2007 Fort Dix attack plot

Planned attack on the US military in New Jersey June 2025 February 2025 2007 Fort Dix attack plot Fort Dix, New Jersey, U.S. U.S. military personnel at Fort Dix Planned; never executed;arrested May 8, 2007 Conspiracy 0 0 The 2007 Fort Dix attack plot involved a group of six radical Muslim individuals who were found guilty of conspiring to stage an attack against U.S. Military personnel stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey.Russakoff, Dale Eggen, Dan Six Charged in Plot To Attack Fort Dix https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/08/AR2007050800465.html The Washington Post May 9, 2007 May 9, 2007 The men were arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on May 8, 2007, and were prosecuted in federal court in October 2008.Jon Hurdle https://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE49J5TV20081020?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=10278 Trial starts for U.S. Army base "holy war" plot Reuters October 20, 2008 March 25, 2010 On December 22, 2008, five were found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in their intentions to kill U.S. military personnel; four received life sentences, while one received 33 years in prison. The remaining member was thought to have had a minor role in the plot and was sentenced to five years in prison for weapons offenses.5 Men Are Convicted in Plot on Fort Dix von Zielbauer, Paul https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/22/nyregion/23fortdix.html The New York Times December 22, 2008 December 22, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20130517040806/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/22/nyregion/23fortdix.html May 17, 2013 live Critics accuse the FBI of entrapment, saying the FBI informants created the conspiracy. The FBI used two foreign informants who were in the United States illegally with criminal records to befriend the men. These informants received payment and help with their legal residency status.2008-12-22 5 Found Guilty In Fort Dix Terror Plot - CBS News https://www.cbsnews.com/news/5-found-guilty-in-fort-dix-terror-plot/ 2023-08-02 www.cbsnews.com en-US In addition, they point to issues such as the ineffective assistance of their lawyers, the lack of impartiality of the judge, and the absence of explicit evidence of participation in the alleged plot. Harris, Paul Fort Dix Five: 'If they did something, punish them. But they're innocent kids' https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/16/fbi-fort-dix-five The Guardian November 16, 2011 March 24, 2012 Harris, Paul The ex-FBI informant with a change of heart: 'There is no real hunt. It's fixed' https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/20/fbi-informant The Guardian March 20, 2012 March 24, 2012 Mahmoud Omar, an FBI informant and key witness in the case later claimed that the Dukas were "people and good" and said the brothers were innocent.Lucas Dave Albany Activists Support Fort Dix 5 Brothers In New Jersey Court https://www.wamc.org/post/albany-activists-support-fort-dix-5-brothers-new-jersey-court 2021-03-07 www.wamc.org en Due to the case, the three Duka brothers, Shnewer, and Abdullahu have been referred to as the Fort Dix Five.Hussain Murtaza Ghalayini Razan 25 June 2015 The Real Story Behind the Fort Dix Five Terror Plot The Intercept First Look Media https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/06/25/fort-dix-five-terror-plot-the-real-story/ 28 June 2015 August 13, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150813042751/https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/06/25/fort-dix-five-terror-plot-the-real-story/ dead Suspects Dritan Duka (age 28), Shain Duka (26) and Eljvir Duka (23) ethnic Albanians from Debar, currently North Macedonia. The Duka family entered the United States illegally through Mexico in October 1984. In 1989, the father Ferik Duka applied for asylum with the Immigration and Naturalization Service and acknowledged the family's illegal entry into the country.https://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates/2007/05/father_of_fort_dix_suspects_ar.html Father of Fort Dix suspects arrested on immigration charges – NJ.com: Star-Ledger updates Blog.nj.com March 25, 2010 Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer (22), Eljvir Duka's brother-in-law, a Palestinian cab driver from Jordan, was a naturalized United States citizen. Serdar Tatar, born in Turkey, worked at his father's pizzeria.https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/6484033.asp?gid=74 Hürriyet – Plans to attack US Fort Dix base uncovered; one of the plotters a Turk Hurriyet.com.tr March 25, 2010 Agron Abdullahu, ethnic Albanian from Kosovo, said to have provided weaponry instruction to the group. He worked at a ShopRite