Page 260 - Encyclopedia Of Terrorism

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238———Morazanist Patriotic Front

Philippine officials found out about the plot on “A Nation Challenged: The Hunted; The 22 Most Wanted
January 6, 1995, when a fire started in the Manila apart- Suspects, in a Five-Act Drama of Global Terror.”
ment where Yousef, who fled to the Philippines in 1993, New York Times, October 14, 2001, 1B.
and Murad were building bombs. The Los Angeles Times Paddock, Richard C., and Josh Meyer. “Suspect’s Role in
’95 Plot Detailed; Inquiry: Khalid Shaikh Mohammed,
reported that Yousef and Murad hid in a karaoke bar
Alleged Sept. 11 Mastermind, Was a Financial Conduit
near the apartment until firefighters left the building.
in the Plan to Blow Up U.S. Jets, Philippine Official
In the apartment, police found bomb-making materials,
Says.” Los Angeles Times, June 7, 2002.
pipe bombs, and a laptop computer that contained
Reeve, Simon. The New Jackals: Ramzi Yousef, Osama bin
details about Project Bojinka and about an additional Laden, and the Future of Terrorism. Boston: Northeastern
plot to assassinate the pope during his visit to the University Press, 1999.
Philippines in January 1995. They also found Roman Satloff, Robert B. War on Terror: The Middle East
Catholic vestments tailored to match the attire of the Dimension. Washington, DC: Washington Institute for
pope’s entourage and maps of the pope’s appearances in Near East Policy, 2002.
Manila. While Murad returned to the apartment to col- Wallace, Charles P. “Weaving a Wide Web of Terror: The
lect incriminating materials and was arrested, Yousef Plan, Officials Say, Was to Blow Up 11 U.S. Airliners
fled the country; the police arrested Murad, who pro- in One Day. The Probe Into the Foiled Plot Points to
the Accused Mastermind of the Trade Center Blast and
vided details about Project Bojinka. Murad was later
to a Network of Muslim Veterans of the Afghan War.”
extradited to the United States and convicted for his role
Los Angeles Times, May 28, 1995, A1.
in the plot. In February 1995, Yousef was captured in
Pakistan and extradited to the United States.
In addition to taking part in and financing Project
Bojinka, Mohammed was also accused of participating MORAZANIST PATRIOTIC FRONT
in the December 1994 bombing of Philippine Airlines
Flight 434 from the Philippines to Tokyo. The explo-
sion killed a Japanese passenger and wounded 10 A Honduran terrorist group, the Morazanist
others, but the plane was able to make an emergency Patriotic Front (FPM), now largely inactive, attacked
landing in Guam. Murad’s confession indicates that U.S. military targets in Honduras several times during
Yousef boarded the plane in Manila carrying liquid the early 1990s.
nitroglycerin in a bottle normally used for contact lens During the early 1980s, the Reagan administration
solution. He mixed the bomb solution, containing only began to actively support a counterinsurgency against
about 10 percent of the explosives planned for use in the Communist government of Nicaragua (the
Project Bojinka, in the plane’s restroom and taped it Sandinistas). Neighboring Honduras provided a nat-
under his seat in the economy section. Yousef then left ural base to provide training and deliver arms and
the plane at its first layover, in the southern city of funds to the insurgents, known as Contras; through
Cebu. The bomb exploded during the plane’s second the first half of the decade the United States vastly
leg of the journey to Tokyo. Project Bojinka called for increased its military presence in Honduras. Some
similar actions carried out by five bombers spread Hondurans resented the U.S. military presence, feel-
across Asia, who would plant similar bombs on U.S. ing that their country was becoming a client state of
airplanes flying multistop routes. the United States. In this climate, the FPM emerged.
Because of Mohammed’s alleged role in this plot, A leftist and extremely nationalist organization, the
the U.S. State Department is offering a reward of up group’s goal was the removal of all U.S. military
to $25 million for information leading directly to his forces from Honduras as well as the expulsion of
apprehension or conviction. the remaining Contras. The U.S. State Department
believes the FPM may have received support from the
See also AL QAEDA; SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS; RAMZI AHMED Nicaraguan and Cuban governments.
YOUSEF
The FPM’s first known attack was on a U.S.
military convoy in April 1989; the convoy, while
Further Reading engaged in exercises with the Honduran military,
Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Most Wanted Terrorists.” was forced to turn back. In July of that year, the
http://www.fbi.gov/mostwant/terrorists/fugitives.htm, group bombed a disco frequented by soldiers in La
October 2001. Cieba, Honduras; seven soldiers were injured. In