Feds probe Mideast cell phone buys

[Ruby Romaine]

Federal agents are investigating the mystery purchase of lots of disposable cell phones...

In one New Year's Eve transaction at a Target store in Hemet, Calif., 150 disposable tracfones were purchased. Suspicious store employees notified police, who called in the FBI, law enforcement sources told ABC.

At a Wal-Mart store in Midland, Texas, on Dec. 18, six individuals attempted to buy about 60 of the phones until store clerks became suspicious and notified the police. A Wal-Mart spokesperson confirmed the incident.

The Midland, Texas, police identified the individuals as linked to a terror cell in their arrest report: "Evasive responses provided by the subjects, coupled with actions observed by officers at the onset of the contact prompted the notification of local FBI officials to assist in the investigation," the report said. "Upon the arrival of special agents, and as a result of subsequent interviews, it was discovered that members of the group were linked to suspected terrorist cells stationed within the Metroplex."

http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20060113-100248-5058r

[pinerow]

1. A "terror cell" in the MetroPlex...is that a mall...?

nt

[Ruby Romaine]

3. not sure-

maybe that's what they call the metro area?
still, I'd wager the story is BS-
from the moonie UPI

[snooper2]

13. Dallas - Fort Worth are reffered as that some times..

the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex...

[Ruby Romaine]

2. terra, terra, terra....here we go again!

maybe they bought mass quantities of flashlights?
I hear flashlights are dangerous, esp. in Starbucks!

[uppityperson]

4. OMG! Terrorists are going to call me!

paranoia and total weirdness these days. I wonder if we are going to have to have a background check before buying a cell phone. Although 60 are a bit much, still this is way too much. Neighborhood watch! Report anyone for anything and get a cookie!

[leveymg]

5. What Mid-East terrorist goes to Midland, TX to buy 60 cell phones?

Why not just order them from the manufacturer or buy them abroad? Are these guys the best they got . . .?:eyes:

[Ruby Romaine]

6. maybe terraists love those low Wal-Mart prices?

[pinerow]

7. I f that's the best they have...they deserve to get busted...

nt

[Betsy Ross]

9. Shopping at Mal-Wart

helps ruin the US economy. So they are getting two for the low-price of one, or 60.

[leveymg]

11. LOL or crying out loud!

[Miss Chybil]

15. Order them and give an address? Not. Buy abroad? They need them here.

Extraordinary things can happen after a series of ordinary things. (Although a few guys trying to buy hundreds of phones is pretty extraordinary.) Say a few guys hijacking a few planes with box-cutters and flying them into tall buildings... Why would they use box-cutters? How ordinary. Why wouldn't they just buy a bunch of AK-47s and a few RPGs on the Russian black market. Who would hijack a plane with a box-cutter? And if they WERE going to use box-cutters, why wouldn't they buy secret, super-special box-cutters from Kashmir?

/sarcasm

Life is not like the movies.

[kurth]

8. Merchandise bought in bulk for resale is clear evidence of terrorism

Citizens, if you see any household with more wireless devices than they can use, please report to the FBI ASAP. Don't let them fall into the hands of wireless terrorists.

[Ruby Romaine]

10. don't the authorities realize that the big box stores sometimes sell

loss leaders below cost so people might buy stuff for resale?
Does your local Target have 60 of anything?
maybe 5-10, but 60?

[leveymg]

12. Same thing for computers and cars and shoes and . . .

its all useful to terra. Nuke all the aliens. ;-)

[High Plains]

14. What a pathetically laughable crock of shit

"Such phones can be difficult or impossible to track and are widely used by criminal gangs and terrorists."

Yes, and a few billion other people.

"the potentially dangerous development..."

Yes, some foreigners found a good deal on cell phones.

"Upon the arrival of special agents, and as a result of subsequent interviews, it was discovered that members of the group were linked to suspected terrorist cells stationed within the Metroplex."

Yes, uh, what? The guys who bought cell phones were "linked" to "suspected terrorist cells" that may or may not exist? How do you link someone to something you're not sure exists? You mean his name was Muhammed?

[dethl]

16. A terrorist cell in Midland, Texas....

YEAH RIGHT. Time to stir up more FUD. Terrorism is the new McCarthyism....oh noes there's a terrorist in my fridge! :o

*Btw, I'm in Midland right now....guess I shouldn't try to buy any cell phones during my stay :D

EDIT: spelling

[Auntie Bush]

17. Maybe the terrorist cells in Midland are Bushies.