Thread: MS-13 rounded up for al Qaeda ties

Tuesday, March 15, 2005 11:15 p.m. EST
Gang Arrests Had al-Qaida Link
A violent street gang whose members were arrested as part a nationwide sweep by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on Monday had ties to al-Qaida, U.S. intelligence officials say.

Officials said the Central American gang MS-13 is one of the largest and most violent street gangs in the United States, and the majority of its members are in the country illegally.
The gang has carried out beheadings and grenade attacks in Central America and is known to hack their enemies with machetes in cities along the U.S. East Coast.
Intelligence officials warned in January that al-Qaida members have been seen in El Salvador with MS-13 members, raising concerns the gang may be smuggling terrorists into the United States.
Homeland Security Deputy Secretary James Loy called MS-13 an emerging threat to the United States, referring to the gang and al-Qaida in the same breath in testimony to Congress. Besides al-Qaida, Loy said, "We are seeing the emergence of other threatening groups and gangs like MS-13 that will also be destabilizing influences."
Local law enforcement officials are aware of MS-13's al-Qaida link.
"The terrorist aspect, especially when you think in terms of 9/11 and how intent these terrorists are, will turn the heat up on our efforts with MS-13," Boston police Detective Joseph Fiandaca told reporters at the time.
"MS-13 is the most dangerous gang in the area," he said. "They are big. They are mobile. Now they have a terrorist connection."
103 members of MS-13 were arrested on Monday, with the highest concentration coming from the New York metropolitan area.

Welcome Hellonwheels

Good article, we just need a link to the original posted at the top or bottom of the text.

William

Funny, but I did not see this in the New York Times.