Dar Uloom Islamic Institute
Pembroke Pines, FL
Several men involved in a conspiracy to blow up targets in South Florida attended this mosque regularly, including Imran Mandhai[1] and Shuyeb Mossa Jokhan.[2] Imran Mandhai visited Dar Uloom almost every day for two years, where he met two undercover FBI agents and recruited Jokhan to help with their plot to blow up targets in Pembroke Pines.[3] Imran Mandhai and Shuyeb Mossa Jokhan were indicted in May of 2002 for conspiring to destroy "property affecting interstate commerce," and "soliciting a crime," which was specifically to "damage and attempt to damage the property of an energy facility."[4]
Mandhai tried to obtain funding and items in order to "engage in training for an armed struggle against the United States, otherwise known as a "jihad," the indictment said.[5] It also detailed that "Mandhai went with an individual he believed to be a member of a mujahedin group in Turkey to gun ranges and gun shows," and that the individual, "showed Mandhai a collection of books on car bombs and homemade explosives at his home." [6] This individual was none other than Hakki Cemal Aksoy, who had been indicted in 2000 for providing a false name, "Hasan Yilmaz," and for lying on his US INS application about the fact that he had "been cited, charged and indicted in the country of Turkey for violations of Turkish law".[7]
A superseding indictment charged Aksoy with the unlawful possession of a Taurus .9mm pistol, and for possession of a "registration receipt card," that was "altered and falsely made."[8] Aksoy was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to 10 years in prison with a supervised release.[9] Imran Mandhai, with whom Aksoy had traveled, pleaded guilty to "conspiring" to destroy buildings, vehicles and personal property used in interstate and foreign commerce in August of 2002.[10] Shueyb Mossa Jokhan was found guilty of "conspiracy to destroy property affecting interstate commerce," in October of 2002.[11]
Imran Mandhai told an undercover FBI informant that another man who frequented the mosque, Adnan El-Shukrijumah, was a possible choice of about 25-30 potential individuals who could be trained for bin Laden's future assignments in South Florida.[12] El-Shukrijumah also heard a recruiting pitch given by Mandhai and Jokhan at Dar Uloom Institute in April of 2001.[13] The FBI has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to El-Shukrijumah's capture because he is "wanted in connection with possible terrorist threats against the United States."[14] El-Shukrijumah allegedly accompanied 9/11 hijacker Mohammed Atta to an INS office in Miami to get Atta's visa renewed; an INS Inspector claimed she was "75% certain that Atta's companion was El-Shukrijumah" when she saw the FBI's Most Wanted photo of El-Shukrijumah posted on her bulletin board after September 11th.[15]
See: USA v. Mandhai, Imran, et al.
[1] USA v. Imran Mandhai, 02-CR-60096, "Motion to Dismiss," (S.D. Fla. August 5, 2002); Larry Lebowitz, "2 Broward men face terrorism charges," The Miami Herald, May 18, 2002, A, p.1.
[2] Larry Lebowitz, "2 Broward men face terrorism charges," The Miami Herald, May 18, 2002, A, p.1.
[3] Vicky Agnew, et. al., "Suspect in Plot Faces Deportation; Pakistan Native is being held by the INS on suspicion of planning to bomb FPL plant at port everglades," Sun-Sentinel, March 27, 2002, p. 1B.; see also: Ann W. O'Neill, "Court tosses teen's term in terror trial," Sun-Sentinel, July 3, 2004, pg.1B.
[4] USA v. Imran Mandhai and Shueyb Mossa Jokhan, 02-CR-60096, "Indictment," (S.D. Fla. May 16, 2002).
[5] USA v. Imran Mandhai and Shueyb Mossa Jokhan, 02-CR-60096, "Indictment," (S.D. Fla. May 16, 2002).
[6] USA v. Imran Mandhai and Shueyb Mossa Jokhan, 02-CR-60096, "Indictment," (S.D. Fla. May 16, 2002).
[7] USA v. Hakki Cemal Aksoy, 00-CR-0788, "Indictment," (S.D. Fla. September 22, 2000).
[8] USA v. Hakki Cemal Aksoy, 00-CR-0788, "Superseding Indictment," (S.D. Fla. December 15, 2000).
[9] USA v. Hakki Cemal Aksoy, 00-CR-0788, "Judgment in a Criminal Case," (S.D. Fla. May 1, 2002).
[10] USA v. Imran Mandhai, 02-CR-60096, "Plea Agreement," (S.D. Fla. August 8, 2002).
[11] USA v. Shueyb Mossa Jokhan, 02-CR-60096, "Judgment in a Criminal Case," (S.D. Fla. October 4, 2002).
[12] Richard Willing, "Pursuit of al-Qaeda keeps coming back to Fla." USA Today, June 16, 2003, http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-06-15-florida-usat_x.htm (accessed May 18, 2009).
[13] Richard Willing, "Pursuit of al-Qaeda keeps coming back to Fla." USA Today, June 16, 2003, http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-06-15-florida-usat_x.htm (accessed May 18, 2009).
[14] "Seeking Information: Adnan G. El Shukrijumah," FBI, http://www.fbi.gov/terrorinfo/elshukrijumah.htm (accessed May 18, 2009).
[15] 9/11 and Terrorist Travel: A Staff Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, Notes to Chapter 2, p.216, FN