supermarket in Buena Vista Township, New Jersey.NBC 10 http://www.nbc10.com/news/13274843/detail.html Terror Suspects Arrested In N.J. After FBI Foils Fort Dix Attack May 8, 2007 May 8, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070510050811/http://www.nbc10.com/news/13274843/detail.html 2007-05-10 dead http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/pdffiles/duka0508rel.pdf Five Radical Islamists Charged with Planning Attack on Fort Dix Army Base in New Jersey May 8, 2007 May 8, 2007 United States Department of Justice https://web.archive.org/web/20070616223143/http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/pdffiles/duka0508rel.pdf June 16, 2007 deadFox News Fort Dix Terror Suspects' Lives Gave Few Clues About Alleged Plot https://www.foxnews.com/story/fort-dix-terror-suspects-lives-gave-few-clues-about-alleged-plot February 18, 2011 May 9, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20110204233043/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C270938%2C00.html 4 February 2011 live Background In the late 1980s, the Dukas abandoned life in Macedonia and moved to the United States as illegal immigrants and settled in Brooklyn in New York. The Dukas brothers did not adapt to the school and gradually gave up their studies and started to work and to live on the streets. During these periods they were detained numerous times for disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana. Dissatisfied with the situation, Dukas' parents moved into a small apartment in Cherry Hill, New Jersey where the brothers began to attend a mosque. Once established, the Duka family opened a small restaurant and then opened a roofing business. Mohamad Shnewer worked as a taxi driver and grew up with the Dukas in Brooklyn, his sister was engaged to Eljivir. Sedar Tatar worked at his father's pizzeria and later went to work at 7-Eleven in Philadelphia. Context The six men took a trip to the Poconos, where they allegedly practiced firing "semi-automatic weapons" http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/pdffiles/DukaDritanComplaint.pdf US District Court Case 1:07-mj-02046-JS Document 1 May 8, 2007 United States District Court, District of New Jersey https://web.archive.org/web/20070616223152/http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/pdffiles/DukaDritanComplaint.pdf June 16, 2007 dead at a shooting range in Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania. The shooting range, at Pennsylvania State Game Land 127, Terror suspects were 'bad shots,' says local marksman http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070508/NEWS/70508011 Pocono Record May 8, 2007 May 9, 2007 December 9, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181209212705/http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070508/NEWS/70508011 dead is operated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=480&q=161297 Website of the Pennsylvania Game Commission May 9, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070507122152/http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=480&q=161297 May 7, 2007 A group of ten menFive Radical Islamists Charged with Planning Attack on Fort Dix Army Base in New Jersey https://web.archive.org/web/20070616223143/http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/pdffiles/duka0508rel.pdf June 16, 2007 had recorded video footage of themselves shooting weapons and shouting Allahu Akbar ("God is great"). Hauser, Christine Kocieniewski, David 6 Arrested in Plot to Attack Fort Dix https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/08/us/08cnd-dix.html The New York Times May 8, 2007 May 8, 2007 They had also recorded themselves skiing, playing paintball, and riding horses on their trip to Poconos.Harris Paul Fort Dix Five: 'If they did something, punish them. But they're innocent kids' https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/16/fbi-fort-dix-five 28 June 2015 The Guardian 16 November 2011 The defense argued it was not a terrorist training video.Temple-Raston Dina Trial Begins For Men Accused In Fort Dix 'Pizza Plot' https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95115601 NPR 28 June 2015 29 September 2008 On January 31, 2006, the men took the video to the Circuit City in Mount Laurel, New Jersey to convert it to a DVD. After viewing it, two employees of the store, Brian Morgenstern and another not named in the indictment, alerted authorities, who initiated a full-scale investigation.Circuit City clerk alerted authorities to alleged plot http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates/2007/05/circuit_city_clerk_alerted_aut.html StarLedger May 9, 2007 May 9, 2007 https://archive.today/20070513191141/http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates/2007/05/circuit_city_clerk_alerted_aut.html 13 May 2007 live An informant from the FBI infiltrated the group to gather information. 