LOS ANGELES (AP)--The chairman of the militant Jewish Defense League and a
follower have been arrested on suspicion of plotting to blow up a Los Angeles
mosque and the office of an Arab-American congressman, federal authorities said
Wednesday.
Irv Rubin, 56, and a member of the group, Earl Krugel, 59, both of Los
Angeles, were arrested Tuesday night after the last component of the bomb -
explosive powder - was delivered to Krugel's home, U.S. Attorney John S. Gordon
said.
Other bomb components and weapons were seized at Krugel's home.
Authorities said the plot targeted a mosque in Culver City and the office of
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif.
Issa is the grandson of Lebanese immigrants.
Rubin and Krugel were expected to appear in court later Wednesday. The
complaint against them quotes Krugel as making a comment during a meeting that
Arabs "need a wakeup call."
Authorities were tipped off by a government source about a series of meetings
where the scheme to bomb the King Fahd Mosque and Issa's office was hammered
out, Gordon said.
The original target was to be the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los
Angeles, but the target was changed during a meeting last weekend.
"Prior to last night's arrest, the source delivered explosive powder, the last
component required to begin construction of the bomb, to Krugel's residence,"
the U.S. attorney's office said.
(MORE) DOW JONES NEWS 12-12-01
03:36 PM- - 03 36 PM EST 12-12-01
if they blew it up, would we go to war against this "terrorist" nation too???