HAARETZ: Four men arrested after planting what they thought were explosives near two synagogues and plotting to shoot down a military plane were bent on carrying out "jihad," a holy war, against America, authorities said Thursday.
The suspects were arrested Wednesday night, shortly after placing a 17-kilogram device they thought was an explosive in the trunk of a car outside the Riverdale Temple and two mock bombs in the backseat of a car outside the Riverdale Jewish Center, another synagogue a few blocks away, authorities said.
Police blocked their escape with an 18-wheel truck, smashing their tinted SUV windows and apprehending the unarmed suspects.
At a news conference outside the Riverdale Temple in the Bronx, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly quoted one of the men as saying, "If Jews were killed in this attack ... that would be all right." >>> By News Agencies | Thursday, May 21, 2009
