Article

2005-08-17 Home Front: WoT

A former Folsom State Prison inmate is in custody in connection with an alleged plot to launch terrorist attacks at targets across Southern California.

Two other men are also in federal custody, but investigators said the former inmate could be a link to a prison gang that has been plotting jihadist attacks.

Federal investigators said they believe a gang called JIS is behind the plot.

"There was a cylinder that was becoming active that involved prison gangs and their intentions were very clear, and that was to engage in terrorist activities in this region here," Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief George Gascon said.

The alleged plot was discovered after authorities in Torrance arrested Levar Washington, 25, in connection with a series of gas station robberies.

When they searched Washington's apartment, they found a list of targets that included National Guard recruitment centers and synagogues in Southern California.

Also found were documents linking Washington to a radical Islamic gang from his years at Folsom Prison.

"There was a variety of written documents and correspondence that have been traded between individuals inside the prison and people outside the prison," Gascon said.

Also in custody are Gregory Vernon Patterson, 21, and Hamad Riaz Samana -- a Pakistani national.

As investigators explore the terrorism plot, they say they are alarmed by the recruitment practices going on inside facilities designed to protect society from those who commit crimes.

"One of the areas in which terrorists would seek to recruit is among the disaffected -- certainly those hundreds of thousands sitting in prison are very disaffected," Gascon said.

Authorities said Samana, Patterson and Washington all attended the same mosque but have not revealed any other connections between the three.

Posted by Dan Darling 2005-08-17 13:00|| || Front Page|| [11130 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I suspect these won't be the last.

Posted by MunkarKat 2005-08-17 13:26|| 2005-08-17 13:26|| Front Page Top

#2 Hmmmm, OK, I retract my "own personal jihad" statement from yesterday. This molehill seems to be growing more mountainous daily.

As investigators explore the terrorism plot, they say they are alarmed by the recruitment practices going on inside facilities designed to protect society from those who commit crimes.

I'm alarmed that they're alarmed. This problem was old news two years ago.

Posted by Xbalanke 2005-08-17 13:37|| 2005-08-17 13:37|| Front Page Top

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