Five Men Convicted of Plotting to Kill U.S. Military Members

Strategic Insights -

A jury has convicted five men of conspiracy to murder members of the U.S. military, delivering a verdict that underscores the ongoing threat of homegrown terror. The men, Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer, the Duka brothers (Dritan, Shain, and Eljvir), and Serdar Tatar, were arrested in 2007 after a confidential government witness reported their plans to purchase machine guns and AK-47 rifles to attack military personnel.

Key Takeaways:

  • The jury convicted the five men on count one of the seven-count superseding indictment, charging them with conspiracy to murder members of the U.S. military, with each defendant facing a sentence of any number of years up to life in prison.
  • The defendants were found to have conducted surveillance at various military installations, including Fort Dix and Fort Monmouth in New Jersey, Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, and the U.S. Coast Guard in Philadelphia.
  • The co-conspirators obtained a detailed map of Fort Dix, where they planned to use assault rifles to kill as many soldiers as possible, according to trial testimony and evidence.
  • The defendants were involved in small-arms training at a shooting range in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania and watched training videos amongst themselves that included depictions of American soldiers being killed.
  • The verdict highlights the importance of vigilance against homegrown terror threats, with Assistant Attorney General Patrick Rowan stating that the defendants' involvement in weapons training and surveillance posed a serious threat to national security.

Statistics:

  • 5 and 1/2 days: The length of the jury's deliberations to reach a verdict.
  • 7-count superseding indictment: The charge sheet against the defendants, which included conspiracy to murder members of the U.S. military and firearm offenses.
  • 4 automatic M-16 rifles and 3 semi-automatic AK-47 rifles: The types of firearms purchased by the defendants using a confidential government witness.
  • 12-week trial: The duration of the trial, which ended with the jury's verdict.
  • 5 men: The number of defendants convicted of plotting to kill U.S. military members.
  • 1 member: The number of co-conspirators involved in the surveillance at various military installations.

Sources:

  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • See also U.S. Department of Justice
  • Janice K. Fedarcyk, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Division of the FBI
  • NewsRx.com