Islamic Terrorists in Cherry Hill, New Jersey Plotted to Attack Fort Dix

Six men described as "Islamic radicals" by a Justice Department spokesman were arrested because they were allegedly plotting to kill as many soldiers as possible at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The men are believed to be from Albania or other Balkan countries. Islam is the principle religion of Albania. Some of the Muslim men had tried to purchase automatic firearms from a local gun retailer. Police said that the Islamists planned to use the M16 and AK-47s to storm Fort Dix.

News Channel 4 reports the process leading up to the arrests of the Islamists:

Investigators told Newschannel 4's Jonathan Dienst that these arrests are the result of a tip to the FBI and use of an informant to track the suspects. Authorities were alerted in January 2006 after the terror suspects traveled to the Pocono's for a training exercise where they practiced firing automatic weapons, investigators said.

Sources have told Newschannel 4's Brian Thompson that the suspects tried to have a their training video tape converted to DVD at a store in Cherry Hill, N.J., but the store owner alerted authorities.

Authorities then inserted a cooperating witness into the alleged terror cell to be a go between in their attempt to purchase M16 and AK-47 semi-automatic rifles. Arrests were made Monday night after the informant delivered dummy weapons paid for by the alleged terror cell suspects.

Some of the alleged planning is included on the videotapes, and include some discussion of martyrdom among the Islamists. The family of one of the Islamists owns a pizzeria near the base. The pizzeria owning Islamist apparently bragged to his co-Islamists that he knew the base like "the back of his hand."

About the Islamists intentions, Greg Reinhert, a Justice Department spokesman in Camden, said, ""Their alleged intention was to conduct an armed assault on the army base and to kill as many soldiers as possible."

Another official said, " "These guys were absolutely serious."

Fort Dix Public Information Officer Carolee Nisbet, said that they Islamists had a broader goal in mind. "I understand that they weren't just targeting Fort Dix, that it was a multiple-base plan to attack several bases in the Northeast." About security at Fort Dix, Nisbet told reporters: "They are going to make the security procedures more stringent, but we're not going to increase the threat level. We are just going to make people more aware of their surroundings."

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Albanian refugees were sheltered at Fort Dix during 1999. Some of those Albanian refugees decided to seek residency and US citizenship:

In 1999, Fort Dix sheltered more than 4,000 ethnic Albanian refugees during the NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia. After the war, refugees were allowed to return to the U.N.-run province of Kosovo in the new nation of Serbia or to seek permanent residency and citizenship in the United States. The U.N. Security Council is considering whether to approve a plan to grant Kosovo independence from Serbia under the supervision of the European Union and the United States.

Although now in custody, the Islamists, who are described as "disciples of Bin Laden" are apparently holding fast to their faith in Allah.

NewsChannel 4 gives the following chilling account of a discussion between two of the suspects:

"Who is going to take care of my wife and kids," one suspect asks. Another responds, "Allah will take care of your wife and kids." The alleged terror cell is described by investigators as disciples of Osama Bin Laden. Among the evidence seized was the downloaded will and testament of two Sept. 11 hijackers.

The Islamist suspects will be arraigned today in front of a Federal Magistrate.

Sources:

Feds: Cherry Hill arrests thwart plot to attack Fort Dix, The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 8, 2007, http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_top/20070508_Report__Terrorists_arrested_in_Cherry_Hill__plotted__Fort_Dix_attack.html (Islamists, Muslim, Fort Dix, Jihad, Terror Plot)

Balkans, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkans (Islamists, Muslim, Fort Dix, Jihad, Terror Plot)

Six men charged with plot to attack soldiers on Fort Dix, The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 8, 2007, http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20070508_ap_sixmenchargedwithplottoattacksoldiersonfortdix.html (Islamists, Muslim, Fort Dix, Jihad, Terror Plot)

FBI Arrests Six In Alleged Terror Plot Against N.J. Soldiers, NewsChannel 4, May 8, 2007, http://www.wnbc.com/news/13274813/detail.html (Islamists, Muslim, Fort Dix, Jihad, Terror Plot)