Terror Plot Thwarted At Kennedy
June 2, 2007
NEW YORK -- As first reported by NewsChannel4's Jonathan Dienst, three people were arrested and one other was being sought Saturday in connection to a plot to blow up jet-fuel lines at John F. Kennedy International Airport, officials said.
Four people have been charged. Three suspects are in custody: Russell Defreitas, Kareem Ibrihim and Abdul Kadir. Another suspect, Abdul Nur is still at large.
Defreitas is to be arrainged Saturday in Brooklyn on terror conspiracy charges.
Sources said Defreitas, a former cargo worker at JFK allegedly began to plot attacking the US last July or August. Defeitas sought help in carrying out a plan and went to an FBI informant, who gathered information about the plot.
U.S. Attorney Roslynn R. Mauskopf called it "one of the most chilling plots imaginable."
"The devastation that would be caused had this plot succeeded is just unthinkable," she said at a news conference.
Defreitas is a U.S. citizen with roots in Guyana.
Kadir, a former member of Parliament in Guyana, was arrested in Trinidad for attempting to secure money for "terrorist operations," according to a Guyanese police commander who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Kadir, a Muslim, left his position in Parliament last year. Muslims make up about 9 percent of the former Dutch and British colony's 770,000 population, mostly from the Sunni sect.
Sources said counter-terrorism officials have been following the plot for a little less than one year.
Sources said the plot involved a plan to blow up a BuckEye jet-fuel pipeline at JFK setting off a potential massive explosion. BuckEye provides fuel to all three NYC-area airports.
Sources said the plot involved putting explosives inside the fuel pipeline but realized that "it was not technically feasible."
Officials said the plot may also have included plans to hit the JFK terminal buildings and aircraft, in addition to the fuel lines.
Sources said the planning stages of the plot involved surveillance of JFK airport as well as scouting out US properties in Guyana for possible attacks.
Aviation officials said there is no major threat to air travel related to this plot since it was caught in the developmental stages.
One law enforcement official said: "[There was] credible intent to commit violence but it was not operational."
Officials said the suspects never got hold of explosive devices.
"This was the ultimate hand-and-glove operation between NYPD and FBI," said U.S. Rep. Peter King, a Republican from Long Island.
The arrests mark the latest in a series of alleged homegrown terrorism plots targeting high-profile American landmarks.
A year ago, seven men were arrested in what officials called the early stages of a plot to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago and destroy FBI offices and other buildings.
A month later, authorities broke up a plot to bomb underwater New York City train tunnels to flood lower Manhattan.
And six people were arrested a month ago in an alleged plot to unleash a bloody rampage on Fort Dix in New Jersey.
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