CBP K 9 Sniffs Out Travelers’ Undeclared Cash at JFK by Stephen Geffon - Leader-Observer

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Customs and Border Protection K-9 Grill thinks of her job as play. But it's no joke when she quickly sniffs departing JFK Airport travelers and their carry-on luggage on randomly selected international flights looking for large sums of undeclared U.S. currency.

The Leader/Observer was invited to watch Grill, a five-year old female German Shepherd, in action on Tuesday, May 2, as she checked departing passengers on an afternoon flight to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Grill, who is cross-trained to also detect firearms, did not find any cash or guns. However, to show how she would react if she did find what she was looking for, a plainclothes CPB officer volunteered to slip into the passenger line with a large amount of CBP-supplied $1 bills similar to the number of $100 bills a smuggler would have on his person or in his luggage.

When Grill sniffed the cash the CBP officer was carrying, she reacted just as she had been trained to do, immediately sitting down in front of him. Grill was rewarded for her “find” with her favorite toy, a rolled up terrycloth towel given to her by her handler, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Chad Duryee, which she eagerly played with.

Although it is legal to transport any amount of currency into or out of the United States, currency reporting laws require individuals to report any money equivalent to $10,000 or more.

CBP officials said the purpose of the agency’s undeclared cash program is to go after criminal organizations, terrorist organizations and money-laundering operations.

Grill also showed off her skills at a cargo warehouse at JFK. For this training exercise, CBP officials hid two unloaded firearms in a box and put the box among the numerous other cargo containers in the warehouse. They then watched as Grill walked up and down the aisles. When the CBP canine came to the box containing the guns she passively sat down, pointing her nose at the container.

Grill and Duryee underwent an intensive 12-week training course at the agency’s training center in Front Royal, Virginia, before being assigned to the canine unit at JFK.

The Shepherds, Labradors and Beagles of the Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection stand ready to protect airline travelers at JFK Airport. Man’s best friend is on duty at JFK 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, stopping narcotics and illegal firearms and protecting citizens from insect infested fruit, vegetables and meat entering the country.

“The canine program has been instrumental in assisting officers to identify cargo and luggage containing contraband quickly and with little effort since the early 1970's when the program was established,” said Gary Walck, deputy chief of the Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (ATCET) at JFK.

“Detector dogs are an integral part of CBP's anti-terrorism and enforcement efforts," he added. "The canine unit serves as a valuable tool to officers in the field as they carry out the agency's mission.”

Further information about Customs and Border Protection is available at www.cbp.gov. To find out about their Outreach Program and demonstrations contact their Public Affairs Office at (646) 733-3275.

News & Notes from NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio...

FDNY CUTS PUT RESPONSE TIMES OVER NATIONAL "RED LINE"

May 21, 2011

Public Advocate De Blasio: 18 of 20 Cut Companies Won’t Meet Basic Standard

A report released today by Public Advocate Bill de Blasio shows the cuts to 20 fire companies in Mayor Bloomberg's Executive Budget will seriously imperil emergency response times. According to the report, 18 of these companies will exceed a national 4-minute standard after cuts are implemented—-some by over a full minute. The National Fire Protection Association urges a 4-minute response to prevent fires from spreading beyond a single room, after which the risk of civilian death triples and property damage increases more than eight-fold.

"The neighborhoods targeted by these cuts will see their safety go up in smoke," said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. "If the Mayor succeeds in cutting these companies, some communities won't meet the response times needed in places like Fargo, North Dakota, let alone a city where we need to fight fires on the upper floors of big apartment buildings."

Council Member Elizabeth Crowley (D-30, Queens), Chair of the Fire & Criminal Justice Committee stated, "In addition to the findings in this study, the FDNY is not counting the time the 911-caller is spending with the 911 operator which could be up to two minutes. Response times are significantly higher than what the Administration is reporting--and these false response times are being used to justify closing fire companies.  The Administration's policy for reporting response times is misleading, inaccurate and dangerous."

The Public Advocate's report is based on response time increases estimated by the FDNY. The National Fire Protection Association standard is modeled on responding to a fire at a two-story, single-family home where firefighting can commence soon after crews arrive. In a dense city like New York, firefighters require additional minutes to ascend multi-story buildings, making any response times above the national standard even more alarming.

