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Student in Texas Accused of Plotting Attack on Bush

Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari was buying chemical explosives, say authorities

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 24, 2011 10:58 AM CST

(Newser) – A Saudi Arabian man attending college in Texas has been charged with the "attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction," the Justice Department announced today. Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, 20, allegedly bought several chemicals needed to build an improvised explosive device, and “was actively researching potential targets,” according to a department statement. One of those targets appears to have been George W. Bush, NPR reports.

By spying on Aldawsari’s email, the department found that he often emailed himself potential targets—and that one email, marked “Tyrant’s House,” listed Bush’s Dallas address. Others listed various dams, nuclear power plants, and the names and addresses of troops formerly stationed at Abu Ghraib, according to NBC Dallas/Fort Worth. Aldawsari had been studying at South Plains College. His diary indicates he pursued a US scholarship specifically because he’d long planned a terrorist attack, federal authorities say.

In this Dec. 9, 2010 file photo, former U.S. President George W. Bush shakes hands with a supporter during a book signing.
In this Dec. 9, 2010 file photo, former U.S. President George W. Bush shakes hands with a supporter during a book signing.   (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, file)
Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, 20, is shown in this undated photo made available by the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office.
Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, 20, is shown in this undated photo made available by the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office.   (AP Photo/Lubbock County Sheriff)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 54 comments
Shannonals
Feb 25, 2011 7:12 AM CST
No one finds it strange how this foreign terrorist has gained so much attention since his arrest, yet no one talks about our domestic issue that occurred prior to the MLK parade? I mean, it gathered a few days worth of mention, but other than that, nothing. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/18/fbi-bomb-mlk-parade-route-domestic-terrorism/
HappyHabenero
Feb 24, 2011 7:50 PM CST
so a Saudi student, tries to blow up a former president...and most of the posters below blame the republicans ....quite pathetic
Colonel_Sanders
Feb 24, 2011 7:17 PM CST
The "war" on terror is a fraud. If the government truly wished to wage a war on terror, all visas granting access to the USA from Muslim countries would be disallowed.

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