Thanks to Chuck for the headzup...
A former Rochester resident traveled to Israel about a year ago with the intent of becoming a suicide bomber there on behalf of a militant Palestinian group, federal authorities alleged Friday. Government officials refused to say whether the man carried out his plan. But a defense lawyer involved in the case said the man is alive and well, living with his pregnant wife in the West Bank.
The lawyer, Miguel Reyes, said it was simply a case of a âlovesick, snot-nosed kidâ who returned to his homeland for marriage, not martyrdom. The suicide-bombing allegation was made in an indictment unsealed Friday afternoon that charged a Gates man with lying to the FBI about the matter. Mohamed Subeh, 41, of 53 Ann Marie Drive was charged with three counts of making false statements to federal investigators from the FBIâs Joint Terrorism Task Force. Subeh, who runs M&S Mini-Mart on Rochesterâs west side, pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Friday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian Payson. Subeh was released on $20,000 bond. The charges carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. According to the indictment, Subehâs false statements were made during a terrorism investigation in May 2003 into the activities of the suspected potential suicide bomber. The indictment did not identify the suspect. But Reyes, who represents Subeh, said the alleged bomb plotter was his clientâs brother, Ismail Subeh. Michael Battle, the U.S. attorney in western New York, would not confirm the relationship. The indictment said the former Rochesterian left the city before May 23, 2003, and was known to be âinterested in becoming a suicide bomber in the country of Israel on behalf of the foreign terrorist organization al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.â |