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Violent Jihad

Three Detained in Thwarted NYC Bomb Plot

20-year-old Munther Omar Saleh was appeared in federal court Saturday, June 13th after he was arrested the previous Saturday for charging an unmarked police car that had been following him. His arrest took place on the Whitestone Expressway in New York, and followed a three-month long FBI investigation. Saleh has been suspected of pursuing terrorist … Continue reading "Three Detained in Thwarted NYC Bomb Plot"

BY Caitlin Anglemier · | June 18, 2015

20-year-old Munther Omar Saleh was appeared in federal court Saturday, June 13th after he was arrested the previous Saturday for charging an unmarked police car that had been following him. His arrest took place on the Whitestone Expressway in New York, and followed a three-month long FBI investigation. Saleh has been suspected of pursuing terrorist activity and planning an operation in New York, in support of the Islamic State.

Saleh is an American citizen who recently enrolled in Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in Queens, NY. His family’s apartment is located in Flushing, New York, which is not far from where Saleh attends school. Two men who identified themselves as Saleh’s father and brother were present at the house when officers arrived for questioning after the arrest.

A federal complaint in March began the investigation of Saleh. During the three months, investigators tracked Saleh’s movements, Internet searches, and social media commentary. He posted various disturbing tweets displaying sentiments “mocking Al Qaeda for being too moderate compared with ISIS”, supporting the vicious murder of the Jordanian pilot by the Islamic State, and supporting the attackers involved in the Garland, Texas incident.

Saleh also recorded information from the Internet on the construction of a pressure cooker bomb (the same type of device that was utilized in the Boston Marathon bombing) as well as information on how to obtain the components needed to build such a device. On May 28, Saleh “surfed for web images of New York landmarks and tourist attractions”, presumably to look for targets for his operation.

According to a post by the New York Daily News, a local community activist named Sherrell Jordan, noticed a strange shift in Saleh’s appearance and mannerisms over the past six months. “He shaved his head and grew a billy goat beard…He became gruff, dogmatic almost, like he got tunnel vision”, said Jordan.

Reportedly, a co-conspirator was with Saleh last Saturday, and also attacked the police car and was arrested with Saleh. His identity and personal information have yet to be released.

A third man wanted for his connection to Saleh was arrested yesterday “after lunging at federal agents with a knife”. The man has been identified as 21-year-old Fareed Mumuni. When forces from the Joint Terrorism Task Force came to Mumuni’s house to presumably question him, Mumuni grabbed a knife by his bed “specifically for the use in a confrontation with law enforcement officers” and tried to attack the officers. The officers were able to subdue Mumuni without firing any shots. He is currently being held without bail.

Frontpage Mag seems to be the only source reporting a significant component of this story. While many are expressing disbelief at the actions of “such a nice kid” in regards to Saleh, no one seems to be talking about Omar Saleh, Munther’s father. “Omar Saleh, the ‘Palestinian’ patriarch of a large family of Muslim settlers living in Queens, posted [in the past] Hamas propaganda from the Hamas-affiliated Shebab News Agency…”, writes Frontpage Mag. Omar Salah also reportedly, supported an ethnic cleansing of Jews from Israel. Omar has not released any statements in regards to his son’s actions and alleged beliefs, other than expressing his own shock and disbelief.

Many are spending their time scratching their heads trying to pinpoint Munther’s inspiration and source of Islamic indoctrination. While there is no proven connection between Omar Saleh’s past beliefs and Munther Saleh’s action, one cannot help but wonder whether such a general tone of support for a jihadist group like Hamas didn’t carry influence over into Munther’s decision.

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