Muslim In Seattle Attacks Jewish Center - Shoots 6 Kills 1 (<em>Homegrown terrorist?</em>) Updated :: Understanding Islam

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July 29, 2006

Muslim In Seattle Attacks Jewish Center - Shoots 6 Kills 1 (Homegrown terrorist?) Updated

Topics: Understanding Islam

[Bumped to top - originally posted last night]

Muslim man shoots evil Jewzzzzzz.jpg [Imaged: Medics rush an injured woman from the scene of the shooting in downtown Seattle, Friday, July 28, 2006, at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)]

Murder weapon: Appears to be 12 guage shotgun; *Shooter reportedly in possession of a copy Qu'ran; *Federal Profiler: "EXPECT MORE OF THIS..."; verified to be a man of Pakistani origin; Single shooter, Islamic Male of possible Pakistani or Lebanese origin, angry at Israel for Middle-Eastern "Crisis;" ... law enforcement sources are maintaining that HAQ was reportedly in possession of a copy of the Qu'ran and possessed Arabic language terrorist documents. (source)

A man Muslim man walked into a Jewish organization Friday afternoon and opened fire, killing one person and injuring at least five others before he was arrested.

[Image: Charged: Naveed Afzal HAQ, 30 (Source NEIN)]

According to witnesses, the gunman claimed to be a Muslim angry at Israel, forced his way through the security door at the Jewish Federation after an employee had punched in her security code.

[...] Staff members said they overheard him saying "'I am a Muslim American, angry at Israel,' before opening fire on everyone," Meislin-Dietrich said. "He was randomly shooting at everyone."

David Gomez, an
FBI assistant special agent in charge of counterterrorism, said investigators believe the gunman targeted the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.

"We believe at this point it's a lone individual acting out antagonism toward this particular organization," Gomez said.

Authorities have been advising synagogues and Jewish groups to be watchful in the weeks since hostilities erupted between Israel and Lebanon.

One person died at the scene of the shooting, and five women ranging in age from 19 to 43 were taken to Harborview Medical Center, three of them in critical condition, Seattle Fire Department spokeswoman Helen Fitzpatrick said. Deanna Nollette, a police spokeswoman, said the deceased was a woman who was shot.

More here...

A "Muslim American" killing American Jews because of Israel? Sounds like there are some Muslims that place the ummah before nationhood. Would we call the killer a Muslim or an Islamist? Was the killer an Islamist or a Muslim turned Islamist because of identification with his ideology instead of that of being an American? How many "American Muslims" are waiting to become Islamists - identifying with the ummah instead of the nation that has provided them citizenship and afforded them the freedom to practice their faith, live freely, and enjoy the many freedoms afforded one who lives in America? Is this act of murder in Seattle an aberation? Time will tell, but caution for non-Muslims and moderate Muslims is warranted.

And while you're reflecting on the questions, remember that there are many secular moderate Muslims who are just as frustrated over the Islamists as are non-Muslims.

So, like on the old TV show and recent movie, "the mission for all of us, should we accept it (and we have no other real choice)," is to figure out how we can know who are the Islamists and who are secular moderate Muslims and loyal citizens of America. There is a not-so-minor caveat we need to take into account - the matter just happens to be time-sensitive - we've got to figure out who's who before it's too late. I suspect, for that, we'll need some help from the moderate members of the ummah. If that sounds like a Catch-22, circular logic, that's because it is! Mission impossible??? Not really, there are a great many moderate Muslims in America and some of them are begining to speak out. Remember, it was a Muslim that turned in the Canadian terrorists.

Related: Belmont Club says - ... all the victims of the Seattle shooting were women, one of whom was pregnant. So now the post comes full circle. It was originally about humanitarianism and war crimes in asymmetric war. Question: was the perp a combatant or a criminal? Question: did he commit a war crime?

Update: According to an investigation conducted by the Northeast Intelligence Network, HAQ might have connections to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and might have attended college in Pennsylvania sometime between 1998 and 2003. Additionally, our law enforcement sources are maintaining that HAQ was reportedly in possession of a copy Qu'ran and possessed Arabic language terrorist documents.

If true, and the NIN information holds up, this is in line with another comment in the same article: "At very least, this is a hate crime against the Jews. At worst, this is... these will be the first shots fired in the war in North America." --Lt. [Name Withheld by request,], Seattle, WA." More updates below in extended post....

29 July 2006: 3:45 a.m. ET Update: "I Hate Israel" said alleged murder suspect Naveed Afzal Haq, 30, pictured above, to a member of the Seattle Joint Terrorism Task Force after his arrest. The task force is assisting in the investigation of Friday's shooting spree. According to official law enforcement sources, HAQ forced his way into the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, 2031 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington at approximately 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Armed with a semiautomatic 9-mm handgun, HAQ shot one receptionist, then ordered her to dial 911. He then took the phone from her and told the police that it was a hostage situation and he wanted us to get our weapons out of Israel, according to a combination of witness and police accounts.

Federation employee Marla Meislin-Dietrich said security videotapes show HAQ shoving his way past another employee who had just entered a pass code to open a security door. "He was armed and he pushed his way in," she said. According to various sournces on the scene, HAQ shouted "I'm a Muslim American; I'm angry at Israel," then and began to fire randomly at the center's employees.

Some of this won't surprise you: (Hat tip - Michelle Malkin)

Haq's father, Mian A. Haq, was a founding member of the Islamic Centre of Tri-Cities in Richland, said center member Youseff Shehadeh. He described the younger Haq as a loner who attended holidays at the center but was barely involved in recent years.

Naveed Haq's parents moved into a new suburb in Pasco less than three years ago after living in nearby Richland for more than a decade, said Maureen Hales, a neighbor. Mian Haq was involved in an Islamic center in Richland, but he did not discuss his religion with his neighbors, said Hales.

She said she had not seen Naveed Haq, but found his parents and his younger brother, Hasan, to be "quite enjoyable." The two families exchanged food, and Maureen Hales said she watches the Haqs' house when they're away.

Naveed Haq lived in an apartment building at 2924 Nassau St. in Everett until about two weeks ago, when he abruptly left, said tenant Chris Richey. The landlady told Richey that Haq was heading to Pakistan. Richie often talked with Haq about guns and politics, though little stuck out. Richey said Haq didn't like President Bush.

Other informative posts on the shooting and jihadi shooters: Riehl World View, Michele Malkin, Jihad Watch

Hat tip - Tommy

Posted by Richard at July 29, 2006 10:56 AM

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