2007 Fort Dix attack plot

2007 Fort Dix attack plot
Location	Fort Dix, New Jersey, United States
Date	Planned; never executed; arrested May 8, 2007
Target	Fort Dix military personnel
Attack type	Conspiracy

The 2007 Fort Dix attack plot involved a group of six radical Islamist men who conspired to stage an attack against U.S. Military personnel stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey.^[1] The alleged aim of the group was to "kill as many soldiers as possible".^[2]

The men were arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on May 8, 2007, and were prosecuted in federal court in October 2008.^[3] On December 22, 2008, five were found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in their intentions to kill U.S. military personnel; four received life sentences, while one received 33 years in prison. The remaining member was thought to have had a minor role in the plot and was sentenced to five years in prison for weapons offenses.^[4]

Group members

• Dritan Duka (age 28), Shain Duka (26) and Eljvir Duka (23) ethnic Albanians from Debar, then in Yugoslavia, currently the Republic of Macedonia. The Duka family entered the United States illegally through Mexico in October 1984. In 1989, father Ferik Duka made an application for asylum with the Immigration and Naturalization Service and acknowledged the family's illegal entry into the country.^[5] Between 1996 and 2006, Cherry Hill police charged Dritan and Shain Duka with a number of disorderly persons offenses, including marijuana possession, improper behavior, prowling, disturbing the peace, and obstructing the administration of law. They were fined between $20 and $830 on various occasions and sent home, according to court records. The three brothers were also issued about 50 traffic citations between 1997 and 2006 – more than 20 by Cherry Hill police – for speeding, driving without licenses, driving while on the suspended list, failure to appear in court, and other charges.^[6]

• Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer (22), Dritan Duka's brother-in-law, a Palestinian cab driver from Jordan, who became a naturalized citizen.
• Serdar Tatar, born in Turkey, worked at his father's pizzeria.^[7]
• Agron Abdullahu, Albanian from Kosovo, said to have provided weaponry instruction to the group; and worked at a ShopRite supermarket in Buena Vista Township, New Jersey.^[8][9][10]

Preparation

Pennsylvania State Game Land 127

The six men traveled to the Poconos, where they allegedly practiced firing "semi-automatic weapons"^[11] at a shooting range in Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania^[8] The shooting range, at Pennsylvania State Game Land 127,^[12] is operated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.^[13] A group of ten men^[14] had recorded video footage of themselves shooting weapons and shouting Allahu Akbar ("God is greater").^[15]

On January 31, 2006, the men took the video to the Circuit City in Mount Laurel, New Jersey to convert it to a DVD. An employee of the store, Brian Morgenstern, alerted authorities, and a full-scale investigation was initiated.^[8][16] An informant from the FBI infiltrated the group to gather information.^[17] The group's planning was caught on video and audio tape by federal authorities. They also trained in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.^[11] US Attorney Chris Christie stated that one of the suspects was able to draw a detailed map of Fort Dix from memory.^[18]

The men continued to hold normal jobs. The Duka brothers, Eljvir, Dritan, and Shain (Albanians), operated a roofing business known as Qadr. Inc., Colonial Roofing and National Roofing. Agron Abdullahu (Albanian), Serdar Tatar (a Turkish legal immigrant), and Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer (a U.S. citizen from Jordan) held a variety of jobs, including that of a taxi driver and clerk for 7-Eleven.^[8]

Five of the men arrested, according to news reports, intended to attack the Fort Dix military base and kill as many servicemen as they could.^[2] The sixth man arrested, Abdullahu, has been charged with aiding and abetting in the possession of firearms by the Duka brothers.^[10] The group revealed to the FBI informant (a conversation that was recorded) that the five other men intended to "hit a heavy concentration of soldiers [...] You hit four, five or six Humvees and light the whole place [up] and retreat completely without any losses".^[8]

The men attempted to purchase weapons from an FBI informant, including AK-47s, M16s, M60s, rocket propelled grenades, rockets, semi-automatic Sig Sauer 9 mm handguns, Smith & Wesson 9 mm, C-4 plastic explosive, and nitroglycerin. The informant told them that the weapons would come from an underground military dealer from Baltimore, Maryland who had recently returned from Egypt.^[11]

One of the men in the Fort Dix plot was recorded on a now widely broadcast surveillance tape commenting on a lecture by Anwar al-Awlaki, a controversial American Muslim cleric who was targeted for killing by President Obama in 2010. On that tape, Shain Duka exclaimed “You gotta hear this lecture ... it's the truth, no holds barred, straight how it is!” ^[19]

Trial

The six suspects were indicted on June 5, 2007^[20] and were arraigned in federal court in Camden on June 14 where they pled not guilty.^[21]

The U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler called it "an unusual case" and called for the trial to begin by early October, adding, "If the government is not able to prove this case, they should not be in jail. I want to get this resolved."^[22]

