CT Post : Testimony says former Navy man planned attack

Testimony says former Navy man planned attack

MICHAEL P. MAYKO | Mmayko@ctpost.com | November 28, 2007

NEW HAVEN - A former U.S. Navy signalman, already under indictment for disclosing ship movements to a terrorist cell linked to al-Quida, also allegedly discussed plans to attack the San Diego Naval base in late Oct 2006. FBI special agent David Dylan testified in federal court Thursday that Hassan Abujihaad, 31, of Phoenix discussed this plan with Derrick Shareef. Dylan said that Abujihaad knew the layout of the base because he had been stationed there. The agent said the plan was to attack a barracks or chow hall to create turmoil and then pick off service men by sniper attacks. However, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Reynolds said the plans were never followed through.

That's the because the prosecutor said Shareef was more intent on lobbing grenades into a suburban Illinois shopping mall during the 2006 holiday season. The testimony came during a hearing Wednesday where U.S. District Judge Mark R. Kravitz was to determine if the prosecution could use alleged uncharged terrorist acts against Abujihaad during his upcoming trial in February.

Abujihaad has pleaded not guilty to providing material that could be used to kill Americans and disclosing classified military information to a terrorist's support cell in London.

While stationed aboard the USS Benfold, a destroyer in an 11-vessel battleship group, Abujihaad, who eventually received an honorable discharge from the Navy, allegedly e-mailed information on the ship's location and their vulnerability during a communications blackout as they sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on April 29, 2001.