Terrorist plots uncovered in the US since 9/11

Assem Hammoud, an alleged Al Qaeda loyalist living in Lebanon, was arrested abroad along with seven others for plotting to bomb New York train tunnels. He was held by Lebanese authorities but never extradited (the US does not have an extradition treaty with Lebanon). He was released on bail in June 2008 and is awaiting trial in Lebanon.

Liquid explosives plot – August 2006

British authorities arrested 24 suspects who allegedly conspired to blow up as many as 10 US-bound passenger jets, using liquid explosives hidden in their carry-on bags. The case had an immediate impact on travelers worldwide, resulting in new restrictions on the amount of liquids airline passengers could carry in a carry-on.

Fifteen of the 24 arrested were charged with conspiring to commit murder. Only eight were brought to trial in April 2008. In September 2009, a jury found the men not guilty of targeting an airplane, but found three guilty of conspiracy to commit murder. Verdicts could not be reached on four others, and one was cleared.

Hassan Abujihaad – March 2007

The former US Navy sailor was accused of supporting terrorism, including giving the locations of Navy ships to Azzam publications, an organization accused of providing material support and resources to terrorists. He was convicted in May 2008 and sentenced to 10 years.

Fort Dix plot – May 2007

Six young men living in New Jersey, all in their 20s, were charged with conspiring to attack Fort Dix with guns and grenades. Eljvir Duka, Dritan Duka, and Shain Duka, ethnic Albanians from Yugoslavia, were in the US illegally. Serdar Tatar is a legal US resident from Turkey. Agron Abdullahu is also an ethnic Albanian, and Mohammad Ibrahim Shnewer is Jordanian. The six were not well-organized and had insufficient training to pull off such an attack, according to unsealed documents. At trial in October 2008, Abdullah pleaded guilty and plea-bargained, receiving 20 months in prison. The others were found guilty in December 2008. The Duka brothers received life without parole; Shnewer got life plus 30 years. Tatar received 33 years.

JFK Airport plot – June 2007

Four men allegedly conspired to blow up fuel tanks and pipelines at John F. Kennedy International Airport in the New York borough of Queens. Russell Defreitas, a US citizen of Guyanese descent, is alleged to be the group leader. Abdul Kadir and Abdel Nur are also Guyanese, and Kareem Ibrahim is a citizen of Trinidad. The four pleaded not guilty in 2008. Trial is pending.

Mohammed Jabarah – January 2008

He was arrested in 2002 in Oman and transferred to US custody. In January 2008 he pleaded guilty to filming US, Israeli, and Australian embassies and conducting surveillance of US warships. He was suspected of training in Al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan and associating with Bin Laden. Mr. Jabarah was sentenced to life in prison.

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