Alleged Hamas Figure Arrested in Md.

By Gretchen Parker
Associated Press
Tuesday, August 24, 2004; 12:43 PM

BALTIMORE -- A man described by federal authorities as an assistant to a top Hamas operative was arrested by Maryland police after he was seen videotaping the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, authorities said Tuesday.

Ismael Selim Elbarasse of Annandale, Va., suspected by federal authorities of having financial ties to the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, was arrested Friday after two off-duty Baltimore County police officers saw him taping the bridge from a sport utility vehicle, said Marcia Murphy, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in Baltimore.

Elbarasse was not charged with a crime but was detained on a material witness warrant issued by the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago, Murphy said.

Officials there want him to testify before a federal grand jury that described him in an indictment unsealed Friday as a "co-conspirator" in a racketeering scheme to finance terrorist activities in Israel. The conspiracy has been ongoing since at least 1989 in the United States and abroad.

Elbarasse and indicted defendant Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook -- considered one of the highest-ranking Hamas leaders worldwide -- used a joint bank account in Virginia to launder "substantial sums" of money for Hamas members, according to the court documents.

Maryland Transportation Authority police stopped Elbarasse's SUV west of the bridge after the off-duty Baltimore County officers reported seeing Elbarasse with a camera. The transportation authority police arrested Elbarasse after learning he was wanted in the Chicago case, Murphy said.

Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich said Tuesday the arrest is prompting the state to place more police around the Bay Bridge, although the terror level remains "yellow" -- the third highest.

"It shouldn't be a generator of fear. It should serve as a reminder that there is a war going on around the world," Ehrlich said.

Elbarasse made an initial appearance Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul W. Grimm in Baltimore.

He is to appear again Friday for a detention hearing at which the magistrate will likely decide to turn him over to federal officials in Chicago, authorities said.

Federal public defender Franklin W. Draper, who represented Elbarasse in court Monday, did not return a call Tuesday seeking comment. Elbarasse's wife declined to comment when reached at their home Tuesday. Elbarasse's private attorney, Stanley Cohen of New York, also didn't return calls.

Elbarasse was being held at Maryland Reception Diagnostic and Classification Center, a maximum-security state prison.

The high bridge linking central Maryland with the Eastern Shore is the only bridge that crosses the Chesapeake Bay.

Also Monday, a Pakistani man who was spotted a month ago videotaping the skyline of Charlotte, N.C., was indicted on charges of lying to the police and an immigration violation. Kamran Akhtar, 35, of New York City, was charged with six counts in the indictment, but none of them involved terrorism.

Makes you wish the terrorist hunting licenses you see on cars were real.

So it's against the law to take any photos of bridges now?

Quoted: So it's against the law to take any photos of bridges now?

[common sense] I think it's probably his intent in photographing the bridges that has folks worried. [/common sense]

Quoted: So it's against the law to take any photos of bridges now?

You raise a good point though, sometimes you don't even relize the freedoms you loosing.

I used to goto the local airport, park at the fence and watch the planes take off, NOPE no more been bericaded since 9/11 i drive by every day hoping it will be gone.

Quoted: Quoted: So it's against the law to take any photos of bridges now? You raise a good point though, sometimes you don't even relize the freedoms you loosing. I used to goto the local airport, park at the fence and watch the planes take off, NOPE no more been bericaded since 9/11 i drive by every day hoping it will be gone.

No, it isn't a good point.  The point is that a Hamas operative was arrested for taking pictures of a bridge.  Are you next going to bemoan the fact that young Arab Muslims are having difficulties signing up for flight schools?

On my way to get my oil changed the other day, I noticed two men parked inbetween Rt.50 and the on ramp for I66... One had a camera around his neck and were point and chatting in the direction of the overpass and Fair Oaks mall......

So I gave the fuzz a call and reported a broken down vehicle possibly in need of assistance.
I hope thats the case, but if not, makes me a little nervous.

Quoted: Makes you wish the terrorist hunting licenses you see on cars were real.

So long as you can prove he was a terrorist, what jury would convict?

Since when does Palestinian terrorists have rights in the United States? Fuck Hamas.

