NEW YORK MAN WHO TRIED T JOIN AL-QAEDA RECEIVES 25 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Monday, April 20, 2015
Long Island, New York, Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Attempting to Join Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

Defendant Attempted to Travel to Yemen to Join al-Qaeda Affiliate, Assist Co-Conspirator’s Efforts to Join The Terrorist Group and Destroy Evidence of Terrorism Offenses

Earlier today at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York, Marcos Alonso Zea, also known as “Ali Zea,” an American citizen and resident of Brentwood, New York, was sentenced to 25 years in prison following his Sept. 9, 2014, guilty plea to attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, also known as Ansar al-Sharia (collectively AQAP), and obstruction of justice.

The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch of the Eastern District of New York, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, Assistant Director in Charge Diego Rodriguez of the FBI’s New York Field Office and Commissioner William J. Bratton of the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Beginning in the fall of 2011, Zea planned to travel overseas in order to wage violent jihad against the perceived enemies of Islam, which included the government of Yemen and its allies.  In furtherance of his plot, on Jan. 4, 2012, Zea boarded a flight at John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in Queens, New York, to London, en route to Yemen.  Zea was not permitted to travel onward from London, however, and was returned to the United States by British authorities.  Zea was interviewed and closely monitored by investigators following his return.  Despite being prevented from traveling to Yemen, Zea continued to plot, including by encouraging and supporting his co-conspirator, Justin Kaliebe, who also was planning to travel to fight jihad.  In January 2013, Kaliebe was arrested at JFK while attempting to travel to Yemen to join AQAP.  Months later, after learning that he too was under investigation, Zea caused electronic media on his computer to be destroyed in an effort to obstruct the investigation.  Notwithstanding his efforts, a forensic examination of Zea’s electronic media subsequently conducted by investigators revealed an assortment of violent Islamic extremist materials, including issues of Inspire magazine, part of AQAP’s English-language media operations.

“Marcos Alonso Zea presents a chilling reminder of the danger presented to the United States by homegrown terrorists,” said U.S. Attorney Lynch.  “Born, raised and schooled in the United States, the defendant nevertheless betrayed his country by attempting to join al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, assisting a co-conspirator’s attempt to join that terrorist group, and, after learning he was under investigation, attempting to destroy evidence of his guilt.  We will continue to work tirelessly to protect our national security from all enemies, both foreign and domestic.”  U.S. Attorney Lynch expressed her grateful appreciation to all the members of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the NYPD’s Intelligence Division for their work on the investigation.

“One of our highest priorities is to protect our country by identifying, disrupting and holding accountable those who provide or attempt to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin.  “This sentence serves unambiguous notice that attempting to travel abroad to engage in such conduct has significant consequences.”

“The threat from al-Qaeda is real, look no further than Marcos Zea,” said Assistant Director in Charge Rodriguez.  “Zea betrayed our country, attempting to first join al-Qaeda.  When that failed, he helped others wage jihad.  We continue working relentlessly to disrupt the plans of those who look to do us harm.”

“The New York City Police Department will continue to work closely with our federal counterparts to identify and arrest homegrown terrorists like Marcos Alonso Zea, and ensure all extremists bring no harm to American soil, especially here in New York City,” said Commissioner Bratton.

After being arrested in January 2013, Zea’s co-conspirator Kaliebe subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to provide material support to terrorists and one count of attempting to provide material support to AQAP.  Kaliebe is pending sentencing by U.S. District Judge Denis R. Hurley of the Eastern District of New York.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth D. DuCharme, John J. Durham and Michael P. Canty of the Eastern District of New York, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Kelli Andrews of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

SECRETARY KERRY'S REMARKS ON DEATH OF LUKE SOMERS DURING ATTEMPTED RESCUE

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 
Death of Luke Somers
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 6, 2014

The murder of Luke Somers by his captors during a rescue operation is a reminder of the brutality of the terrorists of Al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). They have again demonstrated their cruelty and their disdain for human life, freedom, and the Yemeni people whom they terrorize daily.

Earlier this week, AQAP released a video announcing that Luke would be murdered within 72 hours. Along with other information, there was a compelling indication that Luke’s life was in immediate danger, and so we recommended that the President authorize an attempt to rescue Luke. Tragically, Luke and a foreign national hostage were killed by their captors during the course of that operation.

Even in our grief, we couldn't be more proud of the brave men and women of the U.S. military who twice risked their lives in operations to try and bring Luke home safely. We also appreciate the efforts of the dedicated intelligence, law enforcement, and diplomatic professionals who supported these operations, and we are particularly grateful to the Yemeni government, under the leadership of President Hadi, for their critical and supportive role in trying to liberate this young American from unfathomable captivity, and for their enduring partnership in combating the scourge of AQAP.

