June 2, 2007
JFK Jet Fuel Pipeline Terror Plot Foiled
WNBC 4's Jonathan Dient reports that the feds have arrested four men plotting to blow up a jet fuel pipeline at JFK Airport today. From WNBC 4:
Four people have been charged. One is in custody in New York. Three suspects are thought to be overseas.There will be a press conference at 1PM.Sources said one suspect is thought to be a former parliament or government official in Guyana...
...Law enforcement officials said the plot may involve a former airport worker.
Here are from facts about Kennedy Airport from the Port Authority: In 2005, the airport saw over 40 million passenger, almost 350,000 plane movements, and 1.75 million tons of air cargo.
Update: According to reports, the plot did not reach the "operational" level (someone on CNN said it was a level below the Fort Dix plot). The alleged plotters had not yet bought any explosives either, but they had surveilled JFK Airport. The group is allegedly a group of "Islamic extremists," not related to Al Qaeda, but it's possible the group tried to meet with a Trinidadian terror group called JAM.
Update: CNN is reporting that JFK was targeted because its namesake was a beloved President, and that the airport's damage or destruction would send the U.S. into mourning. The alleged plotters apparently overlooked that Americans hate airports.
Photograph of the Airbus 380 lifting off from JFK Airport in MArch by Vidiot on Flickr
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We need an agency for domestic surveillance and take these sorts of things out of the hands of the FBI. The FBI does a better job of solving crimes after they happen and in these types of cases they are too quick to make headline grabbing arrests.
You have a good point there spies. Perhaps something akin to Britain's MI-5 would be appropriate.
I disagree, it sounds to me like the FBI did a good job here.
I wonder if these guys are just wannabe's or actually had a real plan?
So THIS is why my plane from L.A. was delayed for THREE FREAKING HOURS yesterday. We got reports before we boarded that there were "weather conditions" causing a stack-up of delayed arrivals and that we'd be sitting on the tarmac for an hour before taking off. We actually managed to take off right away, but then had to circle for an extra hour before landing, THEN sat on the tarmac at JFK for two hours as there was a traffic jam getting planes to the gates.
My coworker who was also on the flight with me was sitting near the flight attendants' station and heard them gossiping about the fact that it wasn't weather that delayed us; we wondered what it was, but regardless, it was a VERY long day.
i'm willing to bet the FBI wasn't the only agency who uncovered. spies, thankfully, you have no idea what you're talking about.
same thing happened to me. i was scheduled dfor a 755 flight. we boarded around 10 and didn't get on the runway until 1145...
then again, i was delayed almost as long coming from chicago last night as well.