Whenever they arrest Hillbilly Jim for doing the same thing, then I'll worry.

I've driven by the house where a couple of the 9/11 terrorists were living right here in Broward County Florida.

KEY WORD : ASSISTANT TO A TOP HAMAS OPERATIVE

Quoted: KEY WORD : ASSISTANT TO A TOP HAMAS OPERATIVE

Way I figure, "assistant to"  is the same as an operative!JMO

I guess I need to start snapping photographs of every bridge I come across.

Will they arrest a short, rotund, bald white man in his late 20's?

Quoted: I guess I need to start snapping photographs of every bridge I come across. Will they arrest a short, rotund, bald white man in his late 20's?

If you aren't wearing a shirt and are squeezing your "man boobs", I think an arrest would be in order!

Quoted: Quoted: I guess I need to start snapping photographs of every bridge I come across. Will they arrest a short, rotund, bald white man in his late 20's? If you aren't wearing a shirt and are squeezing your "man boobs", I think an arrest would be in order!

Hey, I was young and needed the money...

You need to visit some of the Railroad Fan sites and listen to them bemoan the fact that they get questioned when photographing bridges and other things that might be considered targets by some.

One needs to inject some common sense into the discussion and realize that there is in fact a war on.  Remember in the old days of WWII it was illegal to take pix of a lot of things and you did go to the slammer.

I dont see anything wrong with what LEOs are doing... it may be unfortunate for some... but suck it up.

- BUCC_Guy

Quoted: I dont see anything wrong with what LEOs are doing... it may be unfortunate for some... but suck it up. - BUCC_Guy

Apply that same quote to gun owners.  What if the .gov was going door to door on gun owners?  What if they were arresting people who had a gun in their vehicle?

Not defending those piece of shit ragheads by any means, but where do you draw the line?

"Those that give up essential liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety."

Benjamin Franklin

Well, shit, GunLvrPHD.  This is one of those threads that seems like one thing... turns out to be another.  False advertisement!

Seriously, I saw the title and thought to myself.... "Now why would someone want to post that on the Internet?  Why not just keep it to himself?"  Then I thought "Please tell me he didn't actually put up headstones......"

Then I read the thread and I'm like, "Oh.  Uh, nevermind....."

There is a difference between making something _illegal_ and detaining those who are acting suspicious.  When there is a war on then you look into people doing that which can be construed as working for the enemy.  Once you find out who they are and what they are up to, then you can make judgements as to whether what they were doing was a crime.  Taking pictures of a bridge, such as for the railroad afficionados,  is obviously not a big deal.  The same pictures taken by the Hamas operatives are part of the planning process for staging attacks on the US.

Confiscating weapons would not make sense, under any circumstances, because it is a right which we enjoy.  Taking pictures is not actually addressed in the constitution.  Neither is writing fiction (unless it is for political purposes) or for that matter, IMHO, pornography.  Personal expression is not covered by the intent of the constitution.  But I also believe that such things should be left up to individual states and municipalities.  The Feds should keep their fingers out of local politics.


Jame Retief

Quoted: "Those that give up essential liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety." Benjamin Franklin

I see this line quoted often these days and while they are words to live by FOR AMERICANS; we are at war with mostly foreign muslims and as such they should be scrutinized for anything and everything.

We know there are operatives and sympathizers on US soil and even still we choose not to deport ALL the visa holders and illegals so if we catch one doing something goofy then they should be booted. If they are citizens already then their rights apply. Not a citizen? Then out you go and try and re-enter under the new guidelines.

Yep illegal if your a damn middle east terrorist.

I'm  sure he was just taking home movies to show to his kids............
You know, the ones wearing the BOMBS.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: So it's against the law to take any photos of bridges now? You raise a good point though, sometimes you don't even relize the freedoms you loosing. I used to goto the local airport, park at the fence and watch the planes take off, NOPE no more been bericaded since 9/11 i drive by every day hoping it will be gone. No, it isn't a good point.  The point is that a Hamas operative was arrested for taking pictures of a bridge.  Are you next going to bemoan the fact that young Arab Muslims are having difficulties signing up for flight schools?