Read the report at:http://advocate.nyc.gov/files/DeBlasio_Fire_Company_Closures_Brief.pdf

Read it on Scribd at:http://www.scribd.com/doc/55945084/Public-Advocate-de-Blasio-Report-on-FDNY-Budget

STATEMENT BY PUBLIC ADVOCATE DE BLASIO ON FIREHOUSE CLOSURES

May 19, 2011

“The list of fire company cutbacks shows what the Mayor’s budget really means for the safety of New Yorkers and their families. In my own neighborhood, Engine Company 220, which is a block from my house, now faces an estimated 30-second jump in response time. As Fire Commissioner Cassano has acknowledged, higher response times mean greater risks for New Yorkers. I will fight to keep every one of these firehouses open so that no family is put in harm’s way.”

STATEMENT BY PUBLIC ADVOCATE DE BLASIO ON EXTENSION OF “TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS” FOR HAITIANS IN U.S
May 17, 2011

“I applaud President Obama and Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano for extending Temporary Protected Status to Haitian nationals living in the United States through 2013. Thousands of Haitians living in our city will be better able to support their friends and families as Haiti continues to recover. Haiti still remains in desperate need of assistance, and I encourage all New Yorkers to continue showing their tremendous generosity by donating to relief efforts.”

New Yorkers can make donations to Haiti relief efforts through the following organizations:

International Rescue Committee

https://www.rescue.org/donate/donate-now-haiti

Clinton Foundation Relief Fund for Haiti

www.clintonfoundation.org/haitirelief

International Red Cross

Mail a check with “Haiti” in the memo line to:

American Red Cross

P.O. Box 37243

Washington, DC 20013

STATEMENT BY PUBLIC ADVOCATE DE BLASIO ON DOE PLEDGE TO REDO COMMUNITY EDUCATION COUNCIL ELECTIONS
MAY 13, 2011

“The Department’s revamped plan for CEC elections is only a partial victory for parents. I remain deeply concerned that a few days are insufficient to fully investigate what went wrong with this year’s elections, and that there may still be parents who were blocked from the ballot without just cause. While it was the right decision to postpone elections and restart voting, we need a lot more consideration from Tweed including a plan that ensures parents their rightful place in school decisions.”

STATEMENT FROM PUBLIC ADVOCATE DE BLASIO ON TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER IN BRANDEIS HIGH SCHOOL COURT CASE

MAY 13, 2011

“As a public school parent, I do not see any sense in spending taxpayer dollars to renovate Brandeis until the outcome of this lawsuit is settled. The Department of Education should take this decision as an opportunity to find a more appropriate home for Success Academy, and to enable the students at Brandeis to continue to thrive.”

STATEMENT FROM PUBLIC ADVOCATE DE BLASIO ON ARRESTS OF SUPSECTS PLANNING TO ATTACK MANHATTAN SYNAGOGUE
MAY 12, 2011

“As President Obama has said, we need the vigilance and dedication of City and State government to successfully fight terrorism. Today local law enforcement has once again protected our city by dismantling a hateful and anti-Semitic plot to attack a synagogue. I commend all officers involved as well as Mayor Bloomberg, Commissioner Ray Kelly and District Attorney Cyrus Vance for their leadership in keeping New Yorkers safe.”

AN OPEN LETTER CHALLENGING BRADLEY A. SMITH OF THE CENTER FOR COMPETITIVE POLITICS TO A CITIZENS UNITED DEBATE
MAY 11, 2011

The following open letter has been sent to Bradley A. Smith of the Center for Competitive Politics in response to an op-ed in today’s New York Post. Public Advocate Bill de Blasio has invited Mr. Smith to debate the impact of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling, and its relevance to New Yorkers.

May 11, 2011

Dear Mr. Smith,

The protection of our democratic process is the responsibility of all citizens. As New York City’s Public Advocate, I take that charge especially seriously.

Your assertion in today’s New York Post that the excessive corporate political spending let loose by the Citizens United ruling doesn’t matter to New Yorkers proves just how little you know about our city. For us, this is both a matter of economic interest and a moral imperative.

As a trustee of a $40 billion pension fund, I know firsthand that the rash political ventures of corporate America can have major consequences for the retirement and security of thousands of working people in New York. Citizens United has opened the way for companies to make political contributions right out of the corporate treasury, and by extension, out of our pension investments. The financial future of hard-working retirees shouldn’t rest on the political whims of corporate executives.

To contend that New Yorkers and Americans don’t care about the corrosive influence of money in our elections is blatantly untrue. Our city has blazed the trail of campaign finance reform by instituting a system of public matching funds that helps serious candidates of any income level to run for office. Just last fall, NYC voters overwhelmingly enacted a ballot measure to require disclosure of independent expenditures in City elections. There can be no question where New Yorkers’ hearts and minds are on this issue.

In short, the avalanche of corporate money into our political system does matter to New Yorkers, and all the more so because it happens in our own back yard. Just yesterday, American Crossroads—Karl Rove’s latest assault on democracy—announced its intention to drop $350,000 on a single special election for an upstate New York House seat.

