Jamaica women admit to terror activity
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
Two Jamaica women have
confessed to teaching and
distributing information about
making and using weapons of
mass destruction similar to
those used in prior terrorist
attacks, federal prosecutors
announced Friday.
Asia Siddiqui, 35, and
Noelle Velentzas, 31, both
of whom are citizens of the
United States, pleaded guilty
to teaching and distributing
information pertaining
to the making and use of
an explosive, destructive
device, and weapon of mass
destruction, intending
that it be used to commit a
federal crime of violence. At
sentencing, they both face up
to 20 years in prison.
“In an effort to implement
their violent, radical ideology,
the defendants studied some
of the most deadly terrorist
attacks in U.S. history, and
used them as a blueprint
for their own plans to kill
American law enforcement
and military personnel,”
stated United States Attorney
Richard P. Donoghue.
“Thanks to the tireless work
of law enforcement, they were
stopped before they could
bring their murderous plans
to fruition.”
According to charges,
between 2013 and 2015,
Velentzas and Siddiqui
planned to build a bomb for
use in a terrorist attack in
the United States. In order
to execute their plan, they
taught each other chemistry
and electrical skills related
to creating explosives and
building detonating devices.
The pair also conducted
research on how to make
plastic explosives, how to
build a car bomb and also
acquired materials to be used
in an explosive device.
Velentzas and Siddiqui
referred to devices used in past
terrorist attacks, including
the Boston Marathon
bombing, Oklahoma City
bombing and 1993 World
Trade Center attack. The two
Darrin Klimek
also researched potential
targets of attack, focusing on
law enforcement and militaryrelated
targets.
Charges say that Siddiqui’s
interest in violent terroristrelated
activities was reflected
in her written submissions to
a radical jihadist magazine
edited by Samir Khan, a nowdeceased
prominent figure
and member of al-Qaeda in the
Arabian Peninsula (“AQAP”).
Velentzas also reportedly
spread violent rhetoric,
praising the attacks of Sept.
11, 2001, saying that being
a martyr through a suicide
attack guaranteed entrance
into heaven. Velentzas
specifically singled out
government targets stating,
“you go for the head” when
you commit a terrorist attack.
When Velentzas and
Siddiqui were arrested, law
enforcement found propane
gas tanks, soldering tools, car
bomb instructions, jihadist
literature, machetes and
several knives from both of
their residences.
“Velentzas and Siddiqui
were intent on waging violent
jihad here in the United
States, researching at length
historical terrorist attacks on
U.S. soil, educating themselves
on how to turn propane
tanks into explosive devices,
and dreaming up plans to
kill Americans on our own
turf,” stated FBI Assistant
Director-in-Charge William
F. Sweeney. “Today’s plea is
not only a welcome end to this
years-long investigation, but
a credit to the FBI’s JTTF in
New York and our many law
enforcement partners who
saw this through to the end.”
Armed pair tied to 13 robberies across the city
BY MAX PARROTT
Cops are looking for a duo
who they believe are behind
a series of 13 armed robbery
attempts in Queens and
beyond this month.
The incidents took place
in Queens’ 107th, 108th and
114th Precincts, as well as
other locations in Brooklyn
and Manhattan.
In an Aug. 21 release,
the NYPD released images
of one of the two suspects,
whom they identified as 31-
year-old Brandon McDonald
of Brooklyn.
Police said that the first
Queens robbery occurred
at 2 a.m. on Aug. 2 at the
intersection of 38th Street
and Broadway in Astoria.
A 41-year-old female victim
was approached by two
unidentified males on
the street who displayed
a firearm and grab
her property.
Law enforcement sources
said when the men were
unsuccessful in their attempt,
they fled in a Ford Mustang.
The victim did not sustain
any injuries as a result of
this incident.
The second Queens
incident occurred the next
day, at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 3, at
9th Street and Queens Plaza
South in Long Island City.
Authorities said
two unidentified males
approached a 27-year-old
male victim on the streets.
The duo feigned a firearm,
demanded his property
and removed jewelry, with
a total estimated value
of $24,000.
Police reported that the
individuals fled on foot to
parts unknown. No injuries
were reported.
The most recent incident
in Queens occurred more
than a week later, at 8:17
p.m. on Aug. 15, in the area
of 192nd Street and Aberdeen
Road in Fresh Meadows,
authorities said.
According to law
enforcement sources, the
suspects displayed a firearm
to a 41-year-old male and
demanded his property. They
removed a watch with a total
estimated value of $300.
Police noted that the
individuals then fled on
foot to parts unknown. No
injuries were reported.
Anyone with information
regarding the pattern or
McDonald’s whereabouts
is asked to call the NYPD’s
Crime Stoppers Hotline
at 800-577-TIPS (8477)
or for Spanish, 888-57-
PISTA (74782). The public
can also submit their
tips by logging onto the
Crime Stoppers website
at nypdcrimestoppers.
com, or send a message on
Twitter @NYPDTips. All
calls and messages are
kept confidential.
Reach reporter Max
Parrott by email at
mparrott@schnepsmedia.com
or by phone at (718) 260-2507.
Police have identified this individual as one of the two persons
being sought in a series of 13 armed robbery attempts in Queens,
Brooklyn and Manhattan. Photo courtesy of the NYPD
TIMESLEDGER,4 AUG. 30-SEPT. 5, 2019 QNS.COM
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