Trial of Fort Dix Conspirators Begins
In early May 2007, American newspapers reported the startling news that six men had been arrested for conspiring to kill soldiers at Fort Dix, in New Jersey. The case of the Cherry Hill, New Jersey residents, portrayed by law enforcement as a case of homegrown "Islamic extremism" garnered intense interest.
When the trial begins following jury selection this week, however, the informant who helped break the case may be scrutinized as closely as the defendants. He is being portrayed as the instrument of a government that has become overly zealous in seeking terrorism arrests.
The Case
The FBI began tracking the men, four ethnic Albanians, a Turk, and a Jordanian born American, when a video store clerk reported that men had brought in a video tape of themselves shooting assault rifles at a range while yelling about jihad, asking for its transfer to DVD.
The FBI infiltrated the group, and informants eventually produced a narrative based on taped conversations. They said they had watched terrorist training videos, collected assault weapons, and overtly discussed their desire to kill as many soldiers as possible. Although the four men reportedly were eager to act on behalf of a self-proclaimed "jihad," none were apparently observant, according to neighbors in New Jersey.
The six men "planned to purchase rocket-propelled grenade launchers and use tem to fire at Humvees at Fort Dix and light the whole place up,'" according to U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, quoted in the New York Times.
Eventually the men turned to one of the informants with the hope he would lead their plot to fruition. And several of the men were arrested while trying to buy assault weapons from him.
Fast forward to September 2008. The government is now prepared to begin the trial of Serdar Tatar, Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer, and Dritan, Eljvir and Shain Duka, who are brothers. All five are accused of murder and conspiracy to murder uniformed military personnel.
Informant's Role Questioned
In the meantime, the defense has brought into question whether the informant, Mahmoud Omar, an Egyptian national on probation, recorded--or actually led--the men into a conspiracy.
According to Geoff Mulvihill in an AP report:
Defense lawyers have portrayed Omar as the mastermind of any plot that existed and show that most of their clients were oblivious to any plan.
Michael Riley, who is representing Shain Duka, said the defense will probably play more, and longer, snippets of recorded conversations than prosecutors will. The defense will try to show that while their clients may have liked to shoot guns and held anti-American views, they were not moving ahead with a plan to kill.
"Our guys are saying, 'What are you talking about?'" when an attack is mentioned, Riley said.