- Daniel Maldonado
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Daniel Maldonado, also known by his adopted Muslim name Daniel Aljughaifi, is a U.S. convert to a fundamentalist Islam who faces charges for an alleged association with terrorism.[1]
Maldonado converted to Islam in 2000 in Methuen, Massachusetts.[1] According to the Boston Globe his views became so extreme his mosque's imam asked him to either quit criticizing the mosque's other members, or to leave, according to a friend of Maldonado, Soner Uguz, of Lawrence, Massachusetts:
- "He was arrogant; he knew the book [the Koran] better than anyone, He went from loving rap to hating poetry."
In mid-February 2007 Maldonado was charged with playing a role in terrorist activities in Somalia.[1] Maldonado is notable because his charge, in a Houston, Texas court, was the first time a US citizen faced charges for participating in terrorism in Somalia.
The Boston Globe reported that, as a youth, Maldonado had minor brushes with the law, but nothing serious. Maldonado, his wife, Tamekia (née Cunningham) and three young children, moved to Egypt in November 2005.[1] The Boston Globe reports that an FBI affidavit asserts he moved to Somalia a year later, where he undertook training in bomb-making and military skills.
According to a speech FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III delivered on March 28, 2007 at National Defense University:[2]
... such as the arrest of suspected terrorist Daniel Maldonado. Maldonado, an American citizen who converted to the Muslim faith, moved from Houston to Egypt in November 2005. He then traveled to Somalia to practice what he called 'true Islam'. According to the indictment, while in Mogadishu, Maldonado participated in a jihadist training program that included weapons and explosives. He said that he was willing to fight on behalf of Al Qaeda and even offered to act as a suicide bomber. Kenyan military authorities captured Maldonado in January. Members of the Houston Joint Terrorism Task Force transported him back to the United States.
See also
Omar Hammami
References
- ^ a b c d Charles A. Radin (February 17, 2007). "From N.H. to Somalia: Recalling a suspect's zeal". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/02/17/from_nh_to_somalia_recalling_a_suspects_zeal/. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
- ^ Robert S. Mueller III (March 28, 2007). "Robert S. Mueller, III at National Defense University". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Archived from the original on 2007-04-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20070411013739/http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/speeches/mueller032807.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
External links
- "American Charged with Receiving al Qaeda Terrorist Training in Weapons, Bomb-Making, and Interrogation Techniques in Somalia: U.S. v. Daniel Maldonado a/k/a Daniel Aljughaifi". Findlaw. February 13, 2007. http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/terrorism/usmaldonado21307cmp.html. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
- "American Citizen Charged With Training in Somalia With Al Qaeda, Learning to Become Homicide Bomber". Fox News. February 14, 2007. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,251820,00.html. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
- "U.S. v. Daniel Maldonado" (PDF). United States Department of Justice. February 13, 2007. http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/Maldonado_Complaint.pdf. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
- "Terror suspect: Anti-Muslim bias made me leave U.S.". Eagle-Tribune. February 23, 2007. http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_054064517?page=0. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
- "US citizen sentenced to prison for receiving military training from a terrorist organization". United States Department of Justice. July 20, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-20. http://web.archive.org/web/20071020032329/http://houston.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel07/houston072007.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
- Cindy George, Rachel Graves (February 16, 2007). "Terrorist suspect's unexpected journey to Houston jail: Man known for outspokenness, not violence, lost wife amid alleged al-Qaida training". Houston Chronicle. http://www.sofir.org/resources/daniel/in_the_news/HoustonChron-wife_died_of_malaria.html. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
- Catherine Herridge (2007-02-15). "Intel Briefing: An American Training for Terror In Somalia". Fox News. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,251908,00.html. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
- "Alleged terrorist's wife paid ultimate price for loyalty". Eagle-Tribune. March 01, 2007. http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_060120322/resources_printstory. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
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