6 Charged In Alleged N.J. Terror Plot http://www.wnbc.com/news/13274813/detail.html WNBC May 8, 2007 May 8, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070510011717/http://www.wnbc.com/news/13274813/detail.html 10 May 2007 live The group's planning was caught on video and audio tape by federal authorities. They also trained in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. US Attorney Chris Christie (later elected Governor of New Jersey) said that one of the suspects was able to draw a detailed map of Fort Dix from memory.Six Men Arrested in Plot to Attack New Jersey's Fort Dix https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/government_programs/jan-june07/fortdix_05-08.html pbs.com May 8, 2007 February 18, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110124171521/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/government_programs/jan-june07/fortdix_05-08.html 24 January 2011 dead Serdar Tatar even went to the police in Philadelphia to report that he was being pressured to provide a map of Fort Dix, and that he suspected a terrorist plan. However, he did not have a response from the authorities. The men continued to work at their jobs. The Duka brothers, Eljvir, Dritan, and Shain (Albanians), worked in roofing. Agron Abdullahu (Albanian), Serdar Tatar (a Turkish legal immigrant), and Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer (a U.S. citizen from Jordan) held a variety of jobs, including as a taxi driver and clerk for 7-Eleven. According to news reports, five of the men arrested intended to attack the Fort Dix military base and kill as many servicemen as they could.Wayne Parry 6 Men Charged in Plot to Attack Fort Dix https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/08/AR2007050800454.html The Washington Post May 8, 2007 May 8, 2007 The sixth man arrested, Abdullahu, was charged with aiding and abetting the possession of firearms by the Duka brothers. In a conversation that was recorded by the informant, Shnewer told the FBI informant "My intent is to hit a heavy concentration of soldiers [...] You hit four, five or six Humvees and light the whole place [up] and retreat completely without any losses". The men tried unsuccessfully to purchase weapons from an FBI informant, including AK-47s, M16s, semi-automatic SIG Sauer 9 mm handguns, and a Smith & Wesson 9 mm. The informant stated that the weapons were to come from an underground military dealer from Baltimore, Maryland, who had recently returned from Egypt. One of the men in the Fort Dix plot was recorded on a surveillance tape commenting on a lecture by Anwar al-Awlaki, a prominent Muslim cleric of American and Yemeni citizenship, who went into hiding in Yemen after becoming radicalized in prison there during 2006–2007. (He was targeted for killing by President Obama in 2010 because of his numerous alleged terrorist activities, and killed in September 2011 by an unmanned US drone in Yemen.Islamist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki 'killed in Yemen' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15121879 BBC News September 30, 2011 September 30, 2011) On that tape, Shain Duka exclaimed "You gotta hear this lecture ... it's the truth, no holds barred, straight how it is!" Born in U.S., a Radical Cleric Inspires Terror https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/us/19awlaki.html The New York Times November 18, 2009 February 1, 2010 Scott Shane https://web.archive.org/web/20110906163237/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/us/19awlaki.html September 6, 2011 live Trial The six suspects were indicted on June 5, 2007Six Suspects Indicted In Fort Dix Plot Associated Press https://www.cbsnews.com/news/six-suspects-indicted-in-fort-dix-plot/ CBS News June 5, 2007 June 20, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070614204857/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/05/terror/main2889863.shtml 14 June 2007 live and were arraigned in federal court in Camden, New Jersey on June 14 where they pleaded not guilty.6 charged in Fort Dix plot arraigned June 15, 2007 GOPUSA UPI The U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler called it "an unusual case" and called for the trial to begin by early October, adding, "If the government is not able to prove this case, they should not be in jail. I want to get this resolved."Alfano Sean 6 In Fort Dix Case Plead Not Guilty cbsnews.com https://www.cbsnews.com/news/6-in-fort-dix-case-plead-not-guilty/ June 5, 2007 February 18, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110202104024/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/14/terror/main2932228.shtml 2 February 2011 live Agron Abdullahu, suspected of having the smallest role in the attack plot, accepted a plea bargain with a limit of 5 years in prison for his weapons offenses. Prosecutors say that while Abdullahu supplied weapons to the other five men, he resisted the idea of attacking the military base.Guilty plea in Ft. Dix Plot http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/31/fortdix.plot.ap/index.html CNN October 30, 2007 November 2, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071102053538/http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/31/fortdix.plot.ap/index.html November 2, 2007 Opening arguments were presented on October 20, 2008. