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Terror Suspect Doubled as Friendly Coffee Vendor

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 26, 2009 9:05 AM CDT
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(Newser) – When he pushed his family's coffee cart on the streets of New York, Najibullah Zazi greeted people with friendly hellos and made a point to remember how regulars liked their joe. Now, feds say he trained with al-Qaeda and planned a massive bomb attack on the same city. The New York Times stitches together a profile of the 24-year-old, finding him to be in many ways a typical American youth who grew up in Queens—with a love of gadgets, basketball, and credit cards—but also one who remained faithful to the Islamic traditions of his native Afghanistan.

“He was a dumb kid, believe me,” says a step-uncle of Zazi's high school days. A friend adds that "he was basically a left shoulder for his father." Some who knew Zazi say something began to change in the past few years, when he grew out his beard, started wearing tunics, and pushed the Koran on customers. One remembers an argument with him in which he said Americans were too materialistic to be happy. At the time of his arrest, Zazi was in credit counseling after declaring personal bankruptcy. 

Najibullah Zazi is escorted off an NYPD helicopter by US Marshals after being extradited from Denver Friday.
Najibullah Zazi is escorted off an NYPD helicopter by US Marshals after being extradited from Denver Friday.   (AP Photo/New York City Police Department)
Mohammed Zazi, the father of Najibullah Zazi.
Mohammed Zazi, the father of Najibullah Zazi.   (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
Terrorism suspect Najibullah Zazi.
Terrorism suspect Najibullah Zazi.   (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File)
Najibullah Zazi.
Najibullah Zazi.   (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 25 comments
riffran
Sep 28, 2009 5:43 AM CDT
why couldn't he just uhhhh I don't know ...uh maybe serve coffe, raise a happy healthy non violent family...but no "All infedels must die".....what a dipshit
riffran
Sep 28, 2009 5:41 AM CDT
uhhh webby....you might want to tone it down a bit you're scaring the straights....yikes...lol
wwwonderer
Sep 28, 2009 4:21 AM CDT
Yes Shan. And jameriklan, many KKK members -you may call them bretheren, not sure- were Bible-toting Christians, many of them in government/law enforcement positions. So is it fair to say, Another friendly gun-weidling white Christian terrorists? Is is safe for me to wonder what Christians I can trust. It's a good think religious bias and convictions don't THRIVE in ignorance.
US

 
Denver • terror plots • street vendors • terror suspects • religious extremism • Najibullah Zazi

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