Muslim Boston Man Killed Holding Knife Was Planning Beheading, Officials Say

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Slate

On Tuesday, 26-year-old Usaama Rahim was shot and killed in Boston by a police officer and FBI agent after he allegedly threatened them with a knife when approached for questioning. On Wednesday, anonymous officials told the Boston Globe that Rahim and another suspect (David Wright, arrested in the nearby city of Everett) were planning a gruesome imminent attack:

“We believe the intent was to behead a police officer,” one official said Wednesday morning. “We knew the plot had to be stopped. They were planning to take action Tuesday.”

The other official said Boston police and the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force were aware of the plot because of intelligence that had been gathered, and the suspects had been under surveillance for several weeks.

The officials did not say whether they suspect the knife Rahim is said to have used to threaten police—which has an eight-inch blade—was to be used in the planned crime.



Read more: http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/06/03/usaama_rahim_beheading_plan_boston_police_fbi_killed_suspect_allegedly_planning.html

[Fred Sanders]

1. The harassment of Muslim youth by American officials is exactly what ISIS wants.

The message from ISIS is "you will never be accepted in America", so why not do something drastic? And then there is the FBI entrapping anyone with a weak mind thinking like that with promise of gifts and glory.....the police do not always tell the truth, regrettably.

"One 'official' said" means this is not a journalistic article, it is more internet tripe, meant for some Internet Outrage Consumption.

Why is American law enforcement and media helping ISIS messaging by entrapment methods? More Americans have been murdered in one day by other Americans, than ever in the history of ISIS - 4.

I do not get it. The same folks who seem so rightly mistrustful of American law enforcement are equally trustful of the same law enforcement when it comes to "Muslim terrorism plots".....strange dichotomy.

[Schema Thing]

2. And then there's the people who will take action to behead other people

This guy could very well be one of those people.


What, you're so blinded by agenda that you think it can't happen? That you think you know the intent of this guy OR the investigators/police? Take that level of crazy elsewhere.

[cosmicone]

5. What entrapment?

No matter what the enticement, a reasonable person would not venture out to behead someone or commit a terrorist act. A reasonable person could possibly be entrapped into selling drugs, laundering money, being a lookout or other minor crimes but "I was entrapped by FBI to behead a police officer" is baloney.

[Fred Sanders]

7. Ever heard of the police tactic known as "The Mr. Big" sting?

How The FBI Created a Terrorist..and then arrested him.

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/03/16/howthefbicreatedaterrorist/

"Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the FBI has arrested dozens of young men like Osmakac in controversial counterterrorism stings. One recent case involved a rudderless 20-year-old in Cincinnati, Ohio, named Christopher Cornell, who conspired with an FBI informant — seeking “favorable treatment” for his own “criminal exposure” — in a harebrained plot to build pipe bombs and attack Capitol Hill. And just last month, on February 25, the FBI arrested and charged two Brooklyn men for plotting, with the aid of a paid informant, to travel to Syria and join the Islamic State. The likelihood that the men would have stepped foot in Syria of their own accord seems low; only after they met the informant, who helped with travel applications and other hurdles, did their planning take shape."

[cosmicone]

24. That is not entrapment

Unless they had an inner desire to bomb capitol hill or to travel to Syria to join ISIS, they would not have fallen for it.

I wish there were more such cases to serve as a deterrent.

[d_legendary1]

56. It is if you're desperate

In 2007 a group known as the liberty city seven were arrested and charged with acts of terror against the United States. The FBI paid those guys to act like terrorist just so they could arrest them and charge them as terrorist.

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/liberty-city-seven-trial-travesty-6363384

They put a few desperate people in jail just to prove to the world that we are winning the war against terror despite there being no evidence (other than what the FBI planted) that these guys were serious about blowing up the Sears tower in Chicago.

Fred Sanders is right. How do we know the FBI is doing the same thing all over again, this time with ISIS instead of Al-K-Duh?

