January 29, 2010, - 2:31 pm
And Now, Trains: Passenger Threatens Train, Mentions Al-Qaeda, Uses Blanket to Hide
Well, now that we’ve had three months of Muslim passengers behaving suspiciously and threatening safety on planes, it’s suddenly the same on trains. Not 100% sure if this guy is Muslim for certain and whether or not he converted to Islam in prison, but it’s definitely a likelihood on both counts. And what the heck was he doing under the blanket? Are we going to have to outlaw everyone from bringing a blanket on trains? If we don’t want to profile and instead let these people win by the constant, escalating inconvenience that they cause to every innocent, law-abiding American.
Ojore Nuru Lutalo: Threatened Train, Mentioned Al-Qaeda
An Amtrak passenger who alarmed fellow passengers in Colorado by talking about terrorist threats on a cell phone was pulled from the train and faces a felony charge of endangering public transportation.
Ojore Nuru Lutalo, 64, who was recently released from prison, was arrested Tuesday on an Amtrak passage from Los Angeles to Chicago. Passengers on the train alerted authorities after hearing the man from Elizabeth, N.J., mention al-Qaida and make threats in a cell phone conversation.
Police said in an affidavit that passengers overheard Lutalo saying he hadn’t killed anyone yet, and that he talked about going to jail.
Passengers say the man said, “We have to work in small groups. They can hold you for 18 months. Do they have security on these trains? Are you with me or not?”
One passenger said he heard Lutalo mention al-Qaida, saying, “17th century tactics won’t work, we have 21st century tactics.”
The conductor said Lutalo had a tan blanket over his entire body so the conductor could not see what he was doing.
Lutalo was taken into custody at the La Junta train station in southeastern Colorado. Police said he was not armed or carrying explosives. He was carrying propaganda for an anarchist group called Afrikan Liberation Army.
Lutalo was released Thursday night after posting $30,000 bond, said Otero Country sheriff Chris Johnson. Lutalo’s next court date in Otero County District Court is Feb. 5.
They released this guy on bond?! HUH?!
Lutalo was released in August from a New Jersey prison after a 27-year term for aggravated assault, robbery and two counts of weapons possession. New Jersey authorities said Lutalo has also used the name Leroy Bunting.
And the name Mohammed Baba Ganouche. Okay, I made that one up. But might as well be. How intolerant of me to object to a guy talking about train security, Al-Qaeda, and then trying to obscure his actions from view.
It’s not right to judge. Diversity and tolerance trump all.
Tags: Afrikan Liberation Army, al-Qaeda, Amtrak, blanket, Chicago, Colorado, ex-con, Los Angeles, Ojore Nuru Lutalo, passengers, prison, threatened train
After having served 27 years in prison, this person was allowed to walk away after posting bond for a new offense? Do people understand what a flight risk is? Also, did anyone think that having the FBI look at the matter might be appropriate, especially since his cell phone still contained the numbers of the people he shared his violent thoughts with?
Worry01 on January 29, 2010 at 2:50 pm