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ATF: If the bomb makers aren't experts chances good they'll end up killing themselves

When you think of car bombs, it's easy to think they just occur overseas.

But it's good to know that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is training in how to handle them.

The ATF was doing some training this week on car bombs. The article below mentions the easy availability of know-how on the internet on how to build an IED or even a car bomb.  But Special Agent Joe Mann has a couple of words of wisdom for any bomber wannabes:

Authorities say thanks to the internet and ingredients found at your local discount store, making an improvised explosive device, or IED isn't as hard as it used to be.

But Mann says the scary thing is, if the bomb makers aren't experts like these ATF agents, chances are very good they'll end up killing themselves instead of their intended targets.

In other words, if you try to build one of these using internet instructions, you're likely to Darwin yourself out of existence.

But that doesn't stop some idiots from trying to do it:

Special Agent Joe Mann with the ATF says while car bombs here in the U.S. aren't very common, they do happen. In fact the last one reported was not too far from the Arklatex. In February, someone planted a bomb inside a doctor's SUV in West Memphis, Arkansas. The doctor survived, but so far no arrest has been made.

Source: http://www.ktbs.com/news/Explosives-training-rocks-Camp-Minden-29503/

Oh, go fly a kite - not don't get arrested!

Flying a kite is a normal spring activity.  Scenes from the Disney movie Mary Poppins where the cast sings "Let's go fly a kite, up to the highest height" come to mind.

But it looks like one kite-flyer narrowly missed getting arrested in Lahore, Pakistan:  Police also reached the scene but failed to arrest any accused involved in kite flying.

Kite string injures youth

A STRAY kite twine injured a youth when he was on his way near Moon Market in the Gulshane Ravi police area on Thursday.The victim was identified as Malik Zeeshan, a resident of Gulshane Ravi. He was on his way home on a motorcycle when the string of a stray kite entangled around his neck and injured him. He was shifted to a hospital where his condition was stated to be stable. Police also reached the scene but failed to arrest any accused involved in kite flying. Duty officer of the Gulshane Ravi police said that the victim had refused to carry any legal action.

In a related article, it appears that laws on kite flying were relaxed for one day:

THE month of March proved deadly for the people of Lahore as it saw a complete breakdown in law and order. Reshuffle of officials, attack on Sri Lankan team, kite flying and festive firing deaths, skyrocketing crime against property and Manawan carnage were the feature of the deadly month.

On March 3, Sri Lankan team was attacked at Liberty - six days after the imposition of governor’s rule - resulting in the killing of eight people, including six policemen. Citizens of Lahore had not recovered from this traumatic experience when police moved in to thwart the ‘Long March’. Lahorites, who took to streets to show their rebellion against the governor’s rule and political turmoil in the country, were subjected to severe torture as they had to brave baton charge and tear gas shelling. Meanwhile, kite flying was allowed for 24 hours amid chaos and use of twine and festive firing resulted in the death of six innocent people most of whom were children. Scores of others were injured.

Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=17164

Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=171227

Pakistan one of most dangerous places for aid workers

See the post below about 4 local aid workers being killed in Pakistan.  Apparently Pakistan is one of the most dangerous places for humanitarian aid workers.  The workers most at risk?  Local hires.

2008 was deadliest year for aid workers: study

* Aid work now more dangerous than UN peacekeeping
* Overall number of aid workers killed has risen fourfold in 10 years
* Locals, not foreigners, most at risk of kidnapping, murder
* Pakistan among most dangerous places of employment for aid workers

LONDON: Soaring violence in Somalia and Afghanistan helped make 2008 the most dangerous year on record for aid workers, with 122 killed while carrying out their work, a report showed on Monday.

Aid work is now more risky than UN peacekeeping as attacks become increasingly politically motivated in some countries, researchers said. There has also been a dramatic increase in kidnappings over the past three years. Altogether, 260 humanitarian workers were attacked in 155 serious incidents in 2008 - compared with 27 incidents in 1998, according to figures compiled by the Centre on International Cooperation (CIC) in New York and the Overseas Development Institute in London.

