Terror Plot Suspects Allegedly Upset WTC Was Already Attacked

Courtroom sketch of James Cromitie, right, David Williams, second from left, and Onta Williams, left, and Cromitie's lawyer, Vincent Briccetti, second from right, by Elizabeth Williams/AP

Three of the four men who were arrested for allegedly plotting to plant bomb outside two Bronx synagogues and shoot planes at a National Guard base in Newburgh, NY were charged with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction within the United States and conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles. James Cromitie, 55; David Williams, 28; and Onta Williams, 32 appeared in court and were held without bail; assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Snyder said, "It's hard to envisage a more chilling plot to bring murder to a ...community... These are extremely violent men. These people who are eager to bring death to Jews."

Photograph of police officers outside the Riverdale Jewish Center by David Goldman/AP

Snyder also added that the men, along with Laguerre Payen (a Haitian immigrant who will be arraigned later) were "disappointed...that the best target (the World Trade Center) was hit already." Apparently Cromitie wanted see the destruction on TV and say, "I'm the one who did that," and that Williams [was] bragging, boasting he would shoot anyone who tried to stop them." The four suspects were arrested in the Bronx last night, after planting a 37-pound bomb, which was actually made of fake materials. The NY Times reports, "Police officers swooped in and broke the windows on the suspects' black sport utility vehicle."

Cromitie, Williams and Williams are all American-born; they and Payen are described as Muslims and all lived in Newburgh. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said this morning, "They stated that they wanted to commit jihad. They were disturbed about what was happening in Afghanistan and Pakistan, that Muslims were being killed. They were making statements that Jews were killed in this attack and that would be all right — that sort of thing."

Cromitie, allegedly the leader, has 27 arrests in NYC and NY State; his sister told reporters that he wasn't Muslim as far she as she knew (she last spoke to him two years ago), but "they do a little time in jail and they don’t eat pork no more." She also said of her brother, "Right now, to me he’s, like, the dumbest person I ever came in contact with in my life." A neighbor of Onta Williams' expressed shock to WCBS 2, "I was with Onta on Tuesday - you know, we were just drinking beers, doing normal things that people do. I just can't believe that a friend of mine would try to hurt people in the United States."

Officials have emphasized that the men were not working with any other terror groups and that they were independent. Governor Paterson said, "I applaud the efforts of the FBI, the New York Police Department, the New York State Police and other participating investigative agencies in bringing this case to a successful resolution. This case clearly illustrated that the threat of terrorism in New York is persistent... At no time was anyone in danger." And Mayor Bloomberg said, "Sadly, we are reminded peace is fragile, democracy is fragile and we have to be vigilant all the time."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on May 21, 2009 4:15 PM

Comments [rss]

whitecastlerock

That courtroom sketch is just abysmal.

Snoopy

"A neighbor of Onta Williams' expressed shock to WCBS 2, "I was with Onta on Tuesday - you know, we were just drinking beers, ..." Holy shit, I didn't realize that Caroline Kennedy moved.

"but "they do a little time in jail and they don’t eat pork no more." She also said of her brother, "Right now, to me he’s, like, the dumbest person I ever came in contact with in my life." I must assume someone else gives her a sponge bath.

longacre

So they don't eat pork but they drink beers? Does that reduce the number of virgins you get after you martyr yourself?

JacqueMehoff

how did they pay for such items?

inoyourider

Good question- you'd think surface-to-air missiles would be out of the reach of no-good ex-cons....

JacqueMehoff

maybe they put it on lay-away. or a sou sou club.

inoyourider

They probably got a deal because the economy is so bad- 30% off, low apr, no bills for the first 12 months!

Snoopy

"and use anti-aircraft missiles..." Since when was it illegal to own anti-aircraft missiles by civilians? There's no mention in the constitution about it.

longacre

So their ideal target was the World Trade Center, but since it was gone...they plot against an unknown synagogue in the Bronx and an inconsequential military base? I feel like they had some untapped middle ground there.

Mr Mel

They became Muslims in prison, that has to tell you something.

NannyState

They picked up the soap?

books

can someone explain if they were

"disturbed about what was happening in Afghanistan and Pakistan"

WHY they wanted to 'kill jews'

whats the connection between the two?

something is bs - either the quotes from the proseucutor, or the media or some thing in between, because that doesnt make sense - we're not even at war in Pakistan?!

gimme the truth...

Dirk

It doesn't have to make sense. For some people, it's always the Jews' fault.

books

probably because they get confused with israelis

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1086339.html

Rocknrope

For those who thought these guys were just harmless, trashtalking losers, it sounds like they were pretty legit, since they PLANTED A BOMB they thought was real, and were busted afterwards.

Politburo

True, but they were obviously dumb enough to not realize they were sold a fake bomb and fake missiles.

They were also described as "extremely violent", but had no guns or other weapons when they were arrested (without incident).

They certainly aren't harmless, but as with the Fort Dix case, the authorities seem to be exaggerating their abilities. I mean, "it's hard to envision a more chilling plot"? Really?

rayburn

Not to make light of a dismal situation, but does anyone else see shades of Tracy Jordan here? These clowns really seem pathetic. In fact when you read accounts of the 9/11 terrorists, a lot of them were hapless as well. The difference was that the 9/11 group had a few guys who had their sh*t together. Plus they had financial backing of Al Qaeda. Could you imagine if the Newburgh wackos actually had made contact with Al Qaeda? They might have succeeded....scary.

inoyourider

I'm sure all they really needed was an afterschool program and someone who listen to their problems.

inoyourider

Hang 'em high.

Preferably in public.

Probably affiliated with the scumbags at the Nation of Islam.

Papercutninja

Cue the idiots who are going to call this entrapment.

farleft

Cue the idiots who are going to start bashing Muslims and the Nation of Islam.

inoyourider

Cue the ignorant lefties to start defending the scumbags at the NOI.

farleft

Cue inoyourider to be a conservative, ignorant bigot.

inoyourider

If that means knowing what I'm talking about, then by all means.

If that means thinking all the NOI needs is a big hug and a tax break and a scumbag lawyer then I'll let the far lefties of the world handle it.

farleft

Unfortunately for you, it means you don't know what you're talking about. In case you didn't know, being ignorant and being a bigot are not compliments.

If you think Christian organizations should get tax breaks but Islamic ones should not then you really are a bigot.

BTW, I'm an atheist, so I am no great defender or supporter of Islam or any other religion for that matter.

inoyourider

That makes two of us atheists, and one of you ignoramuses.

I have a pretty well informed idea of what the NOI (at least in Harlem) is about.

In case you didn't know, they're not about peace love and understanding.

farleft

Oh, OK. You live in Harlem. That explains a lot. My bad.

inoyourider

And you've probably only read about it in books, and think entitlement is a grand idea...maybe with some positive encouragement as a youngster these people who hate us would learn to love instead....

farleft

Yeah...That's exactly what they need. Positive encouragement. Way to go, Michelle Pfifer. You just saved a bunch of 'Dangerous Minds' from becoming terrorists. Maybe in the next post you can suggest a woman in a cat costume run around Gotham fighting crime.

inoyourider

Exactly, you should know as well as anyone we can't hold these guys accountable for what they did. It was the failure of the system. They just need to be hugged and given their entitlement money- that will make them nice normal citizens.