[cosmicone]

60. I don't believe that no matter how desperate one is

one can be enticed to commit terrorist acts without wanting to carry them out in the first place.

No matter how desperate, no amount of money will make me get involved with murdering someone, let alone innocent people.

[Fred Sanders]

66. Then you have failed to grasp the legal definition of "entrapment". It is complex.

[d_legendary1]

71. You didn't read the article, did you?

Its much easier to say "No rational human being..." and fuck the circumstances that got them locked up. These guys had NO PLANS to carry out anything. The didn't even kill anybody. They were paid to pledge an oath to AL-K-DUH and were arrested on terrorist charges. Then a kangaroo court followed and after three tries were sentenced to prison time.

I know your life is hunky-dory and wouldn't consider doing such a thing. But for the ones that never made it through high school they aren't so lucky.

In short I would not be surprised if this were a ploy to re-up the Patriot Act with more draconian measures.

[cosmicone]

72. I have done more than just read the article

I have listened to the wiretaps and the guys clearly talk about beheading a cop (in code words like separating head from shoulder of a man in blue)

These were terrorists and the cops were right to shoot and kill. Good riddance.

[d_legendary1]

75. The cops were in the right to shoot and kill?

What happened to due process? Last I checked we live in AMERICA and we have this thing called the CONSTITUTION that guarantees everyone a fair trial to confirm that this person was in fact a terrorist.

So you're okay with the cops dispensing street justice with no trial?

Wow...just wow...

[cosmicone]

77. He attacked the cops -- he could have dropped the knife and surrendered

right? RIGHT?

[d_legendary1]

81. Yeah cuz a knife wielding suspect in front of a bunch of cops and the FBI

Always means shoot first and ask questions later.

[geek tragedy]

80. there is no due process right to charge at cops with a giant knife

and escape the logical consequences.

[d_legendary1]

82. Really? How come the Chicago police department took one down

a couple of hours ago and this guy in Boston gets shot? And this that the didn't have the FBI's help!

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/06/03/police-knife-wielding-robbery-suspect-in-custody/

[geek tragedy]

83. because he didn't charge at them with the knife in hand? nt

[d_legendary1]

84. So robbing a dozen places at knife point (armed and dangerous) gets you arrested but

but attempting to assault officers and the FBI gets you shot?

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKAY THEN!!!!

[geek tragedy]

85. yes, trying to kill police with a knife means they will shoot you in self-defense.

self-defense is not a punitive measure.

[d_legendary1]

86. I guess if you're labled a terrorist armed and dangerous takes

on a different meaning.

[geek tragedy]

87. well, running at cops with a 9" blade will get you shot regardless

of your reputation.

but, given this guy was heard on wiretaps aspiring to behead a police officer, they were probably not inclined to take chances

[d_legendary1]

88. You mean like this guy:

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/04/03/suicidal-man-with-knife-taken-into-custody-outside-emerson-hospital/

"As police approached, he pulled out a knife.

After about 90 minutes of negotiating with the man, police said the man surrendered peacefully."

I guess if you're a terror suspect and approach the cops its open season on your ass.

[geek tragedy]

89. No, not like that guy.

That guy did not advance towards police, weapon in hand.

[d_legendary1]

90. He pulled a knife on a police officer

According to your answers he should have automatically been shot (self defense isn't punitive). The difference is that one guy was talked down and the other was shot. Are we gonna nit pick on which cirumstanaces require bullets and which don't? Cuz now you're measuring straws.

[geek tragedy]

91. Are parked cars as dangerous as moving ones? nt

[d_legendary1]

92. That depends on the hill you're standing on. NT

[PersonNumber503602]

94. How would have you handled the situation if a man with a 9 inch knife

advanced toward you or someone else in an aggressive manner? And let's say you also had knowledge that he has expressed interest in using a knife to cause harm. What would be your approach to this situation?

