U.S. Terror Suspects Spoke Of `Jihad`-FBI Wiretaps

Prosecutors at the detention hearing in Raleigh used the recordings to argue that Daniel Patrick Boyd.

U.S. prosecutors played FBI recordings in court on Tuesday as evidence that seven North Carolina terrorism suspects discussed waging "jihad," which can mean "holy war," as part of a conspiracy to conduct attacks overseas.

Prosecutors at the detention hearing in Raleigh used the recordings to argue that Daniel Patrick Boyd, his two sons and four other men, who are all accused of conspiring to carry out terrorism attacks abroad, should remain in custody. An eighth suspect in the case is not in the United States.

The seven, who appeared in orange prison jumpsuits, were arrested last month on charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to murder, kidnap, maim and injure persons abroad. Boyd and others also face weapons charges.

"They are all at risk of flight. They have associates and ties overseas," FBI agent Michael Sutton told U.S. Magistrate William Webb, who was due to rule later on whether the suspects should remain detained.

The seven face up to life in prison if convicted. Relatives and family members have insisted they are innocent. U.S. officials have told reporters the eighth suspect in the case is in Pakistan.

The Raleigh detention hearing followed a warning from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder last week of the increased "radicalization" of Americans in recent months. Seven of the eight accused are U.S. citizens.

The United States has been on heightened security alert since the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, when al Qaeda militants using hijacked jetliners killed 2,749 people.

'MILITARY TRAINING'

On the scratchy FBI wiretaps played in court, prosecutors said Boyd, whom they say trained in terrorist camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan from 1989 to 1992, could be heard proposing and discussing "engaging in violent jihad."

Jihad is an Arabic word that means simply "struggle" and often has a spiritual meaning, but in Western countries, is taken to mean "holy war."

Sutton also told the court authorities had intercepted email messages in which the defendants discussed similar plans. He said they had engaged in "military training" with weapons in North Carolina.

The indictment alleges Boyd and others traveled to Gaza, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan and Kosovo to plan or engage in attacks. But details of specific targets have been vague.

In one recording heard by the court, Boyd and other defendants could be heard talking about immigration officials, and Boyd was heard to say "We need to make jihad on them," according to prosecutors. Sutton said this indicated an intent to attack immigration officials but gave no more details.

The FBI agent said Boyd had told officials after his arrest that he went to Afghanistan in the late 1980s "to fight against the Soviets" after receiving training first at a camp in Connecticut, and then at camps in Afghanistan. The Soviet army withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989 after a 10-year presence.

Sutton said Boyd had told authorities he had fired against Soviet troops in Afghanistan and "saw Soviets fall."

Rifles and pistols capable of piercing body armor and money in sums totaling thousands of dollars were found at Boyd's house, prosecutors said.

As the accused were led into the courtroom, they were greeted in Arabic by supporters and family members.

Those indicted beside Boyd were Hysen Sherifi, Anes Subasic, Zakariya Boyd, Dylan Boyd, Mohammad Omar Aly Hassan, Ziyad Yaghi and Jude Kenan Mohammad. Mohammad, the eighth absent suspect in the case, was not present.

Seven are U.S. citizens. Sherifi, a native of Kosovo, is a legal permanent resident of the United States, according to the indictment.