Developing Story... SC... Van pulled over with explosives

[gtalum]

The details of this seem very sketchy to say the least as different stories are reporting different things. What's even more shocking is that there are those of you who are defending them without knowing and then trying to justify why they would have such odd materials in their possession to make their own fireworks or whatever else they intended to do with them. Why not wait till the facts are out before you fight for their freedom and rights? You don't know what the facts are anymore than anyone else yet you're resorting to calling the police department racists.

There's a concept in American law called "presumption of innocence". This is why I defend these guys. So far there is no evidence that they actually had anything illegal in their car. It really looks like the police department trying to manufacture a charge because these guys are muslims. Further, in general I really despise the police and will basically believe anyone against them until there is evidence to support the police.

[gtalum]

The plot thickens a bit. I say that an engineering student knows the difference between fireworks and a pipe bomb.

So far, the FBI says there were no bombs, so I'm not sure where the whole "pipe bomb" thing is coming from.

Lets see what was in the laptop.

Indeed. Though I wonder on what planet simply "folding a laptop" is considered suspicious. I really think this case is falling apart and these guys will eat the police force involved for lunch if they get a good attorney.

[HollynLA]

There's a concept in American law called "presumption of innocence". This is why I defend these guys. So far there is no evidence that they actually had anything illegal in their car. It really looks like the police department trying to manufacture a charge because these guys are muslims. Further, in general I really despise the police and will basically believe anyone against them until there is evidence to support the police.

Yes, we are innocent until proven guilty, but why not wait for the facts before you start making excuses as to why they have those materials on them, and why not wait and find out the facts before you start assuming that it's the police who are giving false information. It sounds like, by your posts, that there is just not way in the world that these men have done anything wrong, not matter what was in their possession. I'm not saying that they are guilty of anything yet, but I would like further investigation before I just assume they are a couple of Joe's riding from FL to SC to make their own fireworks.

[HollynLA]

Well, it's also not illegal to carry a butane bottle, coffee filters, sudafed, etc. but in combination, it can be drug paraphenalia (sp?) and would make me look suspicious if I was found with it. Kinda along the same lines here.

[gtalum]

I agree, innocent things when combined can look not-so-innocent.

However, in this case, the materials they allegedly have in their car are not the kind of materials that you make a bomb for terrorist purposes out of. In all probability they were using them like homemade fireworks. A "pipe-bomb" made out of the materials they had wouldn't cause any damage. In other words, even if they are guilty of "possession of an explosive device", it does not mean that they are terrorists as has been implied here. I built all kinds of "explosive devices" in college for fun (none quite like this though). It's fortunate for me that it was pre-9/11 and that I'm white.

[HollynLA]

In all probability they were using them like homemade fireworks.

Seriously? While driving through SC, they thought it would be fun to do this get supplies to make homemade fireworks? I just don't think that fits with "In all probability", but I'll wait until more info is released.

[gtalum]

Seriously? While driving through SC, they thought it would be fun to do this get supplies to make homemade fireworks? I just don't think that fits with "In all probability", but I'll wait until more info is released.

They did say the stuff had been in their car since July 4th. isn't it just possible they're telling the truth? There are two possibilities: they're telling the truth and they made some homemade fireworks for the 4th of July and left some extras in their car, or else they've hatched a terrorist plot to attack some facility with "bombs" that won't cause any damage. Occam's razor tells us that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.

[HollynLA]

They did say the stuff had been in their car since July 4th. isn't it just possible they're telling the truth? There are two possibilities: they're telling the truth and they made some homemade fireworks for the 4th of July and left some extras in their car, or else they've hatched a terrorist plot to attack some facility with "bombs" that won't cause any damage. Occam's razor tells us that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.

Yes, it is possible they are telling the truth. But if I caught my two sons with a lighter and rolling papers, they would probably say anything to make me the think they are innocent of what I would think. They may be innocent, but like I said, I'll wait before assuming these are just good ol' boy from Florida who made a long trip and accidentally forgot they were carrying their supplies for making homemade fireworks. Afterall, I'm sure I've made that same mistake before while creating my own bottlerockets.

