Northeast Intelligence Network

By Douglas J. Hagmann, Director

26 February 2009: A posting deemed “credible” by a participant in an Arabic language Internet message board is calling for all members of the Mujahadeen in the U.S. and worldwide, to abduct any U.S. diplomat or anyone of importance to be used as “barter” to help free Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, 70, (aka the blind Sheikh) from prison. Accordingly, all U.S. diplomats and dignitaries are urged to immediately increase their security details and situational awareness.

Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman

Abdel-Rahman (pictured at left) a former resident of New York City, is currently serving a life sentence at the Butner Medical Center in the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina. On October 1, 1995,  Abdel-Rahman and nine others were convicted by a New York jury of 48 charges related to the New York City landmark bomb plot.  In 1996, he was sentenced to life in prison.

Since 2001, many such Internet postings have appeared; the overwhelming majority are disregarded due to a number of factors that fail to meet certain “credibility standards.” This particular posting, however, does pass the standards employed by Northeast Intelligence Network analysts that takes into account numerous factors, including the author, location, response and timing of the post. This communication was found by an analyst and researcher that uses the pseudonym Archangel, who is well-known and highly respected within the International intelligence community.

It is also important to note that of the postings deemed credible and passed to authorities, all but a few are actually published by the Northeast Intelligence Network in this manner. The reasons vary, but are largely to avoid potentially compromising investigations being conducted by law enforcement and intelligence agencies.