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He converted to [[Islam]] in 2004 and attended a local [[mosque]] (the "Islamic Association of Long Island"),<ref name=nytimes2/> but is believed by law enforcement officials to have been "self-radicalized" through the internet.<ref name=nytimes/> In September 2007, he disappeared from his father's home, where he had been living.<ref name=latimes/>
He converted to [[Islam]] in 2004 and attended a local [[mosque]] (the "Islamic Association of Long Island"),<ref name=nytimes2/> but is believed by law enforcement officials to have been "self-radicalized" through the internet.<ref name=nytimes/> In September 2007, he disappeared from his father's home, where he had been living.<ref name=latimes/>
[[File:109 saed alghamdi training.jpg|180px|thumb|Al-Qaeda member at an al-Qaeda training camp]]

He eventually traveled to the [[Pakistan|Pakistani]] region of [[Waziristan]], where he contacted members of al-Qaeda, including its leadership.<ref name=nytimes/><ref name=latimes/> He volunteered information about the [[Long Island Rail Road]] (LIRR), which he had gleaned as a frequent rider, and received "military type training", including training with military explosives,<ref name=nytimes2/> from and for Al-Qaeda from March to August of 2008.<ref name=nytimes/> He also agreed to become a [[suicide bomber]], though his handlers eventually decided that he needed more indoctrination and training.<ref name=cnn>Cruickshank, Paul and Nic Robertson [http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/23/us.terror.suspect/ "New Yorker says he would have been suicide bomber"]. CNN. July 24, 2009</ref>
He eventually traveled to the [[Pakistan|Pakistani]] region of [[Waziristan]], where he contacted members of al-Qaeda, including its leadership.<ref name=nytimes/><ref name=latimes/> He volunteered information about the [[Long Island Rail Road]] (LIRR), which he had gleaned as a frequent rider, and received "military type training", including training with military explosives,<ref name=nytimes2/> from and for Al-Qaeda from March to August of 2008.<ref name=nytimes/> He also agreed to become a [[suicide bomber]], though his handlers eventually decided that he needed more indoctrination and training.<ref name=cnn>Cruickshank, Paul and Nic Robertson [http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/23/us.terror.suspect/ "New Yorker says he would have been suicide bomber"]. CNN. July 24, 2009</ref>


Subsequently, he participated in a rocket attack against U.S. forces in Afghanistan in September 2008.<ref name=nytimes/> He traveled to Peshwar, Pakistan, the following month, apparently in search of a wife.<ref name=nytimes2/> However, he was quickly captured there by Pakistani forces.<ref name=latimes/> He was transferred to [[FBI]] custody,<ref name=ap>Goldman, Adam and Devlin Barret [http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jpHUj_QKz6CevzNxcyRJmrushFZgD99M7UN00 "New direction in terror fight may stem from case"]. ''Associated Press''. July 26, 2009.</ref> and began cooperating with authorities; his admission of a plot to blow up an LIRR train inside [[Penn Station]] was the source of a security alert over the 2008 [[Thanksgiving]] holiday.<ref name=nytimes/> It is unclear, however, how advanced the plot was or what role, if any, Vinas played in it, besides that of information source.
Subsequently, he participated in a rocket attack against U.S. forces in Afghanistan in September 2008.<ref name=nytimes/> He traveled to Peshwar, Pakistan, the following month, apparently in search of a wife.<ref name=nytimes2/> However, he was quickly captured there by Pakistani forces.<ref name=latimes/> He was transferred to [[FBI]] custody,<ref name=ap>Goldman, Adam and Devlin Barret [http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jpHUj_QKz6CevzNxcyRJmrushFZgD99M7UN00 "New direction in terror fight may stem from case"]. ''Associated Press''. July 26, 2009.</ref> and began cooperating with authorities; his admission of a plot to blow up an LIRR train inside [[Penn Station]] was the source of a security alert over the 2008 [[Thanksgiving]] holiday.<ref name=nytimes/> It is unclear, however, how advanced the plot was or what role, if any, Vinas played in it, besides that of information source.
[[File:Penn Station NYC main entrance.jpg|180px|thumb|left|Penn Station, in New York City]]