[d_legendary1]

98. If I were the cops or the FBI

I would have called in a SWAT team to take in a suspected terrorist. Who in their right mind decides to pull over a suspect and ask them about their alleged plot to behead cops? Great way to piss the suspect, don't ya think?

[PersonNumber503602]

101. I'm not sure sending in a group heavily armed storm troopers would work out much better

In fact, that's a good way to escalate a situation that may not require escalation. I see it like this, the suspect would have reacts the same way even if swat came in. The results would have very likely been the same. However, if the suspect was not in the frame of mind to fight to the death, then having two guys approach him in a less hostile manner is the preferred method that is less likely escalate the situation.

[lewebley3]

6. Islam needs some reformation: Just the Catholic church did!

[nichomachus]

76. A lot of pretty gruesome things

Happened during that "reformation." And the Catholic Church wasn't really reformed. It's still the corrupt cesspit it always was.

[lewebley3]

99. Agreed: The problem with Islam and the Catholic church is that it is male dominated

[7962]

9. Well then maybe they'll GET the "message".

Come here and spew your crap and threaten people, you go to jail or the grave. Good riddance

[rollin74]

19. +1000

good riddance indeed

[Nuclear Unicorn]

65. "I do not get it."

Here it is barely June and already we may have our winner for Understatement of the Year for 2015.

[cosmicone]

3. Good riddance n/t

[blackspade]

4. I don't believe a word of this crap.

This doesn't pass the smell test.

Sounds like a more 'plausible' justification for a shooting rather than the usual "I felt threatened."
And the M$M gets to ramp up the fear factor about 'domestic' Muslim terrorists, never mind all the right wing kooks running around actually threatening law enforcement.

[7962]

8. Yeah, it'd be different if Islamists had actually attacked anyone before......

Oh wait, its happened MANY times, even beheading!
Screw him, he got what he deserved.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

10. "Martyrdom by Cop"

He didn't get what he deserved.

He got what he wanted.

If you keep approaching cops with a weapon in hand, expect bad things to happen.

[7962]

12. Your last sentence pretty much says it all.

Although one's "martyrdom" would sure be wasted getting it this way!

[blackspade]

13. And RW terrorist have never attacked anyone before.....

Right?

I swear, the discontinuity in some people's responses to police killings is stunning.
You have no idea what this person 'deserved.'

[geek tragedy]

20. no one knows the facts yet.

if the police report is true, then this was a good shoot and addition by subtraction

but that's usually the case with police reports, which often turn out to be untrue.

[Judi Lynn]

27. Exactly. Completely absurd. He planned to take his knife, kill the heavily armed cop, behead him.

Ridiculously stupid to imagine anyone would swallow that.

New low in insulting the public's intelligence.

[geek tragedy]

28. Islamist terrorists beheaded a British soldier in the streets of London. Several more plots

just like this were disrupted in Europe.

This is far from absurd. That's the level of monstrosity one encounters in the ISIS crowd. ISIS ideology turns men into animals.

A dead cop can't draw his gun.

[7962]

30. If you read the story, thats NOT what it says.

It plainly states that there was a "plot to behead a policeman". Not THAT policeman. THAT policeman came to arrest him for the PLOT, which they plainly state "had to be stopped". The beheading was to occur at a later time but the police cut off those plans.

[Nye Bevan]

64. +1. Islamic extremists beheading people? Who ever heard of such nonsense? (nt)

[sofa king]

67. I'll bet anything their information is secret.

Sorry peeps, that guy was a very bad egg and we have the proof!

No you can't see that proof. That would be telling.

[leftynyc]

11. Glad he's dead

and the people of MA don't have to pay to feed and house him for the rest of his miserable life. For those not believing he was dangerous, your skepticism would ring more realistic if there weren't already plenty of Muslims actually beheading people.

[blackspade]

14. "plenty of Muslims actually beheading people"

And how many would that be?
What about the 'plenty' of Christians that have killed doctors and nurses?
Or the 'plenty' of Christians that have blown up children?

