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Phone Sales Tip Feds to Terror 'Cells'
ABC News is reporting that law enforcement officials are investigating at least two mass purchases of disposable cell phones, devices often used by terrorists, by individuals from the Middle East and Pakistan in recent weeks. In one case, the attempted purchasers are suspected members of a west Texas terrorist cell. On December 18, six individuals of Middle Eastern origin, including one from Iraq and another from Pakistan, attempted to buy approximately 60 disposable phones at a Wal-Mart in Midland, Texas. After alert store clerks called police, a Midland police report stated that the individuals acted suspiciously.
Story Continues Below "Upon the arrival of officers, the report declared, "suspects were observed moving away from the registers appearing to evade detection while ridding themselves of the merchandise. Three of the individuals were detained for immigration violations. The arrest report obtained by ABC News connects the suspects to a local terrorist cell. "Evasive responses provided by the subjects, coupled with actions observed by officers at the onset of the contact prompted the notification of local FBI officials to assist in the investigation, the report said. "Upon the arrival of special agents, and as a result of subsequent interviews, it was discovered that members of the group were linked to suspected terrorist cells stationed within the Metroplex. ABC News could not confirm the allegations with law enforcement officials. Similar reports are trickling in from across the country. On New Years Eve, suspicious store employees reported the purchase of 150 disposable phones at a Target in Hemet, California. Other reports are from Dallas, Pennsylvania, and New York. What Are They Used For Similar phones were used in the Madrid terrorist bombings of March 2004. "The application of prepaid phones for nefarious reasons is really widespread, a communications consultant, Roger Entner, told ABC. "The terrorists in Madrid used prepaid phones to detonate bombs in the subway trains that killed more than 200 people. But, there are legitimate purposes for such purchases. The phones could be sent for resale to the Middle East where they would garner a higher price. Law enforcement officials told ABC that it is difficult to distinguish between the legitimate and terrorist-connected purchases. They will continue to monitor reports of bulk purchases. Editor's note:
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