“We were surprised,” said CIC fellow Abby Stoddard, who co-wrote the report. “We did not expect the jump in the past three years that we saw. There seems to be an alarming trend. It’s a very dangerous profession indeed and I don’t think that’s understood as much as maybe it should be. The numbers are quite startling and certainly the fatality rate exceeds that of UN peacekeepers.”

Most of the violence is being driven by three countries - Somalia, where 45 aid workers were killed, up from seven in 2007; Afghanistan with 33 deaths; and Sudan with 19.

Kidnappings: The overall number of aid workers killed has soared nearly fourfold in the past decade, according to the CIC and ODI, which have been measuring violence against aid operations since 1997. Relief workers say this is partly because the aid sector has grown, but also because they are increasingly seen as political actors. In 2008, politically driven attacks accounted for around half the incidents where the motive was known, according to the CIC/ODI report, “Providing Aid in Insecure Environments”. It said aid workers were targeted not just because they were perceived to be cooperating with Western political actors, but because they were seen as part of a Western agenda.

Eighteen international staff were killed in 2008, more than double the previous year. And of the 62 kidnappings in 2008, 18 were of international staff, who command higher ransoms and make for a stronger political statement.

Locals: Although deaths of expatriates make the headlines, the vast majority of victims are locals — 104 national staff was killed in 2008, up from 71 in 2007. Nationals are more exposed because they are more likely to work in the field. Stoddard said aid agencies had made some progress in improving security but urged them to do more to protect local staff and partners..

Most dangerous: Humanitarian workers came under attack in 25 countries last year. The other most dangerous places included Pakistan, where five aid workers were killed, Democratic Republic of Congo, with a death toll of four, and Sri Lanka, Chad and Mozambique, which saw three deaths each. Aid workers told Reuters they feared 2009 would prove as bad if not worse.

Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\04\07\story_7-4-2009_pg7_47

Pakistan: Four local USAID education employees murdered

The violence in Pakistan continues... this time four local hire employees of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) were murdered.  Three were women.  Their bullet riddled bodies were dumped in a nearby forest.  But no worries - the news says it was a matter of "personal enmity" rather than terrorism.

Three women among 4 NGO workers killed in Mansehra

LAHORE: Police found bullet-riddled bodies of four local aid workers in Shinkiari area of Mansehra district on Monday, police said.

The bodies of three women and a man were found dumped in the Kund forest, local police official Sudhair Ahmed told AFP. Police said the aid workers were employees of the USAID education programme, a TV channel said. Two of the women were identified as Dhudyal Executive District Officer Anjum Zaib and Coordinator Sadaf.

Another private TV channel reported that police claimed to have arrested a suspect, Alam Zeb, from Haripur, adding that the killings were a result of personal enmity.

Source:  http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\04\07\story_7-4-2009_pg1_7

Pittsburgh: Man Found With IED Arrested; Home Searched, HAZMAT team removes chemicals

Only a few days after the massacre in Binghamton, it looks like another disaster may have been averted thanks to the efforts of law enforcement. 

Police in Pittsburgh arrested a man on drug charges and found an improvised explosives device in his car.  They decided to search his house.

They are very glad they did! Comments from law enforcement:  "It appears that he's getting legitimate firecrackers, fireworks, emptying the contents out and filling them with his own mixtures which were very hot..."  DeSimone said the mixtures were about as dangerous as anything he's ever seen. "Some of the chemicals, some of the powders and agents that were found (are) exactly what was used in the Oklahoma City bombing."

Fireworks, huh?  Sounds familiar...

Police said they did not know Zareck's motive for having all the explosives, but they said they're glad they never had to find out.