All we have in this case is that there is another man dead at the hands of police with little information regarding what actually happened.

I for one am not glad he is dead. Dead people can't be questioned as to motives, accomplices, etc.

[leftynyc]

23. FFS

WHY does every single story having to do with Muslims bring out the "but Christians are the same or worse" crap? Are you denying there are Muslims out there beheading people? Why do you feel the need to deflect with bullshit about a different religion? Do you immediately jump into any story about some Christians with a story about Muslims?

[7962]

29. "Do you immediately jump into any story about some Christians with a story about Muslims?" +1M!

The likely answer would be "Oh HELL no!"
Yet some will go back centuries to refer to the Crusades as some attempt to equate whats going on now. "Christians are bad people too!"
Same with all the Jew-bashing. Cant remember the last time I read of Jewish plots to bring down airliners, bomb public events, murder cartoonists, etc etc.

[leftynyc]

31. It just proves Bill Maher

was right - over and over and over again. Islam gets a special pass. I remember how pissed so many were here when Maher made the remark - you would think they would do more to prove him wrong.

[blackspade]

37. Islam gets no pass.

Just to be clear on my feelings about religion:
They are all cesspits of cynical corruption bent on exerting social control over the many by a few who consider themselves to be touched by the gods.
Islam is not special in the murderous cacophony that makes up the constellation of historical and modern religions.

[leftynyc]

41. Then why the constant need

(not in particular you, DU in general) to bring up totally unrelated actions from a different religion whenever a story about Muslims comes up? No pass, my ass.

[blackspade]

34. What in the hell are you talking about?

Are you saying that Christian extremists haven't shot doctors and cops, blown up children, and flown planes into buildings in the last twenty years?
Muslims do not have a corner market on murderous lunatics in this country by a long shot.

We know next to nothing about the man shot by the cops, but you have bought, hook line and sinker, the M$M narrative that he somehow had no right to due process, and that he 'deserved' to die.

[7962]

43. gee, compare the instances. Compare the numbers. Apples and oranges.

I guess you're gonna count the guy who flew his little plane into the IRS bldg as a "christian extremist"?

[blackspade]

32. FFS indeed.

It is about extremism.
You asked this: "Are you denying there are Muslims out there beheading people?"
Wrong question.
Did this guy behead someone? No.
So connecting this story to actual beheadings is all about fearmongering.
He may have planned to behead someone, but given the info provided in this poorly written and research 'article' saying he deserved to die is way OTT.

[TheCowsCameHome]

33. So let's wait until he beheads someone?

The guy had been under 24/7 surveillance for a while now, along with other acquaintances, and probably for good reason.

He didn't have to come at the cops with a knife.

Now he's dead, and he never even got to be a martyr.

[blackspade]

35. Did I say "So let's wait until he beheads someone?"

Or did you think that putting words in my mouth would get you a pat on the back from the rest of the authoritarian 'war on terror' crowd?

[TheCowsCameHome]

36. You didn't answer my question.

But then, I'm not surprised.

Better he was stopped before he had a chance to carry out his plans, dontcha think?

[blackspade]

38. It was a stupid question.

Why would you wait for him to commit the act?
And we don't know what his 'plans' were. All we have is this shitty article telling us what they may have been.

But by all means trumpet his death to the heavens as a victory for 'Merca over the barbarians at the gate.

[TheCowsCameHome]

39. Thanks for the stupid reply.

[blackspade]

40. Well, ask a stupid question....

[leftynyc]

42. Why bring up Christians?

Why the constant need to bring up something thoroughly unrelated unless your intention is not to dismiss or diminish what happened here?