[HURAKAN]

Could police get a warrant to search their domiciles? Also, they should check if they had been involved in any criminal activities, police record. How long they had been living in the US? And many other questions to determine which possibility is the correct one.

[azsnowman]

The details of this seem very sketchy to say the least as different stories are reporting different things. What's even more shocking is that there are those of you who are defending them without knowing and then trying to justify why they would have such odd materials in their possession to make their own fireworks or whatever else they intended to do with them. Why not wait till the facts are out before you fight for their freedom and rights? You don't know what the facts are anymore than anyone else yet you're resorting to calling the police department racists.

There's a concept in American law called "presumption of innocence". This is why I defend these guys. So far there is no evidence that they actually had anything illegal in their car. It really looks like the police department trying to manufacture a charge because these guys are muslims. Further, in general I really despise the police and will basically believe anyone against them until there is evidence to support the police.

Now the burning question...who do you call when you're in trouble?

[gtalum]

Now the burning question...who do you call when you're in trouble?

Nobody. I'm in Florida, I take care of my own problems.

[alicia-w]

not all police are the same, but admittedly, there are definitely places in this country where the police are the LAST people i call for help. and there are still places where you can count on getting harassed if you're not white.

[Cookiely]

The suspect said he built a pipe bomb from parts purchased at Walmart.

[gtalum]

Could police get a warrant to search their domiciles?

They already consented to a search, so there's no need for a warrant. I suspect the search is already finished.

[artist]

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/a ... ryid=60669

Prosecutor: Islamic students had pipe bombs


By:
Mike DeesonTampa, Florida - When 24-year-old Ahmed Mohamed and 21-year-old Yousef Megahed appeared in court, there was no question in the prosecutor's mind what this was all about. She says Mohamed was in possession of pipe bombs and materials that could have been made to make more bombs.

Sherri Jackson who was Megahed's neighbor until March says FBI agents told her they were terrorists.

Jackson says the FBI came to question her Sunday.

Jackson says things seemed suspicious

She says she saw lot of traffic, a lot of people going back and forth, oxygen tanks being delivered UPS and Fed Ex deliveries and a lot going on.

Former FBI agent and terrorist expert Oscar Westerfield if they are terrorist the FBI must find out who is involved in this thing and how far does it go.

Westerfield says much investigation has to be done, but he is concerned that the car was stopped with explosives 7 miles from a naval base that housed detainees, adding it doesn't look good.

But Council of American Islamic Relations head Ahmed Bedier says people are moving too quickly to convict they two students and his information is that they just had firecrackers

Bedier says it's a little concerning that there has been no positive evidence to show explosive material has been found.

Sherri Jackson is positive of one thing, her former neighbor left as if he didn't want to be found.

Jackson says they left in a hurry. She adds when they moved in they never looked like they were settled instead they looked like they could be gone in five minutes.

cont'. at link above

[gtalum]

Comments from a suspicious neighbor are hardly evidence, nor are the claims of the prosecutor. People who plan to disappear in 5 minutes don't register for college courses.

While I don't much care for CAIR, Bedier has a point. No evidence has been shown that there were pipe bombs present, beyond the police's assumptions. It's awfully convenient that the evidence was detonated.

[x-y-no]

While I don't much care for CAIR, Bedier has a point. No evidence has been shown that there were pipe bombs present, beyond the police's assumptions. It's awfully convenient that the evidence was detonated.

Detonating suspected explosive devices is standard practice, because there's no good way to evaluate how safe it is to move.

It should be possible by forensic means to establish exactly what was in the "pipe bombs." If it's more potassium chlorate and sugar, then that's no bomb. It's a roman candle.

[artist]

If you will read very carefully all the articles - only one item was blown up and they were said to have multiple pipe bombs.
I have also heard the device or materials could have been interrupted and not detonated. Interruption would saved the material for evidence and detonation would obviously destroy the material.