Terrorists Target Fort Dix

FORT DIX - Five people are charged with planning a terrorist assault on the military base, U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie announced from the steps of the Federal Courthouse in Camden, Tuesday afternoon.

"The threat being brought against Fort Dix has been taken care of," Christie said. "Fortunately law enforcement in New Jersey was here to stop them."

Mohamed Ibrahim Shenewer, 22, Eljvir Duka, 23, Dritan Duka, 28, Shain Duka, 26, all of Cherry Hill and Serdar Tatar, 23, Philadelphia were arrested and charged Monday night with plotting to kill members of the U.S. military during an armed assault on Fort Dix.

Members of several different law enforcement agencies including the FBI, New Jersey State Police, and the Cherry Hill and Mount Laurel police departments served warrants on three locations Monday night and took the suspects into custody without incident, Christie said.

A sixth man, Agron Abdullahu, 24, Buena Vista Township was also arrested and charged with aiding and abetting two of the alleged conspirators illegal possession of weapons, Christie said.

The raids Monday came from a 16-month investigation into the group of men as they allegedly plotted and performed reconnaissance missions on several military installations in the tri-state area. The group eventually decided to conduct an armed assault on the U.S. Army military base nestled in the Pinelands, according to a copy of the criminal complaints filed with the court.

Using AK-47 automatic rifles, the group allegedly planned to knock out electric power to the base causing confusion, and then "kill as many soldiers as possible," according to the complaints.

"It is not always on the grand scale of 9/11," Christie said. "It is the type of terrorism they want to perpetuate on American citizens."

Authorities got wind of the plot when a video store clerk in Mount Laurel was asked by one of the men to make a DVD depicting the men firing weapons and calling on Islamic fundamentalists to join Jihad (holy war) against Americans, the complaint stated.

The clerk contacted local authorities and law enforcement were able to use a confidential witness to infiltrate the group. The agencies then conducted surveillance on the group and observed them carry out a variety of activities including visits to other military installations in New Jersey and Delaware.

Officers decided to move in on the group when they were ready to purchase weapons for the assault, Christie said.

"(The weapons) were the final piece to cause carnage," Christie said. "This attack has been completely diffused. The danger has been extinguished."

FBI Special Agent Jody Weis said although the group had no official backing from major terrorist factions, it was still very dangerous.

"Today we dodged a bullet," Weis said. "They were forming a platoon to take out an army."

Weis said the group was able to operate under the radar and saluted the clerk of the store for bringing the information to authorities.

"The struggle (against terrorism) is far from over," Weis said. "The threat is real and the stakes are very high."

Christie said the investigation into the group is continuing, but he believes the "soul and core" of the threat have been apprehended.

The men were held and arraigned Tuesday in Federal Court in Camden and will appear in court again Friday for bail hearings, Christie said.