorbentishe Boy am I horny today Location: T O L E D O, Toledo!!	I wasn't trying to make light of this in any way. To me/us, something like this would seem like it would never happen, but to them, this is plausable(sp?). 20 buildings at once is far fetched, maybe 2 or 3, then 2 or 3 more. Hopefully this news will be somewhat of a wake up call to those in charge, that anything is possible.

06-01-2004, 01:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	In all seriousness... How do you prevent it from happening, WITHOUT infringing, and this isn't meant as sarcastic as it is going to sound, on our precious rights to privacy I am ashamed to admit I have no idea where the government is with the implementation of CAPPS II, which deals with airline safety but basically is a major assault on our right to privacy. Does a similar plan need to be enacted for hotels? With all the hotel chains, and individual hotels out there, i'd be a huge project to pull off. Office space? What's to prevent someone from having a package delivered to a place, I know the mailroom of the client I am at this week, does not to any kind of security screeing, Does FEDEX? UPS? This building is 1 block from the Sears Tower, some serious damage could happen. 20 buildings is not outside the realm of possibility, and sadly, I don't see any way of preventing it. __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

06-02-2004, 05:59 AM	#14 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	Interesting sidenote to this case.... Padilla been held without ever being charged Even the most heninous mass murderer gets charged and gets a fairly speedy trial. Is it right that a US citizen can be held for two years without charges. The Supreme Court is considering whether the government can hold U-S citizens indefinitely as enemy combatants. Be interesting to see where this goes... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

06-03-2004, 02:23 AM	#16 (permalink)
Ripp3r Tilted Location: Dublin, Ireland	If the general idea is to inspire terror into a countries population ... why target important buildings ? start blowing up random buildings in random cities ... and watch the population panic. The paranoia that there is no method to the madness will send the entire country into disarray and cause general chaos, people will get so scared that they will stop to function properly in society... When your goal is Terror, you should target the group of people most likely to become scared, and thats not the governement or the military, but the simple man in the street... 9/11 in that view was a brilliant concept, the idea that an ordinary passenger plane could be dropping on your head at any time struck fear into the population causing a major economical crisis.... That is what terrorism is about imho ... causing mayhem and disrupting the normal order of things to achieve your goal. now do not get me wrong ... I condemn Terrorism as much as the next man, but I am a great fan of strategy, in any form. I wage war in my mind. __________________ We All Have Questions What Seperates The Men From The Boys Is The Ability To Use Google To Find Our Answers