5 anarchists nabbed in plot to blow up Cleveland bridge
Last edited Tue May 1, 2012, 10:27 AM - Edit history (1)
Source: msnbc.com
Federal agents have arrested five people who were plotting to blow up a bridge in Cleveland, Ohio, an incident not connected to the anniversary of former al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden's death, officials say.
The five were nabbed in what amounted to an FBI sting, and agents had them under extensive surveillance for a long period of time.
"There was never any danger," one federal official said.
Federal officials say three of the five men charged with plotting to blow up the bridge describe themselves as anarchists who considered a series of evolving plots over several months.
Read more: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/01/11485641-5-anarchists-nabbed-in-plot-to-blow-up-cleveland-bridge?lite
slackmaster
(60,567 posts)independentpiney
(1,510 posts)I'm reading a book now on the Spanish Civil War, and how the right wing did everything they could to paralyze the Republic politically much like our current republicans, and pulled off all sorts of false flag operations to prove that the progressives couldn't provide safety and stability. I'm finding the similarities really ominous.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)I mean, whoever they are paying to do the makeup and attire and hair is doing a fabulous job!
I mean, they should at least get a 100% bonus..Look at this work!
independentpiney
(1,510 posts)yurbud
(39,405 posts)may3rd
(593 posts)they should have opening posted if that's the case. These guys are going on extended sabbatical
HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)we must leave open the possibility that the plot was actually directed by an agent and part of a larger strategy to discredit some group or cause.
The targets of these co-conspirators somehow grew from attacks on corporate signage to blowing up a bridge on federal land.
Think about that. The choice of action escalated from vandalism to multiple federal felony offenses.
The 'infiltrator' or 'infiltrators' was/were apparently involved at a time when the 'target' was being determined.
Telly Savalas
(9,841 posts)why would anyone need to go out of their way to discredit the group?
There are more moderate elements (and I mean like Kucinichy types and the Green Party) that have considerably more likelihood of exercising any influence over public opinion. Why not target them instead?
yurbud
(39,405 posts)ideas are gaining: horizontal democracy instead of hierarchy, especially in the work place, the open source software movement, even things like Wikipedia are anarchist and cooperative at their core.
As an idea, anarchism is more dangerous than centralized communism to the financial elite. If you have one dictator or a junta in a communist country, the rich can use their standard tricks to corrupt or coerce those at the top (at least from the outside). If power is truly shared, that's a lot harder to do.
Case in point: cooperatively run businesses versus corporations. Can you do a leveraged buyout or outsource all the jobs of a company where the employees have at least as much voice as investors?
That is so disturbing to the rich that one of the conditions NATO imposed on the dismembered Yugoslavia was that they privatize the last of their collective industries even though they were doing just fine in that mode.
Lydia Leftcoast
(48,217 posts)They definitely exist.
Most of them are so clumsily obvious that older members of Occupy and other groups can easily spot them.
But I can see how young and stupid activists could be persuaded.
iamthebandfanman
(8,127 posts)i think some of you are too quick to blame a conspiracy when it comes to these things..
BadtotheboneBob
(413 posts)... after looking at the pictures of the accused. All five have that moronic look in their eyes. Plus, provocateurs usually make good their escape. These guys are going down hard.
WCGreen
(45,558 posts)They are probably on the outside looking in every where they go except when the are together and they feel as if they are part of something...
They probably have dead end jobs, are just lurching from one scheme to another trying to find someone to blame for their failures in life...
I worked in a blue collar bar when the future was being let out of their lives when the big auto plants around here started to scale back...
They have no place to go, no place to feel is their own so they are easily talked into doing something stupid.
Planning to do a little theatrical vandalism on the Hope Bridge is a far cry from blowing up the turn pike bridge over the Cuyahoga Valley.