I would welcome the chance to challenge you on these points so New Yorkers can see and judge for themselves. I invite you to debate in person the impact of Citizens United on our political system in New York and nationally.

I believe you will find New Yorkers both interested, and opinionated, on this critical issue.

Sincerely,

Bill de Blasio

Public Advocate for the City of New York

STATEMENT BY PUBLIC ADVOCATE DE BLASIO ON TEACHER LAYOFFS

MAY 6, 2011

“Despite the fiscal challenges we face, the Mayor is making the wrong choices for our children’s future. Even a cursory look at the millions we spend on teacher recruitment and technology consultants shows that the Administration has not made a real effort to strip down other expenses before firing teachers. The Administration also cannot afford to continue making the political fight around Last In/First Out a higher priority than keeping teachers in the classroom. As a public school parent I am outraged by how these choices jeopardize the stability of our schools. I will be organizing parents across New York City to demand that this budget makes our children the number one priority.”

STATEMENT BY PUBLIC ADVOCATE DE BLASIO ON MAYOR BLOOMBERG PICKING NISSAN TO BE TAXI OF TOMORROW
MAY 3, 2011

“The Taxi of Tomorrow should be creating the jobs of today for New York City, New York State and America. Instead, the Administration is giving away a $1 billion contract to a company based overseas without seeking any commitments for investment in our local and national economies. This failure, along with potential conflicts of interest between the TLC’s hired consultant Ricardo Inc. and Nissan, cast serious doubts on the legitimacy of the Administration’s final decision and its focus on bringing New York City out of the recession.”

STATEMENT BY PUBLIC ADVOCATE DE BLASIO ON INSPECTIONS OF ILLEGALLY SUBDIVIDED APARTMENTS
May 2, 2011

“Illegally converted apartments are a clear hazard to the safety of New Yorkers. It should not take the Department of Buildings weeks to dispatch inspectors, only to have many of them stymied by locked doors. The Department must accelerate its inspection process and increase its attempts to gain access to illegally subdivided units. We need to hold irresponsible landlords accountable and shut."

New York City Takes Precautions with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand - CBS News Video

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Chris Wragge speaks with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) about the successful U.S. military operation in Pakistan that killed Osama bin Laden.

Senator Schumer on Death of Osama bin Laden Video - State of Politics

Senator Chuck Schumer on State of Politics blog about death of Obama bin Laden...

Rep Ackerman: Justice Has Been Done...

Justice has been done. After so many years of effort, the killing of Osama bin Laden represents a huge victory for the United States and proof that no matter how hard they try, our foes cannot hide from us. Osama bin Laden chose to make war against America. And today, we can take satisfaction that we have answered him in kind. The head of the Al-Qaeda worm has been cut off. But we must remember, worms grow new heads.

Although this is a gratifying occasion, and a crucial psychological boost for all Americans, we must remember that our enemies remain determined to attack us, despite this powerful and demoralizing blow.

President Obama, his national security team, and the many intelligence and military professionals who developed the intelligence and executed this operation deserve the thanks of the entire nation. The more we learn about this amazing and daring mission, the more certain it becomes that it will be remembered among the most remarkable feats of arms in 

American history.

As we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I hope this long-awaited success will provide some comfort and relief to those who lost loved ones on that terrible day.

Rep Joe Crowley Responds to Death of Osama bin Laden

Today, Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx) issued the following statement on the death of Osama bin Laden:


"The United States promised we would bring justice to bin Laden, and now that promise has been fulfilled. Osama bin Laden met the kind of end he deserved. I hope it provides at least some level of consolation to those who lost loved ones as a result of his heinous terror attacks.


“In particular, my thoughts and prayers are with the families from New York and across America who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. There is no doubt the world is a safer place without bin Laden, but our efforts to eradicate the threat of terror will continue without pause and on behalf of everyone who has been killed or injured as a result of senseless terror and violence.


"I salute the hard-working men and women of our military and intelligence services for carrying out such a skilled and dangerous operation. I also commend President Obama for his strong leadership in making this happen.”

Statement by Public Advocate Bill de Blasio on the Death of Osama bin Laden

“Almost ten years ago the lives of all New Yorkers were irrevocably changed by the most violent attack of our time. Thousands of families were torn apart; countless other New Yorkers, including my wife Chirlane and I, lost close friends and neighbors. While our hearts will never be fully healed, today all New Yorkers can feel a long-awaited sense of justice and closure. We owe a great debt of gratitude to the men and women of our armed forces, our intelligence community and President Barack Obama for bringing Osama bin Laden to justice.”

