The backgrounds of the two young NJ men who were arrested earlier this week for allegedly plotting to travel to Somalia and kill American troops have been scrutinized, but now the NY Times takes a look at the formative years of Mohamed Mahmood Alessa and Carlos Almonte: "Their stories began like many others: troubled teenagers who scare and mystify their neighbors; run-ins with the police while still in high school; parents who cannot compete with the sense of belonging or purpose their boys find elsewhere." more ›

Two weeks after being arrested for allegedly placing a car bomb in Times Square on May 1, suspect Faisal Shahzad finally appeared in court. The federal courtroom was emptied for a security sweep and reporters were eager for their first glimpse of him. However, as the NY Times reports, "The tension and drama that led up to the brief proceeding, including a sweep of the packed fifth-floor courtroom that cleared mobs of reporters and spectators so the room could be secured, far overshadowed the substance of the nine-minute hearing." more ›

The woman on trial for allegedly shooting at U.S. personnel in Afghanistan was thrown out of the courtroom again today. Aafia Siddiqui — who has urged a judge to use genetic testing to keep Jews off the jury and has repeatedly disrupted the case with dramatic outbursts — got the boot for shouting that her lawyers won't let her testify. more ›

The NYPD confirmed that it raided Queens homes as part of a terrorism investigation—and the NYPD and FBI are briefing Congress right now. Apparently they were tracking a terror suspect; Congressman Peter King (R-Long Island) said, "He was being watched and concern grew as he met with a group of individuals in Queens over the weekend. The FBI went to court late last night for an emergency warrant to conduct the raids this morning." WCBS 2 reports that residents "say it was a blitzkrieg at about 2 a.m. at an address on 41st Avenue near 144th Street. The door to apartment 530 cannot be closed because agents had to ram it open. One of the men who lives in the apartment, who says he was not a target of the search, says he's a self-employed antique dealer." The man said, "They looking for some powder, some different things for making bombs and different things," adding he didn't know the roommates. And the Post's sources say, "The suspected terrorist, described as an ethnic Afghani resident of the Midwest in his 20s — who may have previously lived in Queens — had driven to New York City in recent days and visited multiple apartments in Queens over the weekend." more ›

The four men indicted on charges of a terrorist plot to blow up two Riverdale synagogues and shoot down military planes were arraigned today, pleading not guilty in a Westchester courtroom. Before the judge arrived, one of the defendants, Laguerre Payen, had to be removed from the court when his baggy pants fell down, exposing his boxer shorts. The Haitian-born Payen is a diagnosed schizophrenic, whose attorney said that he is illiterate and does not understand the charges against him. Payen told the judge, "I don't understand, like the stuff the courts talk about." A federal prosecutor said that Payen's behavior is an act, telling the court, "On April 28th, he is on a very clear recording talking about beating the case in a very sophisticated way. It's very different from the way he's talking now in an effort to mislead the court." The four men face life in prison if they are convicted of the eight-count indictment. more ›

With the four men accused of plotting to bomb Bronx synagogues and attack the National Guard base in Newburgh, NY being held in custody without bail, their family and friends have been speaking out about the arrests. The mother of David Williams (pictured) says the government informant—known as "Maqsood"—told her son he'd take care of getting a liver transplant for Williams' dying brother. And Williams' girlfriend defended him to the Daily News, as did the girlfriend of alleged ringleader James Cromitie. Kathleen Baynes said that the informant gave Cromitie "cash, free food, rent money and even bags of marijuana," saying, "This is entrapment. They come and hit a brother who is down and out, and tell him they'll give him the world. Maqsood is no different than a pimp or drug dealer sitting on 42nd St." more ›

More details have emerged about the four men accused of plotting to bomb synagogues in the Bronx and shoot military places at the National Guard bas in Newburgh, NY and their ultimately unsuccessful plan. The men, Onta Williams, 32, James Cromitie, 44, David Williams, 28, and Laguerre Payen, 27, all Newburgh residents who were arrested after planting a 37-pound bomb (actually made of fake materials, provided by an FBI informant) outside one of the synagogues, are described as being Muslim, but the NY Times reports none of them were particularly active in their local mosque. The uncle of Onta Williams said his nephew "was not born Muslim. He's an institutional Muslim... He wasn't raised that way," adding that Onta Williams started following Islam after a stint in jail. more ›

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." more ›