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick asserted that the defendants were inspired by jihad, saying "Their motive was to defend Islam. Their inspiration was Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. Their intention was to attack the U.S."US base accused 'plotted jihad' https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7680988.stm BBC News October 20, 2008 February 18, 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20081023153547/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7680988.stm October 23, 2008 Prosecutors presented recordings of the plot obtained by two paid FBI informants during a 16-month undercover investigation, as well as suspicious videos that were found on one defendant's computer. Defense attorneys countered that the videos, alleged by the prosecution to be terrorist training videos, showed the defendants on holiday exhibiting "false bravado". They attacked the credibility of the prosecution's witnesses. Informant Mahmoud Omar confessed during the trial that two Duka brothers - Dritan and Shain - knew of no Fort Dix plot. "They had nothing to do with this," he said. On December 22, 2008, after 5 and a half days of deliberations, the jury found the plotters to be guilty of charges of conspiracy to harm US military personnel. They were acquitted on the charge of attempted murder.#08-1142: Five Radical Islamists Convicted of Conspiring to Kill Soldiers at Fort Dix (2008-12-22) https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2008/December/08-nsd-1142.html 2023-08-02 www.justice.govZielbauer Paul von Hurdle Jon 2008-12-23 5 Are Convicted of Conspiring to Attack Fort Dix en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/23/nyregion/23fortdix.html 2023-08-02 0362-4331 During sentencing, Dritan and Shain Duka received life sentences for the conspiracy conviction, with an additional 30 years for related weapons charges.3 brothers get life for Fort Dix plot https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/28/3-brothers-get-life-for-Fort-Dix-plot/UPI-64791240952231/ United Press International April 28, 2009 November 10, 2009 Eljvir Duka and Mohamad Shnewer both received life sentences, and Serdar Tatar was sentenced to 33 years in prison.Fifth Man Convicted in Fort Dix Terror Plot Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison https://www.foxnews.com/story/fifth-man-convicted-in-fort-dix-terror-plot-sentenced-to-33-years-in-prison Fox News Associated Press April 28, 2009 November 10, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090503100437/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518337,00.html May 3, 2009 live mdy-all A 2011 NPR report said that some of the men associated with this group were imprisoned in a highly restrictive Communication Management Unit. In June 2016, Judge Robert Kugler denied requests for a retrial. In his decision, Judge Kugler - the same as the original trial - stated that the Dukas were aware of their right to testify and consciously decided not to. Shain Duka's lawyer, Robert Boyle, called the judge's decision "disappointing but not entirely unexpected" and said he would appeal the decision. Lynne Jackson, an attorney for SALM, said: "Fort Dix Five supporters will continue to advocate for them and will continue to seek justice for the brothers. We will never give up until they are free. "JUDGE UPHOLDS LIFE SENTENCES IN FORT DIX PLOT, BUT ADVOCATES SAY FIGHT WILL GO ON In December 2020 Sedar Tatar applied to be released from prison during the COVID-19 pandemic due to having tuberculosis. Judge Robert Kugler denied the request.Walsh Jim Fort Dix Five member denied release over his fear of COVID-19 https://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/story/news/2020/12/08/serdar-tatar-covid-19-prison-release-fort-dix-five/6482972002/ 2020-12-18 Burlington County Times en-US Imprisonment Eljvir Duka is currently being held at United States Penitentiary, Hazelton, while Dritan Duka is at Communications management unit (CMU) at Federal Correctional Institution, Terre Haute and Shain Duka is at United States Penitentiary, Atwater. Mohamad Shnewer is serving his life sentence at the United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute, a high-security