AQAP knows how to hate, they know how to murder, and now they have robbed a family of an idealistic young photojournalist who went to Yemen to practice his calling and document the lives of ordinary Yemenis. As a parent, I know there are no words that can assuage the loss that Luke's family has suffered, or the anguish of the family of the second hostage who was killed. There's no way to wipe away their pain. But Teresa and I both pray that they can find some small solace in knowing that the United States government and all of our people grieve with them, and that there were brave Americans in uniform willing to lay down their own lives so that they had a chance to live. We also pray for the families of all the innocents who are held against their will, whose safe return we work towards every day.

WHITE HOUSE READOUT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CALL WITH YEMEN PRESIDENT HADI

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

October 17, 2014

Readout of the President’s Call with President Hadi of Yemen

President Obama called President Abdo Rabu Mansour Hadi of Yemen today to reaffirm the United States’ strong support for his government and for the people of Yemen as they work to achieve meaningful change through the country’s political transition and economic reform process.  They discussed the efforts of the Yemeni Government and people to move forward from the recent violence across Yemen that is jeopardizing a peaceful transition.  President Obama recognized the importance of President Hadi continuing his leadership in pursuit of Yemen’s political and economic reform process, including drafting a new constitution, launching the voter registration effort, and holding elections.  The President congratulated President Hadi on the nomination of a new Prime Minister, in line with the September 21 Peace and National Partnership Agreement, and expressed support for President Hadi’s efforts to lead implementation of the agreement, the recommendations of the National Dialogue, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative.  The Presidents agreed all parties should come together to deescalate the conflict, form a government that represents Yemen’s diverse communities, and implement the transition.  The Presidents also reiterated their commitment to the bilateral partnership to counter the shared threat posed by al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

SEC. OF DEFENSE PANNETA WARNS AMERICA TO REMAIN VIGILANT REGARDING TERRORIST ATTACKS

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Panetta: U.S. Must Stay Vigilant Against Terrorist Attacks
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 8, 2012 - A recent attempt by Yemeni-based terrorists to plant an explosive device on an airliner bound for the United States shows the nation needs to remain vigilant against new acts of terrorism, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.

In a plot whose details may never be fully known, U.S. and Yemeni operatives last month disrupted the plans of a bomber affiliated with al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, to detonate a plastic explosive device aboard a commercial aircraft.

"What this incident makes clear is that this country has to continue to remain vigilant against those who would seek to attack this country," Panetta said during a news conference yesterday. "And we will do everything necessary to keep America safe."

On Air Force One today, White House spokesman Jay Carney said President Barack Obama, who was briefed on the operation in early April, is pleased with the success of intelligence and counterterrorism officials in foiling the attempt by al-Qaida to use the explosive device.

"It is indicative of the kind of work that our intelligence and counterterrorism services are performing regularly to counter the threat posed by al-Qaida in general, and AQAP in particular," Carney said. "At no time were Americans in danger as a result of this."
During an interview this morning on NBC's "Today," John Brennan, chief White House counterterrorism advisor, said international cooperation was key to the operation's success.

"It took very close cooperation with our international partners," Brennan said. "This is something that we have really emphasized over the past many years -- working very closely with our Yemeni partners -- because al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula poses a serious threat to us."

Having the intelligence and being able to take action before any IEDs can reach an airplane or an airport, he added, is instrumental in disrupting such attacks.

According to news reports, the IED was plastic, similar to the one Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to use on Christmas Day 2009 on Northwest Airlines flight 253, en route from Amsterdam to Detroit. AQAP claimed credit for that attempted attack.

"AQAP's bomb maker, Ibrahim al-Asiri, has demonstrated real proficiency as far as concealment methods as well as the materials that are used in these IEDs," Brennan said.
The FBI is examining the IED to see what kind of modifications or refinements may have been made, he added.

The United States also adapts its countermeasures, Brennan said.
"Whatever we learn from this IED, we're going to ensure that it's going to be incorporated into the measures that we take at airports, as well as any other avenues of approach that the would-be terrorists would take," the president's counterterrorism advisor said.
Brennan said no one has to worry about the IED or the would-be bomber.
"This is still in a sensitive stage," he added. "We're working very closely with those partners. We want to protect sources and methods, as well as operational equities. But neither the device nor the would-be bomber poses a threat."

Now, Brennan added, "we're taking additional measures in the event that there are other efforts out there on the part of al-Qaida to try to evade security."

In New Delhi, today, on the last segment of her trip to Asia, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the thwarted terrorist attack is on the minds of U.S. and Indian officials.

Both governments "know the tragedies and losses that come with terrorism on our soil," she told reporters.

"We have increased our cooperation between India and the United States," she added, and we're going to continue to do everything we can not only to prevent terrorists from carrying out their evil acts of violence, but also to try to convince people not to be recruited into terrorism, which is very much of a dead end, literally and figuratively, when it comes to pursuing any kind of political or ideological aims."
The plot itself indicates that the terrorists will keep trying, she said.

"They keep trying to devise more and more perverse and terrible ways to kill innocent people," the secretary of state added. "And it's a reminder as to why we have to remain vigilant at home and abroad in protecting our nation and in protecting friendly nations and peoples like India and others."