... (or was that a seatbelt violation?), allegedly armed with military equipment, arabic language papers, and knowledge of terrorist plans. The California press notes his alleged terrorist connections don't seem to be panning out, but the Iowa press hears the convicted sex offender was still a danger because he threatened to kill police.
(Does anybody remember a recent thread on bogus Administration reports of thwarted heartland terrorist plots? Egg on the Administration's face etc? So I wonder how much of this case will bear scrutiny?)
Man Claims He Knows Of Terrorist Plans
... Michael Wagner, 44, ... was stopped for speeding along an Iowa freeway earlier this month ...
http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/news/3587187/detail.htmlAuthorities Discredit Local Terror Claims
(07-28-2004)
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Forty-four-year-old Michael Wagner was arrested in Iowa, earlier this month, after what began as a traffic stop for a seat-belt violation.
Court papers say the Muslim convert told state troopers he had knowledge of al-qaeda operatives and plans to shoot up trolleys here in San Diego.
... But San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne says many of Wagner's claims have been discredited by federal authorities.
Wagner pleaded not guilty Tuesday to weapons charges. He was convicted in 1988 of lewd acts with a child and is a registered sex offender in the state.
http://www.kfmb.com/topstory27685.htmlInvestigators doubt man's claims of terror-plot knowledge in San Diego
Posted on Wed, Jul. 28, 2004
Associated Press
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Agents from San Diego's Joint Terrorism Task Force last week searched the Santee home of Michael Wagner.
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Wagner, a 44-year-old Navy veteran and Muslim convert, claimed to have knowledge of al Qaida's plans to shoot up commuter trolleys in San Diego.
The San Diego task force "has investigated those statements, and based on the investigation we do not find them to be credible," said Michael Skerlos, head of the terrorism unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office.
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http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/9263597.htmWagner indicted on federal charges
DES MOINES - Michael Wagner had al-Qaida connections and knew of a plan to shoot trams and trains in San Diego when he was stopped by an Iowa State Patrol trooper just outside of Underwood earlier this month.
That stop put the trooper's life in jeopardy when the 44-year-old San Diego man allegedly talked with his companion about killing the officer, according to testimony heard in federal court Tuesday.
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http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12513348&BRD=2554&PAG=461&dept_id=507134&rfi=6