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The Pizza Connection; Easy Access to Fort Dix

May 08, 2007 2:30 PM

The_pizza_conne_mn_2 The six men charged with planning an attack to kill several hundred U.S. soldiers at Fort Dix, N.J., thought they would have easy access to the base by pretending to deliver pizzas.

In a criminal complaint filed this morning, an FBI agent writes that "SERDAR TATAR's father owned a restaurant near Fort Dix and made deliveries onto the base."

The father, owner of Super Mario's Restaurant, told ABCNews.com today that his staff often made pizza deliveries on to the base and to the nearby McGuire Air Force Base.

The complaint says Tatar was able to acquire a map of Fort Dix, labeled "Cantonment Area Fort Dix, N.J.," and gave it to the five other men arrested by the FBI.

Officials say the map was used by pizza delivery men to find their way around the base.

According to the complaint, Tatar "described a place at Fort Dix they could target that would cause a power outage and allow for an easier attack on the military personnel there."

"What we are witnessing here is kind of a brand new form of terrorism," said J.P. "Jody" Weis, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Philadelphia field office, at an afternoon press conference.  "They operate under the radar...they strike when they feel it is right whenever that might be."

Video Officials Call Fort Dix Terror Plot 'a Brand New Form of Terrorism'

Tatar's father told ABCNews.com he talked to his son only yesterday, and there was no indication of anything unusual, no indication that his 24-year-old son harbored a deep hatred of the United States.

"There's something wrong here," the father said. "I came here from Turkey in 1992, and this is my country. I love this country."

He said his son had not worked at the restaurant for at least a year, and he believed his son was working at a 7-11 convenience store in Philadelphia.

The criminal complaint tells a much different story, describing Tatar as suspicious of the FBI's undercover operative who infiltrated the group.

Last November, Tatar allegedly contacted a sergeant in the Philadelphia police department to check the name of the undercover informant.

The complaint quotes Tatar as telling the undercover operative, "Whether you are or not (FBI), I'm gonna do it. Know why? It doesn't matter to me, whether I get locked up, arrested or get taken away, it doesn't matter. Or I die, doesn't matter, I'm doing it in the name of Allah."

"Allah Akbar," meaning "God is great," was a phrase the men arrested knew well.  According to the federal complaint, an investigation was launched 17 months ago after a photo shop clerk alerted authorities to a video brought in by one of the suspects with "disturbing" content on it.

The video "depicted 10 young men who appeared to be in their 20s shooting assault-style weapons at a firing range in militia-like style while calling for jihad and shouting in Arabic, 'Allah akbar,'" the federal complaint says.

The investigation, through electronic eavesdropping and the confidential informant who had infiltrated the group, soon determined the men were serious in their intent to attack a military base using automatic weapons.

The plot never reached an operational phase, but the alleged cell members had finished their surveillance and selected Fort Dix as their target.

Tatar, along with Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer, 22, Eljvir Duka, 23, Dritan Duka, 28, and Shain Duka, 26, is charged with "plotting to kill as many soldiers as possible" in an armed assault on Fort Dix.  The sixth man, Argon Abdullahu, 24, was arrested on related charges of aiding and abetting the possession of illegal firearms.

Shnewer, regarded as the group's ringleader, said he wanted to kill at least 100 soldiers.

"My intent is to hit a heavy concentration of soldiers...This is exactly what we are looking for. You hit four, five or six Humvees and light the whole place [up] and retreat completely without any losses," he was recorded as saying.

Shnewer, who was born in Jordan, is employed as a Philadelphia cab driver. Eljvir, Dritan and Shain Duka are brothers, all of whom were born in the former Yugoslavia and are illegally residing in the U.S. They run a roofing business together. Abdullahu was also born in the former Yugoslavia and is employed at a Shop-Rite Supermarket.

As for Super Mario's Restaurant, its chef, Joseph Hofflinger, 35, quit today after finding out the news that the restaurant's owner was the father of one of the suspected terrorists.

Video See the Chef and Hear in His Own Words Why He Quit

When asked by reporters as to why he quit, Hofflinger said, "Because I won't work for somebody that has any ties or admission to terrorists." He continued, "My son is in the 82nd Airborne.  I won't work for a place that supports terrorism so I'm out."

This post has been updated.

May 8, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (199)

User Comments

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One great American Terrorist, was McVeigh (ex Army sgt.). He killed how many? He also was connected to the "Army of God". His act was payback for Waco, etc , etc , etc. This is not about Islam. Pick up a book and read.

Posted by: Andrew | May 8, 2007 2:08:37 PM

You folks should read the undercover FBI agent's affidavit about this conspiracy and how it was uncovered - It's very detailed and it's on The Smoking Gun. Read it.

Posted by: Lahoma VanZandt | May 8, 2007 2:09:05 PM

Why must the media insist on not reporting the real story...that these people are terrorist...jihadist! American, wake up!

Posted by: Karen | May 8, 2007 2:11:10 PM

The liberal media first reported that Yogoslavian's were arrested for this terrorist plot. I wasn't fooled though- I knew it would be Muslims for sure!

Posted by: Jeff | May 8, 2007 2:11:45 PM

Oh thanks ABC for mentioning in the last paragraph that they are: "doing it in the name of Allah." Surprized you put it in there at all! IT SHOULD BE IN THE HEADLINE!!! Wake up America, we are under attack from radical fundementalist and their cohorts, the liberal media.

Posted by: WAKE UP! | May 8, 2007 2:12:51 PM

It's time to get tough with these terrorists and put them in their place... LIBERALS won't stand for it, but they are an ignorant minority so who cares? All people who came from the middle east in the last 15 years need to be checked out closely. If they show they have a hatred for our country then they should go back to the country they came from. We should not be tolerant of people who are hear using our resources and hate us...