[blackspade]

45. How is it unrelated?

Extremism is extremism no matter what religion.
Islam is not a solo pit of murderous intent in the world.
When a Christian fanatic murders a doctor, does the M$M trumpet his religion? No, he is described as crazy or as having a heartfelt religious conviction that overcame his common sense.
None of that here. "He was Muslim!" "he had a knife!" He planned a beheading!" "Fear the other!"
I have no idea how a comparison between the M$M and general public's response to religious extremism dismisses or diminishes this story. If anything it underscores the intentional hypocrisy surrounding religious extremism in this country.

[leftynyc]

46. Please link me to where

you brought up an issue with Muslims when the story was about something Christians did. I'm sure there must be a link proving you're not a complete hypocrite. You can pretend all you like that there aren't many thousands of jihadis right now wreaking havoc all over the fucking globe but you're certainly free to keep your head in the sand about it.

[PersonNumber503602]

95. I've read a couple posts in which you mentioned Christians and RW nuts

As if that somehow relevant to this. First, these Islamist are right-wing nuts themselves, but based on the context I'm taking it that you're referring specifically to our RW Christian nuts.

If the FBI pulled over a hard core religious anti-government type named Billy-Bob because they had a recorded conversation of him discussing blowing up a federal building or a abortion clinic or whatever, and then as a result it ended up with him being killed. Would you be holding the same doubts based on nothing but assumptions that something doesn't smell right?

I know I wouldn't. I would, of course, want the entire situation to be investigated and looked in to. As others have said, the FBI has been known to create plots themselves and then find people to move them along. But I would expect some sort of evidence of that before assuming that was the case. I also wouldn't knee-jerk defend the armed person who was advancing toward the police. I can't think of many situation where that would be considered acceptable for anyone.

[spinbaby]

15. I was getting a tire fixed this morning

Fox News was on. I'd normally ask them to change it, but I was wrangling a toddler and only half paying attention to the TV. In the short time I was there, the only story on Fox seemed to be that gangs of Muslim terrorists were beheading cops in Boston.

[Sunlei]

16. the harassment by fbi & the local police, IMO pushes those thoughts & words into a final action

Just what IS wants!!

If someone wants to go join IS, let them go. Drive them to the airport, buy them a ticket! No coming back.

If someone threatens (with proof, NOT a FBI sting set-up) to "behead a cop" arrest them and charge them with a crime.

[geek tragedy]

17. they did try to arrest him, he responded with violence*

*according to police reports, hopefully they'll release the video

[Sunlei]

21. He "suicided by cop". They need to release the video. Still I think the 'fbi methods' need change.

[geek tragedy]

22. they are planning to release it , when the DA says it's ok

Doesn't appear to be a suicide by cop, more like "try to take one of them with me" type of event.

[rollin74]

18. good on the cops then

[TheCowsCameHome]

25. It looks like his plans were changed,

fortunately.

[hughee99]

26. Well, if an anonymous source said it was true, it must be.

I'm not sure what happened, but I lend exactly zero credibility to the anonymous source.

[leftynyc]

44. Well, perhaps you'll believe this

A Boston man whom police fatally shot after he waved a knife at officers was not on the phone at the time of the shooting and was not shot in the back, as reported by the suspect's brother, according to clergy members who met with authorities Wednesday to watch surveillance video of the incident.

Police killed the alleged terror suspect on a Boston street Tuesday, officials said. Video purportedly shows Usaama Rahim, 26, wielding a large military-style knife.



http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/03/us/boston-police-shooting/index.html

It appears this IS video and it's been seen by people other than the police.

[uppityperson]

47. Thanks for that article, it makes these claims even more suspicious, want to see the video

A Boston man fatally shot by police after he waved a knife at officers was working with another suspect on multiple plots involving attacks on government officials and police officers, including possible beheadings, according to officials. It's unclear whether the plots were operational and no attack was imminent.

So their plotting was not "possible", not necessarily operational and not imminent. Good to arrest people before they start doing bad things. But killing them is not.

Yes, it also says the part quoted below, but I need to see the video because those exact same words have been used before and proven false when the video is shown.

