Ahmed Mohamed Nasser al Soofi Terrorist? Hezam al Murisi Terrorist? Two Yemens on United Flight Arrested

Two Yemen men living legally in the U.S. were removed from a United Flight today. Ahmed Mohamed Nasser al Soofi of Detroit, Michigan and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Hezam al Murisi were allowed to board the United flight at Chicago's O'Hare airport last night even though "security concerns surrounded" one of them. In the video below you can see the two men taken off the flight in Amsterdam in handcuffs.

It's a bizarre story that U.S. officials seems ready to tell us has no connection to terrorism. The story at this time is that the two men do not know each other and just happened to be on the same flight from Chicago to Amsterdam - both boarding in Birmingham, Alabama. Both men's luggage ended up on a flight different than the flight they were flying on. The luggage had watches, and an empty bottle with three cell phones taped to it, at least one box cutter and three large knives.  According to ABC News, U.S. officials describe the odd items in the luggage as "mock bombs."

Airport security screeners in Birmingham, Alabama first stopped al Soofi and referred him to additional screening because of what officials said was his "bulky clothing.

In addition, officials said, al Soofi was found to be carrying $7,000 in cash and a check of his luggage found a cell phone taped to a Pepto-Bismol bottle, three cell phones taped together, several watches taped together, a box cutter and three large knives. Officials said there was no indication of explosives and he and his luggage were cleared for the flight from Birmingham to Chicago O'Hare.

Despite the items found in the luggage, the Birmingham airport cleared them for the flight to O'Hare. When the flight arrived in Chicago, officials learned that al Soofi intentionally sent his luggage on a different flight to Washington's Dulles airport, connecting to Dubai and then Yemen. Al Soofi did not try to board the flight to D.C.

That is all bizarre enough, without this....:

The U.S. does not expect to charge the men, a law enforcement official said. The two men arrested in Amsterdam - both traveling to Yemen - did not know each other and were not traveling together, a U.S. government official said...

Al Soofi was supposed to fly from Chicago to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia and then on to Dubai, one of the officials said. But when he got to Chicago he changed his travel plans to take a direct flight to Amsterdam, while his luggage went on to Virginia.

Al Murisi also changed his travel plans in Chicago to take a direct flight to Amsterdam, raising suspicion among U.S. officials. 

Dutch officials say they detained the men at the request of the U.S., and are holding them on "suspicion of a conspiracy to a terrorist criminal act." If the men cannot be charged for perpetrating the equal of "fire" in a crowded theatre, then passengers have never have a chance of boarding a flight without drama.

Yemen Men on United Flight Removed in Handcuffs

Others talking: BareNakedIslam

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Muhammed al Madadi to Visit Jailed al Qaeda Ali al-Marri in Supermax Colorado

Muhammed al-Madadi, the Qatar diplomat who created a scene on United Flight 663 yesterday was flying to Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado to visit jailed al Qaeda member, Ali al-Marri (full name Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri), who was apprehended shortly after 9/11 and is believed to have been an al Qaeda sleeper agent. The reports of a "misunderstanding" are ridiculous. Ali al-Marri decided to present himself in one way, rather than admitting that he was unlawfully smoking - and then he had to be restrained. There was no misunderstanding. The air marshalls got it. The guy was an arrogant agitator - and maybe worse.

Muhammed al-Madadi

Along the way, high in the skies, Madadi decided to take a smoke in the airliner's lavatory. In fact, he took a very long smoke - about 40 minutes, according to flight attendents, who notified an air marshall of smoke coming from the toilet. When al-Madadi emerged, air marshalls wer waiting. Al-Madadi told the sky marshall he was simply trying to light his shoes on fire. The captain was notified and two jets were scrambled. At some point, al-Madadi had to be physically constrained.

ABCNews is reporting that the 27-year-old Madadi will likely lose his job:

The diplomat is on his way back to Washington today and is expected to be sent out of the country soon as both sides are looking for a way to bring the matter to a close without further embarrassment...

Katherine Herridge, FOXNews' Homeland Security correspondent, said al-Madadi will not face charges, due to his diplomatic immunity, and no one is talking about Qatar paying the cost of the incident - like two military jets escorting Flight 663 to the ground in Denver, which is estimated to cost taxpayers about $7,500 per hour.

Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri was studying computer science at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois with his wife and 5 children.  Don't you wonder what happens with these kids? There seems to be at least 5 to every terrorist. Are they still in the U.S.? Are they attending a violent mosque somewhere? Honestly, the blowback from these people is incalculable.

United Flight 223 Passenger Disruptive: United Flight 223 Diverted: Passenger Tries to Open Aircraft Door

United Flight 223 departing Washington Dulles bound for Las Vegas on Saturday was diverted to Denver. A "scruffy and unkempt" man walked from the back of the plane, now flying at 30,000 feet, to the front. He knocked on the cockpit door and then tried to open an exterior door of the aircraft.

Passengers took the man down. A traveler in first class grabbed the man's arms. According to witnesses, six or seven people helped subdue the disruptive passenger. He allegedly had several drinks and was seen taking pills. Passenger Ray Holloman described the man and the situation:

...as about 6' 1" and up to 270 pounds with blond hair and wispy facial hair. "He was a large guy and an unkempt guy," he said.

Holloman said the man brought on two carry on bags: a black backpack and a brown bag.

He carried the brown bag with him to the front of the plane.

After the man was subdued, passengers and flight attendants started questioning him.

When he was asked what was in the bag, Sandou [passenger] said the man said, "You'll see."

 A passenger interviewed on FOXNews said the man thought he was on the wrong flight and he wanted off.

Law enforcement took custody of the man and he is being questioned. No word on an arrest.

Linked by Infidel Bloggers Alliance - see an updated video and excellent updates