REP. EDOLPHUS 'ED' TOWNS’ STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF OSAMA BIN LADEN

“For all the innocent victims who perished on 9/11; to every person who has endlessly grieved for someone they lost on that fateful day; for every 9/11 responder who died as a hero—as well as scores of others who continue to suffer physical and emotional after-effects; to all of our military personnel who have lost their lives on the front lines in the battle against terrorism and tyranny, and for those who continue to engage the terrorists in the fight for freedom, I say quite simply this: justice delayed—but not denied”.

Statement of Congressman Gregory W. Meeks on the Capture and Killing of Osama bin Laden

As a New Yorker and as a Member of Congress who visited Ground Zero days after the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, who witnessed the carnage and smelled death and destruction emanating from the ruins, it is difficult to find words that fully express my appreciation of our military personnel and intelligence professionals who brilliantly and successfully accomplished the mission which led to the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The courage, skill, confidence and capability with which they carried out this assignment are magnified by the degree of difficulty involved.

By the same measure, I would like to convey my gratitude to President Barack Obama for his fortitude. Considering how much could have gone wrong and the consequences of failure, one can only imagine how lonely it must have been to take such a decision. Yet, our president discharged the commitment he had repeatedly made to the American people, and above all to the families and friends of the 9/11 victims, with singular fortitude and determination. The nation salutes you, Mr. President, and your entire national security team.

At the same time, I urge my constituents and all Americans to take seriously the president’s caution to remain vigilant. It is especially important at such an extraordinary moment of success to absorb the fact that the struggle against terrorism and extremism continues. There is more to be done. But, as President Obama said, there is nothing that we Americans cannot achieve together as “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Schumer: ‘Thunderous Strike For Justice’ by Elizabeth Benjamin - Capital Tonite

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Senator Charles Schumer’s statement on Osama Bin Laden’s death.

“This is a thunderous strike for justice for the thousands of my fellow New Yorkers — and citizens from all over the world — who were murdered on 9/11. It took close to ten years, but the world’s most wanted terrorist has finally met his deserved fate. New York’s heart is still broken from the tragedy of 9/11, but this at least brings some measure of closure and consolation to the victims and their families.

“This is a massive accomplishment for the countless military and intelligence personnel who have been urgently dedicated to this task for the past decade. Because Bin Laden’s evil dogma has poisoned the minds of so many others, we cannot let up in the war on terror. This successful mission sends a definitive message to those who would test the resolve of the people of the United States of America: do not doubt our resolve; if you do us harm, we will find you, we will mete out justice, and we will prevail.”

American and Guyanese Citizens Convicted of Conspiracy to Launch Attack at JFK Airport - FBI - Department of Justice Press Release

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Defendants Plotted to Explode Fuel Tanks at Airport

Following a six-week jury trial, Russell Defreitas and Abdul Kadir were convicted today in the Eastern District of New York of conspiring to attack John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, by exploding fuel tanks and the fuel pipeline under the airport. The defendants believed their attack would cause extensive damage to the airport and to the New York economy, as well as the loss of numerous lives. Both defendants face sentences of up to life imprisonment. Sentencing has been scheduled for December 15, 2010.

The convictions were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) in New York.

The evidence at trial established that Defreitas, a naturalized United States citizen from Guyana, originated the idea to attack JFK Airport and its fuel tanks and pipelines by drawing on his prior experience working at the airport as a cargo handler. Beginning in 2006, Defreitas recruited others to join the plot, including Abdul Kadir and Abdel Nur, during multiple trips to Guyana and Trinidad. Between trips, Defreitas engaged in video surveillance of JFK Airport, and transported the footage back to Guyana to show to his co-conspirators. Nur pleaded guilty before trial to supporting the plot and faces a sentence of up to 15 years. A fourth member of the plot, Kareem

Ibrahim, faces trial on the same charges as Defreitas and Kadir.¹

According to the trial evidence, the plot members also attempted to enlist support for the plot from prominent international terrorist groups and leaders, as well as the government of Iran, including Abu Bakr, leader of the Trinidadian militant group Jamaat Al Muslimeen, and Adnan El Shukrijumah, an al-Qaeda leader. In February 2007, Defreitas recruited Kadir to join the plot because Kadir, a former member of the Guyanese parliament, was an engineer and had connections with militant groups in Iran and Venezuela. During cross-examination at trial, Kadir admitted that he regularly passed information to Iranian authorities and believed himself bound to follow fatwas from Iranian religious leaders

Defreitas was arrested in New York on June 2, 2007. Kadir was arrested in Trinidad aboard a plane headed to Venezuela, en route to Iran. Ibrahim and Nur were also arrested in Trinidad. All three were subsequently extradited to the United States.