Evans, the police commissioner, said the shooting occurred about 7 a.m. Tuesday after officers and FBI agents confronted Rahim, who suddenly turned around with a large black knife and lunged at officers and federal agents. The officers had not drawn their weapons at that point.

The officers retreated and ordered the man to put down the weapon before they opened fire, Evans said. The shooting was captured by surveillance video and observed by witnesses.

[leftynyc]

49. It makes what claims suspicious?

That he had a weapon? That he brandished it to the police? That his idiot iman brother claimed he was shot in the back? What part of there is video of the event - and it's not just the cops who have seen it - is hard to understand?

[uppityperson]

50. "They were planning to take action Tuesday" vs "It's unclear whether the plots were operational and

"It's unclear whether the plots were operational and no attack was imminent."

There is a huge difference between "they were planning to take action Tuesday" and "unclear whether plots were operational and no attack was imminent".

Also "suddenly turned around with a large black knife and lunged at officers", unless on video and viewable by me, has been used by other cops wrongly. For example...
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=04c_1292784439

"ordered the man to put down the weapon before they opened fire" has also been used wrongly. See Tamir Rice.

"Video purportedly shows" viewed by unnamed sources = show us the video and let us see for ourselves.

[leftynyc]

51. Oh - so let me get this straight

It's not enough the cops have the video, it's not enough that neighborhood clergy have seen the video, it's not enough that the head of the Urban League has seen the video (and IS named). It has to be seen by YOU or it's bullshit. Have I got that right?



http://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2015/06/03/police-man-shot-dead-lunged-at-police-officer-fbi-agent

[Renew Deal]

52. That's the way it works for some people

If it doesn't fit the narritive, it cannot be true. Kind of like climate change deniers.

[uppityperson]

69. I thought the " narrative" on Tamir Rice skewed his shooting was ok, then I saw the vid and it

was obviously not. I read of John Williams shooting in Seattle, then saw the dashcam bid and it became obvious it was bad. I read of a man trying to take a police officer's taser during a struggle and being shot to death, then I saw the video and the cops lies became apparent.

Trying to equate my distrust of police narrative which had been proven wrong over and over and over in the same category as those who deny the science behind catastrophic goal climate change is very odd, to say the least.

I would be glad to see the video and see if the police were telling the truth or not.

[Renew Deal]

70. I wasn't talking about you.

It's a common problem whether this case, 9/11, Sandy Hook, etc.

[uppityperson]

53. Once I see the video, I will make up my mind. Are you saying police are always to be trusted in what

they say?

Tamir Rice and John William's videos were viewed by police and their misrepresentations became clear once they were released to the public. I won't make up my mind until I see it. They may be accurate in what they say, but history shows that is not always the case.

You seem to be trying to insult me, and not address my points.

There is a huge difference between "they were planning to take action Tuesday" and "unclear whether plots were operational and no attack was imminent".

[wingzeroday]

57. The video

I hope the video is made available to the general public soon and not just select individuals.

Although I understand the reasoning behind only currently showing the video to religious leaders from the individuals community as well as to various other local leaders and activists the video should be shown to the public as well.
In the linked case (unrelated to the Tuesday shooting) they did release the video to the general public a couple of weeks later.


http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/04/10/investigators-release-video-of-boston-police-officer-shot-in-face/

[leftynyc]

63. Don't put words in my mouth

I NEVER said to just believe the police and you know it. This isn't just the police. This includes neighborhood clergy, the head of the Urban League and other community leaders telling you what they saw. It most certainly DOES appear that in this case, the repulsive swine WAS planning on doing harm (his co-conspirator is talking) and giving that loathsome Geller exactly what she was looking for. I despise him for that alone.

[uppityperson]

68. That was a question to you, not a claim of how you felt. What about the differences between

"they were planning to take action Tuesday" and "unclear whether plots were operational and no attack was imminent?

[hughee99]

48. Video is always more credibly than "unnamed sources"...

which could be anything from someone who was at the scene, to someone recounting a 2nd or 3rd hand story, to a reporter simply making shit up.

