October 11, 2005

Were Botched Events Part of a Coordinated Terrorism Plan?

Unlike 99 percent of the mainstream media, we here at CBN News have closely monitored the case of Joel Hinrichs. As I've reported in previous blogs, Hinrichs was a 21-year-old Oklahoma University student who blew himself up with high-powered explosives on October 1. In addition to the unorthodox method he used to kill himself, the venue Hinrichs chose was equally troubling. When the explosives he was carrying detonated, Hinrichs was seated just 100 yards from OU's football stadium--which, at the time, was packed with 84,000 fans watching the Sooners take on Kansas State. Although the FBI and Oklahoma University president David Boren have stated that this was simply the work of one troubled individual, a number of reports that have circulated in the blogosphere and on local Oklahoma City news outlets over this past week have led me to believe that Hinrich had far more sinister motives in mind. I believe that Hinrichs may very well have been attempting to carry out the first suicide bombing on American soil since the 9/11 attacks.

For a great rundown on the entire Hinrichs case, visit Mark Tapscott's blog and simply scroll down. Tapscott, who works at the Hertiage Foundation in Washington, D.C., has done an admirable job of keeping this important story in the spotlight as CNN, The New York Times, and other mainstream outlets have virtually ignored it. Another great resource is this Accuracy in Media article by columnist Cinnamon Stilwell. After reading Tapscott and Stillwell's pieces, I think you'll agree with me that something just doesn't add up here.

On the heels of the Hinrichs suicide bombing, this report out of Georgia Tech University is especially relevant:

Three explosive devices found in a courtyard between two Georgia Tech dormitories on the East Campus Monday morning were part of a "terrorist act," an Atlanta police official said.

One of the devices exploded, injuring the custodian who found them inside a plastic bag. Two others were detonated by a bomb squad.

The custodian suffered ringing to the ears and was treated at a local hospital. The events led to a temporary evacuation Monday morning.

"It is a terrorist act at this point and depending on the outcome of the investigation it potentially could become a federal violation as well," said Major C.W. Moss of the Atlanta Police Department.

But that's not all. Check out this story from UCLA's Daily Bruin:

A calm and quiet Westwood was briefly disrupted Friday afternoon when the Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad inspected and detonated an explosive device found within the Midvale Plaza apartment complex on the 500 block of Midvale Avenue.

After responding to a call made at 11:13 a.m., the bomb squad arrived at 527 Midvale Ave. to find "an improvised explosive device" in the building's open-air courtyard, said Grace Brady, a spokeswoman for the LAPD.

No injuries were reported, but authorities have been slow to release details about the incident and the device.

Just in case you're keeping score, that's explosive devices found at the University of Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, and UCLA--all in the span of 10 days. But that's not all. How about this report , out of San Diego:

SAN DIEGO - A man who fatally shot himself in his University City condominium during a standoff with San Diego police was identified Saturday as a 29-year-old student.

An autopsy is scheduled tomorrow on the body of Khaled Yasufi, medical examiner Investigator Sal Rodriguez said.

Police were sent to the 8700 block of Costa Verde Boulevard after someone reported a strong odor coming from a condo about 1 p.m. Friday, SDPD Sgt. Jim Schorr said.

A man in the condo told officers everything was fine and shut the door, Schorr said. Within a couple of minutes, a gunshot was heard, prompting police to clear the building, Schorr said.

Police eventually sent in a camera-equipped robot, which transmitted images of a body in the unit. When officers made entry after a standoff of about six hours, a chemical lab was found in the bathroom of the condo, police said.

Rodriguez said he did not know where Yasufi went to school.

Okay, I think we've definitely established a pattern of troubling incidents--quite possibly terrorism-related that have already occurred in this still young month of October. But this one, again out of the Atlanta area, may take the cake:

A stolen airplane mysteriously showed up at Briscoe Field in Lawrenceville this past weekend, but no one knows where it came from or how it got there.

Investigators know someone piloted the plane, owned by St. Augustine, Fla.-based Pinnacle Aviation from there to Gwinnett County, but they say they have no idea as to who.

Police say the 1995 Cessna Citation arrived at Briscoe Field sometime between 9 p.m. Saturday and 6:30 a.m. Sunday.

The airplane’s owners say they will be in Georgia to pick up the plane on Tuesday. Police say they are investigating all the leads at their disposal.

What this blurb neglected to mention is the fact that two of the 9/11 hijackers--Mohammed Atta and Marwan al-Shehhi--did flight training at Briscoe Field just eight months before the attacks. An official from the Federal Aviation Administration whom I spoke to today said the stolen plane was "very complex," and that "not everyone knows how to use it." Bottom line: whoever stole this plane was an experienced pilot who knew the terrain of Briscoe Field and knew an escape route to take once the plane landed. By the way, Briscoe Field is Georgia's 5th busiest airport, and is, I'm assuming, tightly secured.

What is going on here? Are the five incidents I've described above all part of a coordinated plan? I can tell you that we here at CBN News are digging deep into all of these incidents, and will have more in the days to come. Stay tuned.

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