CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) The U.S. Attorney's Office says six people have been arrested in a plot to kill soldiers at Fort Dix.But remember, folks, according to Democrats in Congress, we are not involved in a Global War on Terror...
Note: These guys were from the former Yugoslavia.
Here is more from the AP:
The men were arrested while trying to buy automatic weapons in a sale set-up by law enforcement authorities, the official said. Authorities believe the men trained for the attack in the Poconos and allegedly conducted surveillance at other area military institutions, including the Army's Fort Monmouth, the official said.Press conference is scheduled for 2:30PM today...
The official said that the men had lived in the United States for some time and were arrested as part of a joint federal and local investigation.
The Star-Ledger of Newark reported on its Web site that the men had agreed to buy AK-47 assault rifles from an arms dealer who was secretly cooperating with the FBI. It cited a law enforcement person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the source was not authorized to speak about the arrests.
Developing...
1:45PM UPDATE - Statement from Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)
WASHINGTON, May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) today commended U.S. Attorney Chris Christie and law enforcement officials for the arrest of six men who were plotting a "commando-style" raid on Fort Dix with the intention of "killing as many soldiers as possible," while strongly reiterating his concerns that Navy housing plans at Earle leave that base open to such an attack.
"This is a case of thorough and aggressive law enforcement by U.S. Attorney Chris Christie and his team. Through a 16-month surveillance effort, they dotted every 'i' and crossed every 't' to ensure that this terror plot did not come to fruition and lead to a loss of lives," Smith said.
Smith noted that law enforcement was tipped off of the suspects' plans by the concerns of a diligent clerk at a store the suspects took a terror training tape they shot to be dubbed.
"The arrests underscore how vitally important it is that everyday citizens remain vigilant. If something doesn't look right in these situations, there is a good chance it isn't," said Smith, who spoke with Chris Christie via telephone this morning.
Meanwhile Smith took the occasion to reiterate his strongest objections to the Navy's plans to open up military housing at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County to the general public -- absolutely anyone who wants to live there would be able to under these plans, including potential terrorists.
"As we have learned from the access one suspect -- the pizza delivery driver -- had to Fort Dix, terrorists are constantly eyeing new ways to penetrate our military installations. For months this terror cell cased at least four federal facilities and because of proximity, access and knowledge regarding Fort Dix they felt most ready to make their move there," Smith said.
"We must tighten up security at our bases, not make them more accessible for potential terrorists. What the Navy is considering at Earle is absurd, irresponsible and antithetical to efforts to protect New Jersey's bases," Smith said.
