UPDATE #1: Added local news video from 10TV reporter Maureen Kocot below.
UPDATE #2: For those not familiar with the terror problem in the Columbus area, I’ve also added below the 5 minute CBN News feature from last October, “Jihad in Central Ohio” (link is to video text; video below).
UPDATE #3: Incredible as it seems, take a gander at my most recent post, “Local Muslim leader defends convicted Columbus Al-Qaeda cell members”.
UPDATE #4: Now that Paul has officially pled guilty, see my wrap-up, "What Columbus Al-Qaeda cell member Christopher Paul pled guilty to".
This is breaking news, but it is being reported today that Columbus Al-Qaeda cell member Christopher “Kenyatta” Paul has agreed to plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction. While two of Paul’s conspirators, Iyman Faris and Nuradin Abdi, have already been convicted on terrorism charges, we also know from court documents in these three cases that there are at least 10 others known to have been involved in the Columbus Al-Qaeda cell that have not yet been charged.
You might remember that several prominent Muslim organizations and self-appointed Islamic spokesmen (CAIR National Vice Chairman Ahmad Al-Akhras included) openly criticized Paul’s April 2007 arrest as evidence of Islamophobia (see Erick Stakelbeck’s CBN News article, “Columbus Al-Qaeda Man Charged, CAIR not pleased”). What is CAIR’s response today? Nothing appears on their website. For Al-Akhras’ comments regarding Christopher Paul and his other convicted terrorist associates, see my FrontPage article, “Hometown Jihad: Getting By With a Little Help from His (Terrorist) Friends”. Oh, and Christopher Paul was the longtime martial arts instructor at Masjid Omar Ibn El Khattab, where Ahmad Al-Akhras attended before fleeing the country earlier this year.
Also recall that local wackademic, Ohio State National Security Studies chair John Mueller has published a book, “Overblown: How Politicians and the Terrorism Industry Inflate National Security Threats, and Why We Believe Them”, and created a cottage industry of touring the country claiming that there is no domestic threat from Al-Qaeda to the United States. No doubt Mr. Mueller is not available today for comment.
Here’s the Associated Press report:
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Court documents say an Ohio man will plead guilty in an alleged plot to bomb overseas U.S. military facilities and European resorts.The Columbus Dispatch report is more specific, saying that Paul has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction. He could face life in prison.
Christopher Paul of the Columbus suburb of Worthington is the last of three Ohio men charged with alleged terrorist activities.
Documents filed Monday in federal court in Columbus say Paul will plead guilty Tuesday to one count of using bombs in a terrorist attack with a possible sentence of 20 years.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment. Paul’s attorney, Jim Gilbert, says the documents speak for themselves.
UPDATE #1: Here’s a video news report by reporter Maureen Kocot courtesy of 10TV CBS News.
UPDATE #2: As a refresher to our local terrorism problem, here’s the CBN News video, “Jihad in Central Ohio” (link is to video text):