Posteritatis
(18,807 posts)joshcryer
(62,280 posts)You don't have long term surveillance without having a mole, and likely one who goads idiots into saying and doing things they wouldn't otherwise do. Somehow this is "legal." The entire Green Scare was trumped up crazy with a young woman who wound up entrapping the entire group.
may3rd
(593 posts)One of five men arrested in an alleged Ohio bridge bombing plot signed the lease for the warehouse that's home to about a dozen protesters from the Occupy Cleveland movement, which is working to get the man's name removed from the lease, a group spokesman said.
The $600 monthly rent for the warehouse was paid to a landlord, not to suspect Anthony Hayne, group spokesman Joseph Zitt told The Plain Dealer.
"We needed a name on the lease, and he agreed to be it," Zitt said.
Hayne, 35, is among the five suspects accused of trying to bomb a highway bridge south
Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/oh_cuyahoga/bomb-plot-suspect-leases-occupy-warehouse-in-ohio#ixzz1uE6vC37K
liberal N proud
(60,349 posts)But looking around, that is all the News Channel 5 is posting.
IDemo
(16,926 posts)Just verified the link is working from my browser, anyway.
Ganja Ninja
(15,953 posts)- Douglas Wright, 26
- Brandon Baxter, 20
- Anthony Hayne, 35
These two men were also arrested, but charges are pending:
- Connor Stevens, 20
- Joshua Stafford, 23
Baitball Blogger
(46,775 posts)xtraxritical
(3,576 posts)Baitball Blogger
(46,775 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)Baitball Blogger
(46,775 posts)Love it!
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)If they have a cause. You have to have a cause to be considered a terrorist, I think.
In other words, you can be both an anarchist AND a terrorist.
Ford_Prefect
(7,927 posts)IDemo
(16,926 posts)mn9driver
(4,428 posts)It will be interesting to see just exactly what they are accused of, and how the FBI got its evidence.
Common Sense Party
(14,139 posts)mn9driver
(4,428 posts)joshcryer
(62,280 posts)...was goaded into seeking out supplies.
Response to IDemo (Original post)
Renew Deal This message was self-deleted by its author.
Fuddnik
(8,846 posts)I'm familiar with that bridge. I almost bought a couple of houses below it about 30 years ago. It's a BIG fucking bridge.
And it would take trained demolition professionals and a lot of explosives to do any real damage to it.
SnowCritter
(810 posts)If the Republicans have their way it'll just fall down by itself due to lack of maintenance. Lord knows they don't want to fund maintenance, repairs and improvement of infrastructure.
Response to IDemo (Original post)
FedUpWithIt All This message was self-deleted by its author.
villager
(26,001 posts)...to go along with it, so they could make their arrests...
tcaudilllg
(1,553 posts)And OWS. And intimidating people into not participating in the rallies.
WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)Involving an undercover informant or agent, always a sting operation, usually a device that won't work and a perfect press release saying " We saved you once again, were on top of it."
But think about it, how many actual attacks by groups have really occurred in the USA?
joshcryer
(62,280 posts)And they probably didn't get very far, probably late night drunken musings and then someone was sent to seek out supplies, and pow.
may3rd
(593 posts)Seems his reality check bounced
has prior convictions for cocaine possession (1990), robbery (1991), and four convictions for passing bad checks between 1991 and 2011, according to the bombing complaint. No mention is made, however, of Azirs two pending criminal cases.
[snip]
Azirs first indictment this year came on January 12, when he was charged with knowingly passing a bad check for $1471.87 to a home décor company. On January 24, he was named in a second felony indictment accusing him of defrauding a Cleveland-based credit union through the issuance of a bum check for $2165. The two cases have been consolidated and Azir is next due in court on May 10.
Azir is also facing a probation violation hearing in Lorain County, where he has been convicted of passing bad checks.
http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2012/05/03/meet-the-fbis-informant-in-the-bridge-bombing-case
villager
(26,001 posts)n/t
Marzupialis
(398 posts)Did these people discuss blowing the bridge before the FBI agent got involved? or did the FBI agent offer to blow up the bridge before the men considered doing it at all?
tcaudilllg
(1,553 posts)They were planning on just throwing down some bank/hedge fund signs, but then the FBI plant played a little 1984 with their heads.