The specific charges Defreitas and Kadir were convicted of are: Conspiracy to Attack a Public Transportation System, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2332f; Conspiracy to Destroy a Building by Fire or Explosive, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(n); Conspiracy to Attack Aircraft and Aircraft Materials, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 32; Conspiracy to Destroy International Airport Facilities, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 37; and Conspiracy to Attack a Mass Transportation Facility, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1992(a)(10). Defreitas was also convicted of Surveillance of a Mass Transportation Facility, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1992(a)(8).
“The defendants intended to send a message by killing Americans and destroying the New York City economy,” stated United States Attorney Lynch.

“Today, the only message is that those who engage in potentially deadly plots against the United States will be stopped and punished.” United States Attorney Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York for its role in investigating and prosecuting the case, as well as to the Guyanese and Trinidadian law enforcement authorities who assisted with the investigation and apprehension of the defendants.

The government’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Marshall L. Miller, Jason A. Jones, Berit W. Berger, and Zainab Ahmad.

The Defendants:

RUSSELL DEFREITAS, also known as “Mohammed”
Age: 67

ABDUL KADIR, also known as “Aubrey Michael Seaforth”
Age: 58

ABDEL NUR, also known as “Compton Eversley”
Age: 60

¹The charges against Ibrahim are only allegations, and Ibrahim is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

N.Y. Senators Call for Probe of BP-Lockerbie Link - Today Show

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New Yorkers Don't Fear Terrorists! Won't Change Lifestyles Over Fears of Another Attack: Poll by Corky Siemaszko - NY Daily News

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MTA emergency service officers patrol Grand Central Terminal. Bedford for News

Take that, terrorists!

Nearly nine out of 10 New Yorkers said they're "going about life as usual" despite the recent attempt to bomb Times Square, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday.

Seventy percent are worried about the possibility of another terror attack, and they're split on whether the city is ready to deal with one.

But New Yorkers aren't quaking in fear or hiding out in their apartments, said Maurice Carroll, who heads the university's Polling Institute.

"Are New Yorkers naive, saying it won't hit me, or are they just being New Yorkers?" said Carroll. "Whatever, we won't let concerns about terrorism change how we live our lives."

Even more remarkable, the rate of people refusing to bend their lives to terror was highest in Manhattan, the site of the 9/11 terror attacks.

It was lowest in The Bronx, where a still hefty 76% insisted they were living "life as usual."

Also, New Yorkers appear very satisfied with how their leaders are dealing with the terror threat.

"Mayor Bloomberg, President Obama, and, most of all, the cops - we think they're doing a good job fighting terrorism," Carroll said.

A majority of New Yorkers also believe anti-terrorism measures that violate civil rights are a victory for the terrorists.

"The city's true-blue liberalism extends to dealing with terrorists," Carroll reported. "By better than 2-1, New Yorkers think it's more important to protect civil liberties than to take all possible steps against terrorism. Only Republicans feel the other way."

The survey of 797 registered New York City voters was done two weeks after Pakistani immigrant Faisal Shahzad was busted for trying to detonate a car bomb at the Crossroads of the World.

Rep Weiner Statement on Homeland Security Funding for NYC...

“Mind Bogglingly Bad Judgment”

Following reports that the Department of Homeland Security has decided to slash anti-terror funding for New York City less than two weeks after an attempted terrorist bombing in Times Square, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D – Queens and Brooklyn) issued the following statement:

“Cutting Big Apple homeland security funding to the core is mind bogglingly bad judgment.”

“We got lucky when the Times Square bomber failed. Now instead of increasing our odds, the Administration is pushing our luck.”

“I will tell the President this tonight.”

**EDITORS NOTE** Weiner will grill Attorney General Eric Holder during today’s 10 AM Judiciary Committee hearing on the Administration’s decision to slash anti-terror funding to New York City. Watchable on CSPAN 3 or at http://judiciary.house.gov/

Gillibrand Sponsors Legislation To Protect NYers From Dirty Bombs - 1010WINS.com

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Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is sponsoring legislation she says will help protect New Yorkers from so-called dirty bombs.

The bill would provide long-term funding for the Securing the Cities initiative, which is designed to help protect the New York metropolitan area against the threat of a radiological or nuclear attack. The program is focused on the threat of dirty bombs, which combine radioactive material with conventional explosives to disperse radioactive material.

