Texas terror suspect grew up in N.H., went to Mass. mosque

[Ian David]

METHUEN, Mass. -- A former Houston resident accused of training with al-Qaida to overthrow the government in Somalia grew up in Pelham, N.H., and attended a mosque in Methuen.

Daniel Maldonado, 28, got in trouble "a lot" as a teenager for things like traffic violations and loud parties, but did not commit any serious crimes, said Pelham police Capt. Joseph Roark.

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Maldonado grew up in Pelham and attended Pelham High School, but dropped out in 1997, his junior year. He moved to Manchester after his parents left Pelham, then lived in Methuen for several years. His parents now live in Londonderry.

He moved to Houston in August 2005, then in November moved to Egypt with his wife and three children. Last fall, he went to Somalia. Now he faces federal charges of undergoing military training with a terrorist organization and conspiring to use a destructive device.

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Over the next few years, his increasingly purist views led him to criticize other Muslims for their lack of religious observance. The imam who helped convert him told him to refrain from judging others or leave the mosque and he chose to leave.

More:
http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO43526/

[graywarrior]

1. Pelham.....

Strange little place.