facility in Indiana.http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=mohamad&Middle=&LastName=Shnewer&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=0&y=0 https://archive.today/20120723171126/http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=mohamad&Middle=&LastName=Shnewer&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=0&y=0 dead July 23, 2012 Inmate Locator 11 December 2016 Serdar Tatar is serving his 33-year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution, McKean, a medium-security facility in Pennsylvania, and is scheduled for release in 2035.http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=serdar&Middle=&LastName=tatar&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=0&y=0 https://archive.today/20120722133222/http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=serdar&Middle=&LastName=tatar&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=0&y=0 dead July 22, 2012 Inmate Locator 11 December 2016 Agron Abdullahu was released on March 24, 2009.http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=agron&Middle=&LastName=Abdullahu&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=0&y=0 https://archive.today/20120721071437/http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=agron&Middle=&LastName=Abdullahu&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=0&y=0 dead July 21, 2012 Inmate Locator 11 December 2016 Chronology of events January 31, 2006 – An individual brings a tape to a Circuit City in New Jersey for duplication and transfer to DVD. The video features 10 young men conducting militia style assault training shooting their weapons at a firing range while shouting "Allahu Akbar". The Circuit City employees, Brian Morgenstern and one other not to be named at this time, who saw the video contacted the Mt. Laurel Police who in turn contacted the FBI. By April 2006, the FBI hired informant Mahmoud Omar to approach the suspects.The Fort Dix Conspiracy Amanda ripley Time December 6, 2007 http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1691609-3,00.html 14 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071210132233/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0%2C8599%2C1691609-3%2C00.html 10 December 2007 dead August 11, 2006 – Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer travels to Fort Dix and Fort Monmouth to conduct surveillance. August 13, 2006 – Shnewer travels to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware to conduct surveillance. August 13, 2006 – Shnewer travels to the U.S. Coast Guard building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to conduct surveillance. August 16, 2006 – Shnewer travels to Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst to conduct surveillance. November 28, 2006 – Serdar Tatar, who had delivered pizza to Fort Dix before, obtains a map of the Fort Dix military installation through his employer's pizza delivery restaurant, which serves the military base.Fort Dix Plot Unravels Interactive Timeline http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2007/05/09/terror/timeline2778660.shtml cbsnews.com CBS News February 18, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110202091545/http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2007/05/09/terror/timeline2778660.shtml 2 February 2011 live February 2, 2007 – Dritan Duka, Eljvir Duka and Sulayman Shain Duka conduct weapons training in Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania. February 4, 2007 – Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer, Dritan Duka, Eljvir Duka and Sulayman Shain Duka review terrorist training materials. February 26, 2007 – Dritan Duka and Eljvir Duka conduct weapons training in Cherry Hill. March 15, 2007 – Dritan Duka and Sulayman Shain Duka conduct weapons training in Cherry Hill. April 16, 2007 – Dritan Duka contacts an arms dealer (an FBI informant) for weaponry. May 7, 2007 – The FBI arrests six members of the group. December 22, 2008 - A federal jury finds five of the six alleged plotters guilty of conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism and weapons charges. See also Lackawanna Six Joint Terrorism Task Force 2006 Toronto terrorism case 2009 Bronx terrorism plot 2015 Chattanooga shootings References 30em Margot Williams and Alyson Hurt, "DATA & GRAPHICS: Population Of The Communications Management Units", NPR, 3-3-11, retrieved 4 March 2011 External links U.S. dept of Justice Official release about the case collapsed Category:Terrorist incidents in the United States in 2007 Category:Failed terrorist attempts in the United States Category:21st-century history of the United States Army Category:Anwar al-Awlaki Category:2000s crimes in New Jersey Category:2007 in New Jersey Category:May 2007 crimes in the United States Category:Islamic terrorism in New Jersey