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L.I. UAV built by Egyptian Illegal Alien Sparks Terror Investigation |
2008-08-23 |
An unmanned drone being built by an engineer on Long Island sparked a large counter-terrorism investigation across the New York area, officials tell WNBC.com. Police said they had stumbled upon overnight testing of the drone at a little-used airstrip in Calverton, Long Island. The investigation began Police surveillance video obtained by News 4 New York shows a white van rolling onto the tarmac, a small group of men jumping out and ground testing the unmanned flight vehicle. Kelly said the engineer building the drone never reported his work to any agency including the Federal Aviation Administration or local authorities. Investigators said concern increased for a time when they learned the man behind the project was an Egyptian national who had entered the U.S. on a Sudanese passport. "It was such a bizarre set of circumstances," said New York State Homeland Security Director Michael Balboni. "Of course we watched it as closely as we did anything that was on our radar screen." You might even think the mook was a terr. NYPD officials worked with Suffolk County police and the FBI to determine there were no ties to terror. Nope. Nothing to see here. Move along. Under questioning, the engineer said he was an inventor hoping to sell this drone model to the U.S. military. Yeah, that's why I had to test at night. Just like Grumman. NYPD Lieutenant William McGroarty said during the investigation they had other questions. I'll bet. "What if this individual could not sell to the military?" McGroarty asked. "Would he then turn and sell it to the highest bidder?" Gee, what if the didn't even try to sell it to the military, Sherlock? In this case, police said there is no evidence any laws were broken as the drone was tested on the ground. Officials said if it had gone into the air without prior FAA approval, it could have been considered a crime. Another defeat at lawfare. While there are no terror links, police said their investigation continues. The engineer, who News 4 New York will not name because he was not charged, did not respond to numerous requests for comment. His drone project has now been taken over by a Maryland-based company that has registered with the FAA, officials said. One investigator said the engineer, at best, had showed poor judgment in trying to do the project in a manner that raised so many alarms. Why isn't this asshole being deported to the Sudan? Congrats to the NY cops for nabbing this guy. When it comes out how much has been covered up, people are going to be really po'ed. |
Posted by:Nimble Spemble |
#3 To give the FBI some benefit of the doubt, failing to tie it to terrorism may also be to throw off other terrorists who are tied to the guys they nabbed. But I think J. Edgar would not have played it this close to the vest all the time. |
Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-08-23 16:46 |
#2 police said there is no evidence any laws were broken as the drone was tested on the ground. Where they not trespassing? Should not an Egyptian national have entered the U.S. on an Egyptian passport? What kind of visa did he enter with, if he came legally, and has he remained within its limits, including duration of stay? What about his little friends -- are they here legally, etc, too? There are many questions the FBI clearly will not answer for fear of panicking the public. All well and good, but if they are a freelancing cell of bad guys unconnected to one of the listed terror groups, it would be wise to convict them of something, and either jail or deport them. |
Posted by: trailing wife 2008-08-23 16:38 |
#1 Some background for reference here No Terrorism Ties Here -- Move Along [Andy McCarthy] WNBC News in New York City reports that the NYPD, working with Suffolk Country police and the FBI, have concluded there are no terrorism ties to be concerned about in connection with their discovery that a man, described only as an Egyptian engineer who entered the U.S. on a Sudanese passport, has designed an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of carrying more than 600 pounds of explosives. |
Posted by: Sherry 2008-08-23 14:43 |