[TexasTowelie]

54. Locking thread.

Statement of Purpose

Post the latest news from reputable mainstream news websites and blogs. Important news of national interest only. No analysis or opinion pieces. No duplicates. News stories must have been published within the last 12 hours. Use the published title of the story as the title of the discussion thread.

Please see duplicate thread at http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141108881 .

[TexasTowelie]

55. Unlocking thread.

Excuse me, but I locked the wrong thread as a duplicate.

[seveneyes]

58. The metal pen

[The Stranger]

59. Ah yes . . . precrime.

[PersonNumber503602]

96. Are you suggesting they should have allowed the guy to stab one of the officers

before they shot him? At point would have they been justified in shooting? Or are you suggesting that they shouldn't have been arresting him to begin with? If so, if someone was to make a threat against the president or if someone was to make a threat your family member, do you believe those should be ignored until the act is actually carried?

This isn't an "attack" on your beliefs or anything. I'm just interested in your reasoning and how you come to your conclusion. I find it more interesting to understand the inner workings behind conclusions and beliefs.

[The Stranger]

100. Are you suggesting you actually believe that there was someone who really thought he

was going to attack a fully armed, fully armored police phalanx of officers with a knife (yes, a knife), and -- not only evade a cloud of muzzle-velocity lead in a fusillade of bullets -- but then position oneself behind of these commandos and get them to stop and hold the position so he could actually behead them?

You can't possibly believe that.

Oh, and the police know this when they see him. In fact, they all stop for five minutes or so he can explain the whole scenario to them about how he is supposedly going to behead them.

No. Of course not.

[PersonNumber503602]

102. I have no idea what he thought he could do.

I just watched some videos on youtube of a a group of people who think aliens live under Walmart. Which, oddly enough, I'm starting to think may be true. People who not in their right minds believe all sorts of nutty things.

I'm not 100% sure where the idea of him attacking fully armored police phalanx comes from though. Is it being said that he planned on attacking riot police or something? If not, then I don't find it too hard to believe that someone could sneak up on an lone officer and stab him. Then once the officer is incapacitated or killed, someone could attempt to behead the person. He could also have had plans to attack off duty police.

When you say fully armored police officers, are you referring to the officers who approached him? If so, I don't think that was the situation he had in mind when he said he wanted to behead some officers. That was a situation that he was forced into so that he wouldn't be able to sneak attack a lone officers. He knew it was over at that point and he wouldn't be able to carry out his plan, so he did, what in his mind, was his only option. It's not much different than criminals who get in a final shoot out with police even though they know there is no way out. People can be crazy.

If I'm not understanding something correctly, please feel free to set me straight.

[The Stranger]

103. I think you're illustrating my point.

You're not alone -- no one had any idea what he thought he could do.

But the article states he was "planning" a crime. To quote the officer: "“We believe the intent was to behead a police officer . . . "

So no one had committed a crime yet. There was only a police officer's subjective belief that he may commit a crime in the future. As a matter of law, no crime had been committed yet.

This is critical.

So this isn't about crime. It is precrime.

[wingzeroday]

61. update

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/03/us/boston-police-shooting/

[romanic]

62. Good riddance

to human garbage.

[yurbud]

73. How far would anyone get trying to behead a cop?

[cosmicone]

78. It has been done in the UK

We cannot tolerate it one iota.

[yurbud]

79. I wouldn't tolerate it. At the same time, I doubt there'd be as much hysteria if a domestic crook

planned the same thing.

[yurbud]

74. boston police also caught a monkey at the zoo about to fling his poop at them & charged him with

conspiracy to use a biological weapon.

[Corey_Baker08]

93. They Also Planned To Behead The Woman Responsible For The Anti-Islam Cartoon Drawing Event In Garlan

**In Garland, Texas last month....

[complendio]

97. Where was the suspect

When they caught him?