The Buffalo six (also known as the Lackawanna 6) is a group of alleged Al-Qaida terrorists and were convicted of "material support" to Al-Qaida. Although as of January 2004 Jaber Elbaneh remains in Yemen custody.
They travelled to Afghanistan in Spring 2001. They were arrested in Lackawanna, New York, near Buffalo, New York in September 2002.
One of the members, Muktar Al-Bakri, sent an obscure e-mail describing an upcoming "big meal" which would have used explosives. Al-Bakri told the FBI he had overheard talk of an attack and had used code because he was afraid Al-Qaida was monitoring his e-mail.
Investigators found a rifle, a telescopic sight, and a cassette tape that investigators say that asked when played, "asks Allah to give Jews and their enablers (U.S.) a black day" in Al-Bakri's house.
All six pleaded guilty in court to terrorism related charges. They were Mukhtar Al-Bakri, Sahim Alwan, Faysal Galab, Shafal Mosed, Yaseinn Taher, and Yahya Goba. Another member of the Lackawanna Cell, named Jaber Elbaneh, is still at large.
Ahmed Hijazi aka Jalal aka Kamal Derwish , incinerated in a car with five others by a Hellfire from a CIA Predator in Yemen 2002 November 3, may have been the ringleader/recruiter.[1]
Yahya Goba and Mukhtar al-Bakri received ten-year prison sentences. Yaseinn Taher and Shafal Mosed received eight-year prison sentences. Sahim Alwan received a nine and a half year sentence. All sentences were for single counts of "providing support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization". In discussing the plea bargain agreements, US prosecutors commented the defendants had cooperated with federal terrorism investigators, providing detailed information on Al-Qaida membership, training, and methods.
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Last updated: 05-13-2005 06:30:53
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04