Agron Abdullahu, suspected of having the smallest role in the attack plot, accepted a plea bargain with a limit of 5 years in prison for his weapons offenses. Prosecutors say that while Abdullahu supplied weapons to the other five men, he resisted the idea of attacking the military base.^[23]

Opening arguments were presented on October 20, 2008. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick asserted that the defendants were inspired by jihad, saying "Their motive was to defend Islam. Their inspiration was Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. Their intention was to attack the U.S."^[24] Prosecutors presented recordings of the plot obtained by two paid FBI informants during a 16-month undercover investigation as well as suspicious videos that were found on one defendant's computer. Defense attorneys countered that the videos, alleged by the prosecution to be terrorist training videos, merely showed the defendants on holiday exhibiting "false bravado". They also attacked the credibility of the prosecution's witnesses.^[3][4] On December 22, 2008, the plotters were found guilty on charges of conspiracy to harm US military personnel. However, they were acquitted on the charge of attempted murder.^[4] During sentencing, Dritan and Shain Duka received life sentences for the conspiracy conviction with an additional 30 years for related weapons charges.^[25] Eljvir Duka and Mohamad Shnewer both received life sentences and Serdar Tatar was sentenced to 33 years in prison.^[26]

A 2011 NPR report claimed some of the people associated with this group were imprisoned in a highly restrictive Communication Management Unit. ^[27]

Chronology of events

• January 31, 2006 – An individual brings a tape to a Circuit City in New Jersey for duplication and transfer to DVD. The video features 10 young men conducting militia style assault training shooting their weapons at a firing range while shouting "God is great". The Circuit City employee, Brian Morgenstern, who saw the video contacted the Mt. Laurel Police who in turn contacted the FBI.
• By April 2006, the FBI hired informant Mahmoud Omar to approach the accused.^[28]
• August 11, 2006 – Shnewer travels to Fort Dix and Fort Monmouth to conduct surveillance.
• August 13, 2006 – Shnewer travels to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware to conduct surveillance.
• August 13, 2006 – Shnewer travels to the U.S. Coast Guard building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to conduct surveillance.
• August 16, 2006 – Shnewer travels to Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst to conduct surveillance.
• November 28, 2006 – Serdar Tatar, who had delivered pizza to Fort Dix before, obtains a map of the Fort Dix military installation through his employer's pizza delivery restaurant, which services the military base.^[29]
• February 2, 2007 – Dritan Duka, Eljvir Duka and Sulayman Shain Duka conduct weapons training in Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania.^[11]
• February 4, 2007 – Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer, Dritan Duka, Eljvir Duka and Sulayman Shain Duka review terrorist training materials.
• February 26, 2007 – Dritan Duka and Eljvir Duka conduct weapons training in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.^[11]
• March 15, 2007 – Dritan Duka and Sulayman Shain Duka conduct weapons training in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
• April 16, 2007 – Dritan Duka contacts an arms dealer (an FBI informant) for weaponry.
• May 7, 2007 – The FBI arrests six members of the group.^[11]
• December 22, 2008 Verdict reached. 5 of 6 plotters found Guilty of Terrorism.

Retrieved hard drive

On the hard drive of a retrieved laptop, the downloaded last will and testament of two September 11 hijackers^[17] and militant Islamist recruiting speeches given by Osama bin Laden and others were allegedly recovered.^[11]

See also

• Lackawanna Six
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Joint Terrorism Task Force
• 2006 Toronto terrorism case
• 2009 Fort Hood shooting
• 2009 Lloyd R. Woodson case—Arrested with military-grade illegal weapons he intended to use in a violent crime, and a detailed map of the Fort Drum military installation
• 2009 Little Rock military recruiting office shooting, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula-inspired attack by Yemen-trained jihadi
• Naser Jason Abdo

