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Saudi student found guilty for planning chemical terror attack on George W. Bush
A Saudi man accused of planning a series of terror attacks across the U.S. including one against former President George W. Bush was found guilty today in a federal court in Amarillo.
Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, who was legally in the U.S. on a student visa, was arrested in February 2011 after federal agents secretly searched his apartment near Texas Tech University in Lubbock and found bomb-making chemicals, wiring, a hazmat suit and clocks.
Authorities also discovered Aldawsari’s journal, handwritten in Arabic, in which he wrote he’d been planning a terror attack in the U.S. for years and that it was ‘time for jihad,’ or holy war, court documents showed.
He faces up to life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 9 in Amarillo.
After the jury left the courtroom Wednesday, Aldawsari, 22, sat with his attorneys before being led off by U.S. Marshals.
His attorneys claimed that because Aldawsari didn’t have a bomb made or a target pinpointed, he couldn’t have attempted to use a bomb.
‘It’s always disappointing when you lose but at the same time, it was a very difficult case at the outset,’ said defense attorney Dan Cogdell.
‘We did the best we could under the circumstances.’
Cogdell said Aldawsari is likely to appeal the verdict at some point. He described his client as ‘the antithesis of what you’d expect him to be.’
On Feb. 1, 2011, Carolina Biological Supply of Burlington, N.C., a chemical company, reported a suspicious $435 order by Aldawsari to the FBI.
Separately, Con-way Freight, the shipping company, notified Lubbock police and the FBI the same day with similar suspicions because it appeared the order wasn’t intended for commercial use.
Diego G. Rodriguez, the FBI special agent in charge for the region, credited both companies for calling authorities.
‘You have our deepest and everlasting respect and gratitude for calling the FBI when you learned that the chemicals ordered and shipped were suspicious,’ said Rodriguez.
Within weeks, federal agents had traced Aldawsari’s other online purchases, discovered extremist Internet posts and secretly searched his off-campus apartment, computer and email accounts and read his diary, according to court records.
President Barack Obama was notified about the plot before Aldawsari’s arrest.
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FreeMan - Save Me Sarah
June 28th, 2012
Let’s tell him that GW is still in the White House.
Does he know that GW is no longer the Prez?
grayscape
June 28th, 2012
What is Eric the Holder witholding about his involvement in this??
RANDO
June 28th, 2012
I don’t think “antithesis” means what you think it means…
Stranded in Sonoma
June 28th, 2012
So basically, just another day at the office for a libtard.
Johnny Freedom
June 28th, 2012
Sentencing? Let the fine people of Lubbock, Texas handle that.
Jim
June 28th, 2012
…and Obama said “Oh come on guys! You’re all overreacting!”
Tony R
June 29th, 2012
Given the current make-up of the supreme court, this guy would be smart to start the appeal process.
Unneutral
June 29th, 2012
President Barack Obama was notified about the plot before Aldawsari’s arrest.
No doubt Obama would have preferred to be notified AFTER the attack.
dong_ha68
June 29th, 2012
Strap him into old sparky, strap a pig in his lap. One dead terrorist and lunch to boot.
sablegsd
June 29th, 2012
I’m surprised ovomit didn’t warn his koranimal brother. Hey bush, still like kissing them saudi mother fuckers?
Carlsonal
June 29th, 2012
Odd that this wasn’t a big story back when he was arrested. Maybe I missed it.
IronyCurtain
June 29th, 2012
No word on when he was going to the White House to pick up his medal.
Boobie the Rocket Dog
June 29th, 2012
1. Why name the two companies involved? Keeping their names under wraps would have been a good trap for potential terrorists as well as a sale for the companies (would a terrorist ask for a refund?)
2. Why was Obama informed? Does the FBI inform him of every arrest it makes? Every Saudi arrested? Every (alleged) terrorist? As if he had nothing better to do…
3. Surely he broke a state law in the process, so shouldn’t he be tried in a TEXAS court for something that would keep him out of the “summer camp” federal pen and in an appropriate facility in, say, downtown Houston?
muddjuice
June 29th, 2012
Never heard about this! How did I miss it? I’m sure it was big news at the time and now, what with the sentencing and the threat against a former President and all.
When is the gov’t finally gonna admit that Islam is a problem and needs to be expelled from this country?
Noelegy
June 29th, 2012
It’s weird, but in the news I’ve heard, ALL you hear is that he’s a “former Texas Tech student,” NOT that he’s Saudi. As if where he went to school were more likely to influence his illegal actions. Yeah, those Red Raiders go nuts all the time…