The Terrorists Among Us
15 June 2006: Syed HASHMI, a 26-year-old Pakistani-born American citizen, was arrested in London in connection with allegedly aiding al Qaeda in Afghanistan against U.S. forces. HASHMI, who listed an address in Flushing, NY until about three years ago, attended Robert Wagner H.S. in Long Island City and Brooklyn College, where he graduated in 2003. He majored in Political Science at Brooklyn College, and while in college he became a “powerhouse recruiter” for the NY chapter of London-based al-Muhajiroun. He brought leaders from the Jackson Heights branch of the group to speak to the Brooklyn College group, and recruited Muhammed Junaid BABAR (of Operation Crevice), a student at St. John’s University in Flushing-Hillcrest, into the NY al-Muhajiroun group.
At the time Al-Muhajiroun disbanded in 2004, Hashmi had already moved to Great Britain where he began conspiring with terror cells in various plots to blow up pubs, restaurants and trains.
Hashmi was arrested at Heathrow Airport as he boarded a plane headed for Pakistan. He allegedly was involved in a conspiracy to send money and military gear to al Qaeda associates fighting U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan, Hashmi was carrying a large amount of cash. He was placed in custody pending extradition proceedings.
In Pursuit of the Truth...