Senator Gillibrand's bill is the Senate version of legislation that passed in the House this year to permanently authorize the program. That legislation was sponsored by Long Island Congressman Peter King, a Republican who had considered challenging Gillibrand for her seat this year

Eric Holder Remarks on the Arrest of Shahzad Faisal

Breaking News - U.S. Arrests Connecticut Man in Times Square Bomb Plot by William K. Rashbaum, Mark Mazzetti and Peter Baker - NY Times

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A Connecticut woman said she sold the S.U.V. used in the failed bombing to a man she described as Middle Eastern or Hispanic.

Federal agents and police detectives Monday night arrested a Connecticut man, a naturalized United States citizen from Pakistan, in connection with the failed Times Square car bombing on Saturday night, two people briefed on the investigation said.

The man, whose name was not immediately released, was believed to be the one who recently bought the 1993 Nissan Pathfinder that was found loaded with gasoline, propane, fireworks and fertilizer in the heart of Times Square, the people said. Charges against the man, who had returned recently from a trip to Pakistan, were not announced.

The authorities began focusing on him after they tracked the vehicle to its previously registered owner in Bridgeport, Conn., who had advertised it for sale on several websites. He paid cash, and the sale was handled without any formal paperwork.

The former owner told investigators that the buyer was of Middle Eastern or Hispanic descent, but could not recall his name. It was unclear how agents from the Joint Terrorist Task Force identified him. Federal authorities Monday night provided few details about the arrest, the suspect, or the scope of any conspiracy in the failed attack.

The authorities have been exploring whether the man or others who might have been involved in the attempted bombing had been in contact with people or groups overseas, according to federal officials. The investigation was shifted on Monday to the control of the international terrorism branch of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, a multiagency group led by the Justice Departmenthttp, according to two federal officials.

Officials cautioned that the investigation of possible international contacts did not mean there was a connection to a known terrorist group, but they said they were exploring all possibilities.

"It's a prominent lead that they're following, the international association," said a senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation. "But there's still a lot of information being gathered."

On Monday, there was a sweeping response to the attempted attack in the tourist-packed city-within-a-city of Times Square — including an increased police presence, vehicle inspections and a touch of panic from veteran New Yorkers when a manhole fire flared five blocks from the scene of the failed bombing. Consolidated Edison blamed faulty wiring for the fire.

The recent sale of the Pathfinder began online. An advertisement that appears to be for the vehicle, which had 141,000 miles on the odometer and was listed for sale at $1,300 on at least two Web sites, emphasized that it was in good condition — “CLEAN inside and out!!” — with a recently repaired alternator and a new gas pump, distributor and front tires. “It does have some rust as you can see in the picture,” the seller allowed on NothingButCars.net, “but other than that, it runs great.” The other advertisement appeared on Craigslist.

In Bridgeport, the seller refused to answer questions. “You can’t interview her,” said an unidentified man at the woman’s two-story, white clapboard house. “She already talked to the F.B.I.”

The police continued sifting through footage from 82 city cameras mounted from 34th Street to 51st Street between Avenue of the Americas and Eighth Avenue, and from untold number of business and tourist cameras.

But investigators appeared to have begun to assign less significance to a man who appeared to be in his 40s who was seen on one video. That man was seen walking away from the area where the Pathfinder was parked and through Shubert Alley, which runs between 44th and 45th Streets. He looked over his shoulder at least twice and pulled off a shirt, revealing a red T-shirt underneath.

The New York police commissioner, Raymond W. Kelly, said investigators still wanted to speak to that man, but acknowledged that he might not be connected to the failed bombing. Paul J. Browne, the department’s top spokesman, said the police had stopped looking for additional video in the area that might have tracked the man’s movements.

“It may turn out that he was just somebody in the area, but not connected with the car bomb,” Mr. Browne said.

The police, though, said they might release footage of a man running north on Broadway at the time that a fire broke out in the Pathfinder, Mr. Kelly said.

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. seemed optimistic in comments he made Monday morning. “I think that we have made really substantial progress,” he told reporters in Washington. “We have some good leads.”

The materials found in the Pathfinder were to be sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s laboratory in Quantico, Va., for analysis, the police said. “They’ve got the top laboratory in the world to do these sorts of examinations, and we’ll keep some samples here,” Mr. Kelly said.

Janet Napolitano, the homeland security secretary, said on the “Today” show on NBC that it was premature to label any person or group as suspect. “Right now, every lead has to be pursued,” she said. “I caution against premature decisions one way or the other.” But the White House made clear that it considered the effort an act of terrorism, whoever its authors were. “I think anybody that has the type of material that they had in a car in Times Square, I would say that that was intended to terrorize, absolutely,” said the White House spokesman, Robert Gibbs.

Michael Wilson contributed reporting.