Yes he did, it’s a point! I'm aware of the situation I'm glad they caught this bastard sounds like he is guilty,  I'm hyper vigilant about losing my freedoms.

You'll see one day you'll be doing something completely innocent, like shooting guns with your friends and some overzealous JBT BATFE FBI CIA LMNOP will decide that a group of white men(I assume) gathering to practice "para-military maneuvers" is cause for alarm, put you and your buddies in cuffs and give you an expensive time consuming court case to have fun with.
God forbid they arrested him for buying a gun, you'd have your panties in a bunch.

Don't be closed minded all I said was he makes a good point (that doesn't even mean I agree with him), it made me think, YOU SHOULD TRY IT.... you know, thinking!

Quoted: Quoted: KEY WORD : ASSISTANT TO A TOP HAMAS OPERATIVE Way I figure, "assistant to"  is the same as an operative!JMO

Yep. I agree.

Quoted: Well, shit, GunLvrPHD.  This is one of those threads that seems like one thing... turns out to be another.  False advertisement! Seriously, I saw the title and thought to myself.... "Now why would someone want to post that on the Internet?  Why not just keep it to himself?"  Then I thought "Please tell me he didn't actually put up headstones......"

Don't worry if I ever catch one of them I won't brag about it on the internet and they will not get a grave or headstone.  

GunLvr

Do any of you guys remember seeing the billboard put out by Dept Homeland Security? It was white with read letters that said:

Terrorism forces us to make a choice.
We can be afraid.
Or we can be ready.
READY
www.ready.gov

Makes me want to practice at the range everytime I see it. In fact I took a picture of my wife shooting her AR, cut her out in Photoshop and inserted her into a mock billboard which I hung up at my office. Puts a whole new meaning on what Dept HS's meaning was, huh?
Do we need to start carrying ARs in out vehicles to "BE READY?"

Quoted: We know there are operatives and sympathizers on US soil and even still we choose not to deport ALL the visa holders and illegals so if we catch one doing something goofy then they should be booted. If they are citizens already then their rights apply. Not a citizen? Then out you go and try and re-enter under the new guidelines.

Exactly.  The Constitution doesn't apply to foreigners, just US citizens.  And US citizens involved in this sort of thing should be charged with treason and all criminal and civil penalties be applied to them.

GunLvr

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: KEY WORD : ASSISTANT TO A TOP HAMAS OPERATIVE Way I figure, "assistant to"  is the same as an operative!JMO Yep. I agree.

+1.

We start with: ASSISTANT TO A TOP HAMAS OPERATIVE

Do this: ASSISTANT TO A TOP HAMAS OPERATIVE

Carry the one, and we now have: ASSISTANT OPERATIVE


Now, in the academic system, we have (by and large) three ranks of faculty (professors):

1) Professor (sometimes called "Full Professor" - these are usu/often the ones w/ full tenure)

2) Associate Professor

3) Assistant Professor

I figure, these ppl go to school to learn this shit (madrasas, or whatever - hell, some even to flight school ) - should the academic model not apply?


Also, in the .mil, "front-liners" are soldiers.  Do we not call Combat Support Folk soldiers, as well?  Cooks, barbers, etc?

My point?  Even UBL's hairstylist is a fucking terrorist.

I think "Top Operative" maybe means "I'm a terrorist, but still not dumb enough to blow myself up.  I convince other dumbasses to blow themselves up."

I think "Assistant to a Top Operative" probably means "I'm learning this trade, and one day aspire to be a Top Operative, but I may end up being fuckstick enough to blow myself up."

The PCers are trying to make this guy sound like a damn secretary so when we do whatever we're gonna do to him, ppl will cry out for "social justice," saying "This man hasn't done anything.  He's not even a terrorist.  He's just an assistant to an operative in a political organization, for crying out loud!"  

Quoted: So it's against the law to take any photos of bridges now?

I drove across that bridge in June when I took my son to the naval academy and he was snapping pics all the way across.  Would have been awfull if we had been arrested before I got a chance to drop him off.

There is a radical muslim compound in SE New York. They actually had phone records linking the first WTC bombers to a few individuals at this compound. A few years ago the New York Times reported this compound to be the radical muslim headquaters for NE America.