Marzupialis
(398 posts)Many people who do not bother to read the whole details will probably picture this in their minds as a heroic life-saving act by the fBI. That's why the FBI does it: to congratulate itself via their loyal messenger: the uncritical MSM.
tcaudilllg
(1,553 posts)Kolesar
(31,182 posts)They protested the foreclosure of a home.
I am not going to send web-traffic to them by posting their url.
stockholmer
(3,751 posts)A person has to be a true fool to believe anything remotely like this anymore.
Common Sense Party
(14,139 posts)"Hey! I'll give you some explosives if you go blow something up!" and then actually go with that person.
Why these mugs didn't hightail it out of there, I have no idea. If someone is too stupid to smell an obvious FBI sting, then they deserve jail.
may3rd
(593 posts)And then after they assemble the fake explosives as instructed,
they pressed the buttons fully expecting to not kill people on a state route bridge ? The story is a Judas was paid $6,000 to keep these loonies on the path over the past year.
These guys had a lot of time to report him to the FBI for wanting to destroy property built by the gas tax those motorists used to cross that bridge.
moot point now.
How many of these 'sting' operations actually ended up with people turning the tables on the stool pigeon ? Those are statistics that will never be revealed
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)redqueen
(115,103 posts)How can you tell which member of a group is the mole?
It's the one who wants to blow things up.
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)They got an agent to convince bunch of naive idiots to do something stupid so they could arrest them and play the "Scary Leftist Radical" card on May Day. Fuck them!
onehandle
(51,122 posts)So I assume Faux will 'fill in the blanks' for us.
Right now we're supposed to imagine the 'dirty hippie anarchists' from the Dirty Harry movies.
Need more info, Feds.
Kolesar
(31,182 posts)iamthebandfanman
(8,127 posts)of bored people with way too much time on their hands.
besides, they say the FBI agent was with them undercover for a long time.. no telling how they pushed or poked people to move forward.
nobodyspecial
(2,286 posts)and would be the one alerting police on the idea.
I love how absent any evidence, that so many discredit any involvement. I do believe plants exist, but I don't think you truthfully can say one way or another until you have more evidence.
joshcryer
(62,280 posts)Usually what actually happens is there was someone who called the police, alerted the police on the idea, and they were the ones who turned and became the plant. So a late night drunken crazy talk session about doing something stupid becomes a long term affair where idiots actually start to think their friend is all for it.
may3rd
(593 posts)A visit to the OWS cleveland FB page shows they have distanced themselves while unions that planned to rally on the square on mayday canceled their official plans.
interesting article you linked
flamingdem
(39,333 posts)These guys don't seem too bright however to get sucked in like that to the FBI operation.
Most of the time it's just an idealistic stage in life and portends the likelihood of becoming
a decent enough democratic-ish Citizen down the line.
No loss to the Occupy movement that's for sure.
iandhr
(6,852 posts)may3rd
(593 posts)for $6,000
to buy drugs. He has long since returned to jail for other issues
Turbineguy
(37,386 posts)describes them as Occupy leaders.
Psephos
(8,032 posts)For what it's worth.
Can't say anything about BreitFart, given that I don't give that site traffic.
rayofreason
(2,259 posts)Last edited Fri May 4, 2012, 10:37 AM - Edit history (1)
Yes, that correct.
Go to http://occupycleveland.com/ and you will find the statement
May 1, 2012 Cleveland While the persons arrested Monday evening by the FBI have participated in Occupy Cleveland events, they were in no way representing or acting on behalf of Occupy Cleveland.
Scroll down a bit to a video. Below the video is this text:
On the morning of March 5th, Occupy Cleveland, in conjunction with labor and community organizations, marched from Public Square to the Justice Center. Every Monday morning, in a room on the first floor, there is a sheriff auction of foreclosed properties. Our aim was to shut it down. 5 very brave young men (Peter, Jonnie, Brandon, James and Ston) waited in the room where the auction was taking place for their cue. (emphasis added)
Well that "Brandon" is none other that Brandon Baxter, as can be seen in the video at 1:32. Just compare to his picture.
