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Terror Suspect Led Typical Suburban Life

But Boyd fought in Afghanistan, said 'good Muslims' waged jihad

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 29, 2009 5:32 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The arrest of construction worker Daniel Boyd and his sons for conspiring to support terrorists came as a complete shock to their neighbors in North Carolina, who describe the 39-year-old father as a friendly gardener and fisherman. But Boyd has followed an uncommon path. After converting to Islam in the 1980s, he traveled to Afghanistan to fight the Soviets and was then convicted of bank robbery by an Islamic court in Pakistan—although the verdict was overturned on appeal.

Boyd returned to the US shortly afterward, marrying his high school sweetheart and setting up a construction business. But he broke with his mosque because of his strict interpretations of Islamic law, and in recent years he held prayer services at his home where he encouraged others to wage violent jihad. That has stunned locals, one of whom told the Washington Post about the family: "They were just normal American kids and a normal American father."

Daniel Boyd has been arrested for conspiring with terrorists. He believes that Muslims should not be photographed and is said to have a long beard now.
Daniel Boyd has been arrested for conspiring with terrorists. He believes that Muslims should not be photographed and is said to have a long beard now.   (AP Photo/City County Bureau of Identification)
The Jamaat Ibad Ar-Rahman Mosque in Durham, NC. Daniel Boyd attended the mosque but left after his beliefs became more extreme.
The Jamaat Ibad Ar-Rahman Mosque in Durham, NC. Daniel Boyd attended the mosque but left after his beliefs became more extreme.   (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
emptycalm
Jul 30, 2009 12:57 PM CDT
No wonder he wanted to be a terrorist. He lived in NC!
JonmarkP
Jul 30, 2009 3:22 AM CDT
Cheney is a traitor and terrorist of infinitely higher strategic value than these ineffectual losers, yet Cheney walks free. I would crawl to Washington on broken glass to see Cheney in the gallows, to hear the drop, to watch his waxy lifeless corpse cut down and spat upon. Bring the big traitors to trial first, America. We can prosecute the small fry later.
DavoMax
Jul 29, 2009 12:55 PM CDT
What's funny is he looks NOTHING like what a terrorist should look like. Maybe they have been wasting too much time trying to paint Obama with the terrorist brush.
US

 
Islam • jihad • North Carolina • Islamic extremism • terror suspects • terror cell • suburbs • Muslim convert • domestic terrorism • Daniel Boyd

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