Me too

PITTSBURGH -- Authorities searched the home of a man arrested Friday -- who police said had an improvised explosive device in his car -- and confiscated some of the same elements used in the Oklahoma City bombing, police said. Raymond Zareck, 52, was arrested Friday on drug charges after a routine traffic stop in Homestead at about 6:45 p.m. Police said Zareck, a licensed pharmacist who is not currently working, has a violent past and a 50-page rap sheet. Police said they found an explosive in Zareck's car during the stop. "County detonated the device. It was a hot device, an explosive device. An IED, if you will," Homestead Police Chief Jeff DeSimone said. The traffic stop led to the execution of a search warrant on Zareck's home on Parkview Street in the city's Oakland neighborhood, where officers said they found pipe bombs and a large quantity of chemicals at his home that could be used to make explosives. Officers seized chemicals -- both liquid and powder -- and also what police said were some more homemade bombs. "It appears that he's getting legitimate firecrackers, fireworks, emptying the contents out and filling them with his own mixtures which were very hot," DeSimone said. A WTAE Channel 4 Action News crew watched as police officers kept coming out of the house. Police officer after police officer carried box after box of what they believed were highly explosive chemicals. One officer told WTAE Channel 4's crew, "We'll be here for hours." DeSimone said the mixtures were about as dangerous as anything he's ever seen. "Some of the chemicals, some of the powders and agents that were found (are) exactly what was used in the Oklahoma City bombing," DeSimone said. Police called in hazardous materials officers to address the chemicals. Police said they did not know Zareck's motive for having all the explosives, but they said they're glad they never had to find out. Zareck remained held at the Allegheny County Jail facing a long list of charges -- including possessing weapons of mass destruction, risking a catastrophe and aggravated assault -- and, quoting DeSimone, that is just the beginning.

Taliban steal radio equipment before blowing up station

How long before the Taliban starts their own radio station? I'm thinking about starting a pool...

 The Pakistani Taliban have blown up a state-run radio station in the northwestern tribal belt and taken away all its equipment. Taliban fighters stormed the radio station in Wana, the main town in South Waziristan Agency, early on Friday morning.

They broke its doors and took away all the equipment before blowing up the building with explosives, officials said. The Taliban also blew up a check post of the security forces that was recently built near the radio station.

No one was injured as the radio station and the check post were empty at the time of the attack. Radio transmission in the area was suspended after the attack, local residents said. Local residents said this was the third attack on the radio station in Wana.

The facility was first attacked in 2004 shortly after transmission was launched from the station. The station was attacked again in 2006, suspending transmission for a few weeks. The radio station was transmitting six-and-half hours of programming in the local Pashto language. This included sports and news about regional developments.

The station had stopped beaming news and music programmes two years ago after receiving threats from the Taliban.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=647e32f7-cc48-418f-b794-fe1f89878098&Headline=Pak+Taliban+blow+up+radio+station%2c+loot+equipment

Taliban warn of suicide attacks twice a week

From our kinder, gentler friends the Taliban - now they are going to have a quota for suicide bombings.  I've heard of anecdotal quotas for traffic tickets but quotas for suicide bombings - that's just going way too far.  And we think we can negotiate with the Taliban.  Right...

ISLAMABAD: The Taliban on Sunday vowed that they would carry out two suicide attacks per week in Pakistan. Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud’s deputy Hakimullah told AP that the Taliban had carried out Saturday’s suicide attack against a paramilitary camp in Islamabad and vowed more assaults unless the US shelved drone attacks in the Tribal Areas. He also said Pakistani troops should withdraw from parts of the northwest. “The Islamabad attack was in retaliation for a drone attack in Orakzai.”

Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\04\06\story_6-4-2009_pg1_2

Australia: Police on drugs raid find mysterious uranium stash

In what might be the most bizarre news report over the weekend, police in Australia report finding 300 grams of uranium oxide in a drug raid in Preston, Country Victoria, Autralia.  I love the way Aussies understate the obvious - see this comment from law enforcement:

Police say uranium is not used to produce illicit drugs.

It's not clear what the uranium was for, since it was not enriched and could not have been used to create a nuclear weapon.  It's unclear from the article as to whether it could be used in a dirty bomb or not.

Police also seized $120,000 from one location and $35,000 from another during the course of the investigation.

What does the perp say about it?  Well, apparently not much:

The man has refused to say why he had hidden the uranium or for what purpose he had obtained the radioactive material.

Read the entire article at http://www.theage.com.au/national/police-on-drugs-raid-find-mysterious-uranium-stash-20090401-9jsq.html

Sarnia, Ontario: Suspect explosive closes bridge

Friday nigh, two Michigan residents were detainedn when Canada Border Services found what appeared to be an improvised explosives device containing what looked like an activation pin:

According to Ontario's London Free Press:

Sarnia’s Bluewater Bridge was closed last night for an investigation into a suspected explosive device in a vehicle at the border.