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-05-01/justice/justice_ohio-bridge-arrests_1_plastic-explosives-explosive-materials-fbi-sting?_s=PM:JUSTICE
So we have a disclaimer and a bit later this same "brave young" Brandon is being lauded for an Occupy action. What constitutes "representing?" It seems he also organized events. Like last weekend.
https://www.facebook.com/events/386018258086292/
I wonder when someone will notice and start scrubbing?
may3rd
(593 posts)MOST people have accounts and LOVE to have as many friends as possible and the FB formula is a way to run tabs on most anyone you want to look up in their search engine these days Kind of a secret personal tracking record available to anybody who joins FB.
fascinating, no wonder people get upset at prospective employers want to look at their FB page.
TMI .
Psephos
(8,032 posts)"Brave young" Brandon indeed - he hung a "kick me" sign on the backs of legitimate protesters.
The correct term for people plotting to blow up bridges in Cleveland is "conspirators to commit homicide." From the same clade as arsonists.
chrisa
(4,524 posts)The 'Saturday Night Fever throwbacks' combined with 'WoW nerd that still lives with his mom' look.
marble falls
(57,405 posts)sarcasmo
(23,968 posts)slackmaster
(60,567 posts)"Say what you will about the tenets of National Socialism; at least it was an ethos"
- Walter
sarcasmo
(23,968 posts)truthisfreedom
(23,160 posts)Stay away from anarchists. Anarchy doesn't work for stupid people. You have to have a brain to understand the premise. Stick with being republican.
Zax2me
(2,515 posts)And how many days before the motley crew is proven to be piss-ass right wing activists?
slackmaster
(60,567 posts)Zax2me
(2,515 posts)But I BET MONEY they get tied to a RW group within a few days.
X-D
Quantess
(27,630 posts)They have that worn-out meth appearance. They look a bit rough for their ages. Their mugshots look about 5 to 10 years older than their stated ages.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)and then astonished at what happens;
1) Unattractive adult males who meet a 14 year old over the internet who are desperate to have their first sexual experiment with them and are astonished to find Chris Hansen at the home instead of the 14 year old.
2) People who want to blow something up and get the bomb from an outsider and then are astonished when they push the trigger and are astonished that a few minutes later they are being read their rights.
How idiotic do you have to be to believe that you can contact somebody and that person is going to delivery a bomb.
If someone says they are bringing you a bomb, they are bringing it from the FBI. You would have a better chance finding a 14 year old in the internet that is dying to meet you.
lib2DaBone
(8,124 posts)Read in one article they were going to spray graffiti on a bridge.. until they met the FBI undercover Agent provocateur... who gave them phony explosive devices and convinced them that blowing up the bridge was way more fun.
"Hey Beavis.. let's go get some Nachos. ... No.. lets blow up a bridge over the park.. ya ..cool heh heh heh .." heh heh
marble falls
(57,405 posts)may3rd
(593 posts)Dozen show up at courthouse to support the self proclaimed anarchists
An undercover informant working with the FBI had provided the group with an inert bomb.
Baxters attorney told NewsChannel5 the informant, who has a long criminal record, coached the suspects.
All five suspects will remain in federal custody, as their detention hearing was postponed.
NewsChannel5 will continue to follow this case. Keep checking newsnet5.com for more information.
Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/bridge-bomb-suspects-plead-not-guilty-occupy-cleveland-members-show-up-to-support-suspects#ixzz1uE4iw1mz
joshcryer
(62,280 posts)BadgerKid
(4,559 posts)While I'm "pro" catching the bad guys, I have to wonder a little bit about the stream of news lately:
bridge plot foiled by FBI
underwear plot foiled by CIA
FBI saying it needs wiretap-ready web sites NOW!
FBI saying the war against hackers is being lost
Drones allowed to fly the skies
It smacks of a world of increasing surveillance and potentially decreasing privacy.