"White Powder" Package Sent to Congressman Weiner's Office | NBC New York

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Law enforcement officials say a package with white powder was sent to Congressman Weiner's Queens office today.

A preliminary review shows the letter in part complained about the historic health care legislation passed by Congress this week, according to the source.

Weiner's office is on the fifth floor of a building on Kew Gardens Road in Queens. Law enforcement officials said a doctor's office and a law office on the floor were among those evacuated as a precaution. Nine people were inside Weiner's office at the time.

In a statement, Weiner acknowledged that his office received a suspicious envelope and said his prime concern is the safety of his staff and others in the area.

"Earlier today an envelope containing white powder and a threatening letter was delivered to my community office in Kew Gardens. The NYPD was immediately alerted and have responded appropriately by sending a Haz-Mat team," the statement read. "Any questions related to their response should be directed to the NYPD. My first priority is the safety of my staff and neighbors, and the authorities are currently taking steps to investigate and resolve the situation."

The NYPD, the FBI and other emergency management officials are at the scene as a precaution, spokesmen for the agencies say. Weiner's Kew Gardens office will be closed pending the completion of the investigation. As is routine, preliminary field testing is underway to determine whether the substance is in any way hazardous. Then it will be sent to a lab for further detailed testing as a precaution. Officials say most often, these letters are hoaxes.

The package sent to Weiner's office may be the latest in a series of threats directed against Democratic Congress members who voted to overhaul the U.S. health care system.

At least four Democratic offices in New York, Arizona and Kansas were struck and at least 10 members of Congress have reported some sort of threats, including obscenity-laced phone messages, congressional leaders have said. No arrests have been reported.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday condemned vandalism and threats against members of Congress who voted to overhaul the U.S. health care system. Republicans joined in, telling people to calm down and saying they too were being targeted in an increasingly venomous political atmosphere.

"I don't want this to be a distraction" to the work of Congress, Pelosi said. But she also asserted that such violence and threats of reprisal have "no place in a civil debate in our country" and must be rejected.

Her sentiments were echoed minutes later by House Republican leader John Boehner, who said that while many are angry over the health care measure, "threats and violence should not be part of a political debate."

The House's No. 3 Republican, Eric Cantor of Virginia, said at a brief news conference Thursday that someone fired a bullet through a window of his campaign office in Richmond this week and he has received threatening e-mails.

Responding to Democrats who have accused Republicans of being too slow to condemn the attacks against lawmakers, he stressed that security threats are not a partisan issue. "To use such threats as political weapons is reprehensible," he said.

The actions against Democrats have included racial slurs thrown at black lawmakers, e-mail and phone death threats and bricks thrown through regional office windows.

Rep. Louise Slaughter, a New York Democrat and chairwoman of an influential House committee, said someone had left her a voice mail that used the word "snipers."

On the Republican side, the office of Rep. Jean Schmidt of Ohio released a tape of a profanity-laced phone message in which the caller said Republicans were racists and, referring to an accident two years ago when Schmidt was hit by a car while jogging, said, "you should have broke your back, b... ."

Senate Sergeant at Arms Terry Gainer told The Associated Press Thursday that there was "no evidence that annoying, harassing or threatening telephone calls or emails are coordinated. Regrettably though, bloggers and twitters seem to feed off each other, leaving little room for creativity."

At the news conference, Pelosi said it is "important for us to be able to express ourselves freely, not to diminish that in any way, but also to hit a standard that says some of the actions ... must be rejected."

But the California Democrat also said she did not "subscribe to the theory that these acts sprang from the comments of my colleagues."

The vandalism and threats surprised a researcher at a think tank that monitors extremist groups.

"I think it is astounding that we are seeing this wave of vigilantism," said Mark Potok of the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center.

7Online.com: Makeshift submarine found in East River...

Vessel Found Feet from Queen Mary 2

Watch video...

(New York- WABC, August 3, 2007) - Several people are being questioned by police after being stopped apparently attempting to set sail off Brooklyn in a makeshift submarine-type vessel.

The handmade wood and fiberglass vessel, at the end of a tow rope tied to an inflatable boat, was spotted by police near the luxury ocean liner docked at the cruise ship terminal in the Buttermilk Channel off Red Hook in Brooklyn.

"It was a strange sight," said Coast Guard Petty Officer Angelia Rorison.

Police held the artist, Philip "Duke" Riley, and two other men, both from Rhode Island, for questioning. But there was no indication the trio meant any harm with the replica of the 1776 "Turtle submarine."

One of the Rhode Island men claimed he was descendant of David Bushnell, the inventor of the original one-man vessel that inspired the replica, police said.

The makeshift sub "is the creative craft of three adventuresome individuals," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said in a statement. "It does not pose any terrorist threat. ... We can best summarize today's incident as marine mischief."