Vinas was charged with conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals, providing material support to Al-Qaeda, and providing “expert advice and assistance” (in relation to the information about the LIRR). He plead guilty to all three charges on January 28, 2009, in [[United States District Court]].<ref name=nytimes/>
Vinas was charged with conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals, providing material support to Al-Qaeda, and providing “expert advice and assistance” (in relation to the information about the LIRR). He plead guilty to all three charges on January 28, 2009, in [[United States District Court]].<ref name=nytimes/>


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== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|2}}


{{AmericanTerrorism}}
{{AmericanTerrorism}}

Revision as of 02:49, 26 February 2010

Bryant Neal Vinas (born 1983, in the United States; also Ibrahim, Bashir al-Ameriki and Ben Yameen al-Kanadeeis)[1][2] is an American accused and convicted of participating in or supporting Al-Qaeda plots in Afghanistan and the U.S.[1]

Vinas lived in Patchogue, on Long Island. His parents were both immigrants to the U.S., his mother arriving from Argentina and his father from Peru.[2][3] They divorced in 2000, and Vinas subsequently lived with his father.[4] He worked as a truck driver and at a car wash,[1] sporadically attended technical college, and joined the military in 2002, though he was discharged after just three weeks of basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.[4]

He converted to Islam in 2004 and attended a local mosque (the "Islamic Association of Long Island"),[4] but is believed by law enforcement officials to have been "self-radicalized" through the internet.[1] In September 2007, he disappeared from his father's home, where he had been living.[2]

File:109 saed alghamdi training.jpg
Al-Qaeda member at an al-Qaeda training camp

He eventually traveled to the Pakistani region of Waziristan, where he contacted members of al-Qaeda, including its leadership.[1][2] He volunteered information about the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), which he had gleaned as a frequent rider, and received "military type training", including training with military explosives,[4] from and for Al-Qaeda from March to August of 2008.[1] He also agreed to become a suicide bomber, though his handlers eventually decided that he needed more indoctrination and training.[5]

Subsequently, he participated in a rocket attack against U.S. forces in Afghanistan in September 2008.[1] He traveled to Peshwar, Pakistan, the following month, apparently in search of a wife.[4] However, he was quickly captured there by Pakistani forces.[2] He was transferred to FBI custody,[6] and began cooperating with authorities; his admission of a plot to blow up an LIRR train inside Penn Station was the source of a security alert over the 2008 Thanksgiving holiday.[1] It is unclear, however, how advanced the plot was or what role, if any, Vinas played in it, besides that of information source.

Penn Station, in New York City

Vinas was charged with conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals, providing material support to Al-Qaeda, and providing “expert advice and assistance” (in relation to the information about the LIRR). He plead guilty to all three charges on January 28, 2009, in United States District Court.[1]

He has been cooperative with officials, providing information and playing the role of key prosecution witness in at least two terrorism trials in Europe.[1] In these trials, his testimony has placed suspects in Al-Qaeda training camps, linking them to the terrorist network. In addition, he has provided what intelligence officials have described as a "treasure trove" of valuable information about the workings of the Al-Qaeda network[6]; as a speaker of Arabic, Dari, and Urdu[6] who had rare contact with Al-Qaeda leadership and participated in extensive training, he is uniquely familiar with the organization. As of July 2009, he was reported to be in the custody of the United States Marshals, held in an undisclosed location in New York State.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rashbaum, William K. and Souad Mekhennet. L.I. Man Pleaded Guilty in Attack on U.S. Base in Afghanistan. New York Times July 22, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e Rotella, Sebastian and Josh Meyer U.S.-born militant who fought for Al Qaeda is in custody. Los Angeles Times. July 22, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Sudduth, Claire Bryant Neal Vinas: An American in Al Qaeda. TIME. July 24, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d e Powell, Michael et. al. "U.S. Recruit Reveals How Qaeda Screens Foreigners". New York Times. July 23, 2009.
  5. ^ Cruickshank, Paul and Nic Robertson "New Yorker says he would have been suicide bomber". CNN. July 24, 2009
  6. ^ a b c Goldman, Adam and Devlin Barret "New direction in terror fight may stem from case". Associated Press. July 26, 2009.
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