References

1. ^ Russakoff, Dale; Eggen, Dan (May 9, 2007). "Six Charged in Plot To Attack Fort Dix". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/08/AR2007050800465.html?hpid=moreheadlines. Retrieved May 9, 2007. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Parry, Wayne (May 8, 2007). "6 Men Charged in Plot to Attack Fort Dix". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/08/AR2007050800454.html. Retrieved May 8, 2007. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Jon Hurdle (October 20, 2008). "Trial starts for U.S. Army base "holy war" plot". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE49J5TV20081020?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=10278. Retrieved March 25, 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} von Zielbauer, Paul (December 22, 2008). "5 Men Are Convicted in Plot on Fort Dix". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/22/nyregion/23fortdix.html?ref=nyregion. Retrieved December 22, 2008. 
5. ^ "Father of Fort Dix suspects arrested on immigration charges – NJ.com: Star-Ledger updates". Blog.nj.com. http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates/2007/05/father_of_fort_dix_suspects_ar.html. Retrieved March 25, 2010. 
6. ^ Hefler, Jan (May 28, 2007). "Dukas' neighbors filed many complaints: police made frequent calls to the Cherry Hill home of the Ft. Dix conspiracy suspects". Philadelphia Inquirer. 
7. ^ "Hürriyet – Plans to attack US Fort Dix base uncovered; one of the plotters a Turk". Hurriyet.com.tr. http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/6484033.asp?gid=74. Retrieved March 25, 2010. 
8. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Terror Suspects Arrested In N.J. After FBI Foils Fort Dix Attack". NBC 10. May 8, 2007. http://www.nbc10.com/news/13274843/detail.html. Retrieved May 8, 2007. 
9. ^ "Five Radical Islamists Charged with Planning Attack on Fort Dix Army Base in New Jersey" (PDF). United States Department of Justice. May 8, 2007. Archived from the original on June 16, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070616223143/http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/pdffiles/duka0508rel.pdf. Retrieved May 8, 2007. 
10. ^ ^{a b} "Fort Dix Terror Suspects' Lives Gave Few Clues About Alleged Plot". fownews.com. May 9, 2007. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,270938,00.html. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
11. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "US District Court Case 1:07-mj-02046-JS Document 1" (PDF). United States District Court, District of New Jersey. Archived from the original on June 16, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070616223152/http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/pdffiles/DukaDritanComplaint.pdf. Retrieved May 8, 2007. 
12. ^ "Terror suspects were ‘bad shots,’ says local marksman". Pocono Record. May 8, 2007. http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070508/NEWS/70508011. Retrieved May 9, 2007. 
13. ^ "Website of the Pennsylvania Game Commission". Archived from the original on May 7, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070507122152/http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=480&q=161297. Retrieved May 9, 2007. 
14. ^ Five Radical Islamists Charged with Planning Attack on Fort Dix Army Base in New Jersey^{[dead link]}
15. ^ Hauser, Christine; Kocieniewski, David (May 8, 2007). "6 Arrested in Plot to Attack Fort Dix". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/08/us/08cnd-dix.html?bl&ex=1178769600&en=1fa60d70cd462544&ei=5087%0A. Retrieved May 8, 2007. 
16. ^ "Circuit City clerk alerted authorities to alleged plot". StarLedger. May 9, 2007. http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates/2007/05/circuit_city_clerk_alerted_aut.html. Retrieved May 9, 2007. 
17. ^ ^{a b} "6 Charged In Alleged N.J. Terror Plot". WNBC. May 8, 2007. http://www.wnbc.com/news/13274813/detail.html. Retrieved May 8, 2007. 
18. ^ "Six Men Arrested in Plot to Attack New Jersey's Fort Dix". pbs.com. May 8, 2007. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/government_programs/jan-june07/fortdix_05-08.html. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
19. ^ Shane, Scott (November 18, 2009). "Born in U.S., a Radical Cleric Inspires Terror". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/us/19awlaki.html. Retrieved February 1, 2010. 
20. ^ "Six Suspects Indicted In Fort Dix Plot". Associated Press. CBS News. June 5, 2007. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/05/terror/main2889863.shtml. Retrieved June 20, 2007. 
21. ^ UPI (June 15, 2007). "6 charged in Fort Dix plot arraigned". GOPUSA. 
22. ^ Alfano, Sean (June 5, 2007). "6 In Fort Dix Case Plead Not Guilty". cbsnews.com. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/14/terror/main2932228.shtml. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 
23. ^ "Guilty plea in Ft. Dix Plot". CNN. October 30, 2007. Archived from the original on November 2, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071102053538/http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/31/fortdix.plot.ap/index.html. Retrieved November 2, 2007. 
24. ^ "US base accused 'plotted jihad'". BBC News. October 20, 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7680988.stm. Retrieved February 18, 2011. ^{[dead link]}
25. ^ "3 brothers get life for Fort Dix plot". United Press International. April 28, 2009. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/28/3-brothers-get-life-for-Fort-Dix-plot/UPI-64791240952231/. Retrieved November 10, 2009. 
26. ^ "Fifth Man Convicted in Fort Dix Terror Plot Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison". Associated Press. Fox News. April 28, 2009. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518337,00.html. Retrieved November 10, 2009. 
27. ^ DATA & GRAPHICS: Population Of The Communications Management Units, Margot Williams and Alyson Hurt, NPR, 3-3-11, retrieved 2011 03 04 from npr.org
28. ^ Amanda ripley (December 6, 2007). "The Fort Dix Conspiracy". Time. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1691609-3,00.html. 
29. ^ "Fort Dix Plot Unravels Interactive Timeline". cbsnews.com (CBS News). http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2007/05/09/terror/timeline2778660.shtml. Retrieved February 18, 2011. 

External links

• U.S. dept of Justice Official release about the case