The brown, egg-shaped wooden vessel was a replica of a submarine used during the American Revolution, Rorison said. The inflatable boat was towing the submarine, authorities said.

Rorison said the vessel resembled a diving bell, with a hatch on top, and was about 8 feet long and 4 feet wide. It was propelled by a pedal-operated paddle.

The Coast Guard issued two citations to Riley, 35, of Brooklyn - one for having an unsafe vessel, the other for violating a security zone. The sub came within 200 feet of the bow of the Queen Mary 2, Rorison said.

"Basically, the vessel was not safe to sail. It had no lights, no flares. It was not registered," she said. "Instead of safety violations, this could have turned into a search and rescue."

Riley is a sculptor and performance artist whose work "addresses the prospect of residual but forgotten unclaimed frontiers on the edge and inside overdeveloped urban areas, and their unsuspected autonomy," according to his Web site.

The investigation began after a New York police detective noticed the sub and the raft and summoned the Harbor Unit. Rorison said all three men were taken in for questioning by the NYPD.

"All three males are expected to be charged with a number of violations and both vessels will be secured by the Harbor Unit," the NYPD said.

(Copyright 2007 WABC-TV)

NY Daily News: Cops swarm craft after it sails too close to Queen Mary 2

Cops swarm craft after it sails too close to Queen Mary 2:

A homemade replica of a Revolutionary War submarine triggered a wild terror scare in New York Harbor yesterday after it drifted too close to the majestic Queen Mary 2.

The egg-shaped wooden sub - built by a Brooklyn artist and launched by a man who claims he's a descendant of the Revolutionary War hero who designed the original - was hauled out of the water.

The pilot and his two pals were questioned by cops and Coast Guard officers and given a raft of summonses.

"I think I'll take a break from the submarine business for awhile," Brooklyn artist Duke Riley, 35, said after he was released from custody. "I think I'll let it collect barnacles."

Riley built the plywood contraption in a friend's wood shop with the idea that he would maneuver it as close as he could get to the QM2 and take some photos.

He thought he'd get a reaction - but the helicopters, police boats and machine-gun-toting cops were more than he bargained for.

"All hell broke loose," said Danilo Parra, 22, who filmed Riley as the submarine bobbed within the luxury liner's 200-foot security zone, towed by two of Riley's friends in a rubber boat.

"He made it almost there. He was about 25 feet away from it. Then - police, Coast Guard, everybody was there. There were helicopters. One of the officers held a machine gun. It was very intense," Parra said.

A self-proclaimed artist patriot, Riley told friends he expected to get busted.

But first he had hoped to recreate the last time a wooden submarine trolled New York waters - in 1776, when the submarine snuck under a British flagship that commanded access to the Hudson River, hoping to blow it up.

"I guess it was kind of a metaphor," Riley said of the Queen Mary 2. "It is the most iconic cruise ship; the largest in the world."

After weighting the craft with lead and sandbags, Riley climbed in and launched the sub into Buttermilk Channel.

Two Rhode Island buddies, Michael Kushing, 23, and Jesse Bushnell, 35, towed the submarine behind a 10-foot inflatable raft.

Bushnell was a good choice for co-pilot, police said, because he claimed to be a relative of Revolutionary War tinkerer David Bushnell, the original designer of the submarine known as the Turtle.

As the trio drifted near the docked QM2, a member of the NYPD Intelligence Division on the deck of the ship spotted the raft and the bobbing sub next to it.

Each time the QM2 comes into port, NYPD officers board the ship and ride it to the dock, accompanied by harbor and aviation units.

As the submarine entered the QM2's security zone, those security units swung into action.

"A helicopter hovered right over the sub. The guy inside opened the hatch and looked up and realized he was caught," a dock employee said.

Parra said the machine-gun-toting cops wanted details about the submarine.

"They must have thought it was packed with explosives," Parra said.

Riley and his pals were questioned for several hours and released after getting summonses from the NYPD and the Coast Guard for reckless operation, reckless towing, violating a safety zone and creating a hazardous condition.

"We can best summarize today's incident as marine mischief," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

Riley, who graduated from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and the Rhode Island School of Design, started building the sub in March.

He took it on a practice sail about a week ago and then fine-tuned it. The entire project has been chronicled on Riley's Web site as "Adventures with an Egg."

"I know I've scared some people and I know I wasted a lot of people's time today, but also a lot of people were amused by it," said Riley, who has to appear in court Aug. 28. "I don't know if I regret it. I'm sure when I know how the judge reacts, I'll have a better idea."

agendar@nydailynews.com