Point Edward OPP said Canada Border Services stopped the vehicle during a routine check. They found a cylindrical canister, resembling a tear gas canister or an explosive device with what looked like an activation pin. The device was moved to a field east of the buildings and all traffic traveling into the United States was stopped.

The OPP Explosive Disposal Unit was called in and traffic was diverted through the commercial compound on the south side of the Customs building.

A 22-year-old man and a 20-year old woman from Michigan were detained.

Source: http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/2009/04/04/9007896.html

Maldives: Kindler, gentler approach to terrorists "not working"

The Maldives, usually thought of as a beautiful vacation spot, is once again making headlines in the terrorism world.

But like the rest of the world, the Maldives Islands are not immune to terrorism either.

Reports on Sunday indicate that jihadist material and a homemade bomb concealed in a DVD player, similar to the bomb which injured 12 tourists in September 2007, were found during a raid on the Maafushi Jail.  According to reports in Minivan News, a Maldives newspaper:

A home-made bomb and literature commending Jihad were among the items seized during a five-day raid carried out at Maafushi Jail over the past week.

The raid was carried out by the Emergency Supportive Group (ESG) and the police after riots broke out in the jail last Wednesday when prisoners smashed up and torched areas of the prison.

The bomb or improvised explosive device (IED) was found hidden inside a DVD player. A similarly improvised device was used in the 2007 Sultan Park bombing, which injured 12 tourists in Male’.

One of the documents, entitled “Words of advice to the brethren leaving for Jihad,” spoke of Jihad as the “noble path”, telling readers of the “inner happiness and peace” they would find through fulfilment of holy war.

Following the Sultan Park bomb blast, three Maldivians were sentenced after confessing to planting the device with the intention of attacking non-Muslims “to fulfil Jihad”.

Other items seized during the raid included hand-drawn and Google Earth maps of the prison; mobile phones and accessories; hammers; trowels; numerous metal bars; a saw; a drill; syringes; and numerous knives.

Many of the metal items were found buried beneath the sand using a metal detector.

It appears the government is reconsidering its approach to handing terrorists, with the kinder, gentler approach not being successful:

On the government’s new softer approach to prisoners, Superintendent Waheed conceded that it had “not worked”.

Speaking to Minivan News last week, Faisal, who is also acting home minister, said the government had been “too nice” to inmates.

In addition, this week, Pakistani authorities announced that nine Maldives natives have been arrested with weapons near the Pakistani-Afghan border in Waziristan.  Minivan News in the Maldives reports:

According to Ameen Faisal, none of the detainees had criminal records, but Minivan News has learnt that one, Ali Shafeeq, 25, of R.Kandholhudhoo, had been arrested for his involvement in the bomb blast in September 2007 which injured 12 tourists in Male’s Sultan Park.

He was later cleared of all charges and released.

The news comes two weeks after the South Asian News Agency reported that three Maldivians had been arrested for illegally entering Waziristan.

Yesterday, Ahmed Saleem, the president of the Human Rights Commission Maldives (HRCM), said the commission had received reports about Maldivians enlisting with terrorist organizations and there were a number of dead Maldivians who could be classified as extremists.

The remaining eight arrested were: Yoosuf Izadhy, 38, of M.Nicosia in Male’, Ahmed Ashraf, 31, of Hdh.Vaikaradhoo; Abdullah Sameer, 38, of Sh. Lhaimagu; Ali Faiz, 31, of Hdh.Vaikaradhoo; Moosa Yoosuf, 30, of L.Kalhaidhoo; Yoosuf Mohammed, 52, L.Kalhaidhoo; Mohammad Zuhree, 28, of Gdh. Dhaandhoo; and Arif Ahmed, whose details are as yet unknown.

B. Raman describes Himandhoo Island in the Maldives as “a hotbed of Wahhabi activity and, according to multiple intelligence sources, was a major transit point for South and Southeast Asian militants traveling by boat to fight in Somalia in the Fall and Winter of 2006”.

In September 2007, 12 tourists were injured in a terror attack near Sultan Park, a popular tourist destination in the island resort.  Less than two months later, Al Qaeda of the Maldives released a video entitled “Your Brothers in Maldives are Calling You!”.