Posted by: Gary J. | May 8, 2007 2:12:57 PM

Ofcourse it matters they were here illegally!! Each and every person here in the U.S. who are not legal should be rounded up and SENT HOME!! NO if, and, or buts. If we know how many are here, why is so difficult to get rid of them?
Hope it doesn't take another 9/11 for our government to see this!

Posted by: kareng | May 8, 2007 2:13:08 PM

Right on Lance

Posted by: Darkside | May 8, 2007 2:13:27 PM

I hope there is a wake up call in all of this. If al qaeda were to begin targeting our homeland, we're no where close to being prepared.

The recent mall shooter was a radical islamist from the Balkans.

Too many people in this country, and worse, in our government are in denial.

They're at war with us, it appears we're not at war with them.

We need to change our immigration approach and stop importing our enemy.

It's time for the democrats to stop acting like sleazy politicians and start acting like leaders in war time.

Better yet, we all need to stop voting them in to office and we don't need to worry about whether they change. They can go join the enemy at that point for all I care.

The answer lies in all of us, it's time to start doing the right thing. Support leaders who understand what we face.

Posted by: kirk | May 8, 2007 2:13:48 PM

These guys are NOT terrorists. Terrorists attack civilian targets. These morons are spies, saboteurs, Islamic Militants but not terrorists. When you go to war with someone, you probably should expect them to attack your military.

Posted by: Derek | May 8, 2007 2:13:50 PM

6 men killing hundreds of US military personnel?

seems like ABC are dreaming again.

Posted by: leonthepigfarmer | May 8, 2007 2:17:58 PM

Tell me again about "we're fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them over here"? Looks to me like we're still fighting them "over here" after all, despite what the Republicans tell us about Iraq. Also, it looks like John Kerry was right: fighting terrorism IS a law enforcement issue. Congrats to the brave men and women of LE who - ironically - ended up protecting the lives of our soldiers!

Posted by: tom | May 8, 2007 2:18:34 PM

The way this country is headed in 20 years English will be the 3rd most spoken language after Spanish & Arabic...

Posted by: Jeff | May 8, 2007 2:19:03 PM

CNN has reported that several of the six are ILLEGAL ALIENS. Many of the other media don't want to mention that fact..why? Because our illustrious Senators like Kennedy, Reid, Specter are about to reintroduce an illegal alien AMNESTY bill that would allow virtually all 12-20 million illegal aliens currently present with immediate temporary residency, amnesty from prosecution or deportation and a path to citizenship. Let's not forget that the good Senators also want us to provide them with amnesty for all the identity theft/fraud felonies many have committed in order to work here illegally. Let's not forget they also want to let them have access to social security and even in-state college tuition benefits not universally available to all U.S. citizen students. SECURE THE BORDER, ENFORCE THE LAW, NO AMNESTY, NO TEMPORARY RESIDENCY, NO PATH TO CITIZENSHIP. Enough is enough.

Posted by: legalatina | May 8, 2007 2:20:02 PM

If they wanted to attack us, they would, anytime, anyplace. We are wide open. However, nothing has happened. Wow. Isn't that interesting. Just think how easy it would be. Nothing. Stop beating the war drum and read a book

Posted by: Andrew | May 8, 2007 2:21:17 PM

I see alot of people saying Christians are bad, Bush is bad. What does this have to do with the price of rice in China? I really do not understand the comparison. I am strictly agnostic but don't think my Born Again neighbors are plotting to attack a Base or are taking flying lessons. The most important point is WHAT IF THIS REALLY TOOK PLACE? It would be another mini 9/11 in a US military base, at home. It would be painful and humiliating and cause us to be reactionary.

Posted by: Bill | May 8, 2007 2:22:46 PM

Mike Mundy,

All religions are the problem. People are killing each other over ancient books and beliefs which should not survive an elementary school education.

The only difference between fundamentalist islamics and the majority of the christians in this country is that the islamics ACTUALLY BELIEVE what they read in their holy books.

Read the old testament and tell me how peaceful christianity is.

"Christianity preachs total peace and even love of your enemies" - 800 years or so of the inquisitions?

Posted by: Adam | May 8, 2007 2:27:50 PM

Fellow Americans, we have also been attacked by radical US Christian terrorists. What now? Should we arrests all the Christians? The attacks have been growing steadly for 15 years. This is a fact!!!!!!!!!! Ignore it if you want. But please, if you do, just go away. Most likely you'll have nothing to do with the war you help start. Most cowards don't.

Posted by: andrew | May 8, 2007 2:29:28 PM

Sorry - my comments were aimed at Josh, not Mike Mundy. My appologies.

Posted by: Adam | May 8, 2007 2:30:13 PM

Very scary... I live 2 seconds down the street from Fort Dix. Worked on base during 9/11 as well.

When 9/11 happened, the base shut itself down for several days until they could tighten security (before 9/11 you could drive through Fort Dix without being stopped to show ID... you didn't even have to be military to pass through). Prior to 9/11, the base wasn't technically operating... at one point the barracks were being used to house Kosovo refugees. So, it was quite a project for them to upgrade security... it's 1000 times more secure now than it was then. It's just ashame that now they even have to worry about getting food delivered (there are next to no food choices available on base which is why most chose to order off base).

Now Fort Dix is being converted to a Megabase... obviously making it more of a target. Luckily, this plot was able to be halted... but it really makes me wonder if this is just a glance of things to come.

Posted by: Tamara | May 8, 2007 2:30:20 PM

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