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| Al-Fuqra member detained |
| 2001-09-29 |
| JEN McCAFFERY, The Roanoake, VA Times Federal authorities prevailed in court as they sought the detention of a Charlotte County man they claim is a leader of an Islamic extremist group. During the charged hearing in federal court in Roanoke, Thomas Gallagher, a special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, linked Vincente Rafael Pierre to Al-Fuqra, a group he described as a "violent black Muslim group that acts out jihads." Gallagher said the group was responsible for 17 bombings and 12 murders across the nation. Despite the connection federal authorities made, the charges against Pierre are connected to Pierre's allegedly having his wife, Traci Elaine Upshur, buy two semiautomatic pistols for him even though he is a convicted felon. It is against the law for persons convicted of felonies to possess firearms. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |