Buffalo Six
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The Buffalo Six (or Lackawanna Six) is a group of six Yemeni-Americans who were convicted of providing material support to al-Qaeda. The six are American citizens by birth.
They traveled to Afghanistan in spring 2001. They were arrested in Lackawanna, New York, near Buffalo, New York in September 2002.
One of the members, Muktar Al-Bakri, sent an obscure e-mail describing an upcoming "big meal" which would have used explosives. Al-Bakri told the FBI he had overheard talk of an attack and had used code because he was afraid Al-Qaeda was monitoring his e-mail.
Investigators found a rifle, a telescopic sight, and a cassette tape. investigators say that when played, the tape "asks Allah to give Jews and their enablers (U.S.) a black day" in Al-Bakri's house.
All six pleaded guilty in court to terrorism related charges. They were Mukhtar Al-Bakri, Sahim Alwan, Faysal Galab, Shafal Mosed, Yaseinn Taher, and Yahya Goba. Another member of the Lackawanna Cell, named Jaber Elbaneh, is still at large after joining a successful group prison break in Yemen.
Ahmed Hijazi aka Jalal aka Kamal Derwish, incinerated in a car with five others by a Hellfire from a CIA Predator in Yemen 2002 November 3, may have been the ringleader/recruiter.[1]
Jaber Elbaneh was in Yemeni custody.
Yahya Goba and Mukhtar al-Bakri received ten-year prison sentences. Yaseinn Taher and Shafal Mosed received eight-year prison sentences. Sahim Alwan received a nine and a half year sentence. All sentences were for single counts of "providing support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization". In discussing the plea bargain agreements, US prosecutors commented the defendants had cooperated with federal terrorism investigators, providing detailed information on Al-Qaeda membership, training, and methods.
See also
External links
- 'Lackawanna Six' Plead Not Guilty, CBS, October 22, 2002
- Final 'Buffalo Six' Member Pleads Guilty, FOX News, May 19, 2003
- Buffalo terror suspect admits al Qaeda training, CNN, May 20, 2003
- Terror-Cell Bail Hearing Continues, FOX News, May 20, 2003
- Frontline: Chasing the Sleeper Cell, PBS
- An interview with Sahim Alwan, PBS, July 24, 2003
- Profiles of members, PBS, October 16, 2003
- 2nd member sentenced