# Al Queda sleeper cell in Denver **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 19, 2009, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666 "2009-09-19T00:31:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/1 "2009-09-19T00:31:58Z")
This is neither mundane or pointless, but I couldn’t decide where this should go. Long story short - Hundreds of FBI agents are combing the Denver area, as well as NYC, in the sincere belief that they have uncovered a real live cell with intentions to create an imminent terror attack in New York, possibly on the subway system using peroxide based bombs concealed in backpacks. The details on this are sketchy because of the secrecy involved, but a Denver man, Najibullah Zazi, has been questioned for the last three days by the FBI. Reportedly the FBI has been monitoring four other men as well. Reports late today indicate that Mr. Zazi has admitted to travelling to Pakistan for terrorist training fron AQ, and is looking to cut a deal with the Feds. Mr. Zazi rented a car in Denver and drove straight through to New York City, arriving on September 10th. He reportedly was stopped in a routine traffic stop, which uncovered something that caused the Feds to raid three apartments in Queens. Unconfirmed reports are that bomb making plans and equipment were found, as well as nine backpacks. The FBI were investigating at a Lowe’s hardware store in Denver yesterday. The [NY Daily News](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/09/18/2009-09-18_denver_man_at_heart_of_new_york_terror_probe_najibullah_zazi_looking_to_cut_deal.html) uncovered the story and has the best info from the NY side, while the [Denver Post](http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13366393) is on top of it from Colorado. Bottom line, the FBI is taking this extremely seriously. They really think they have uncovered a real sleeper cell with plans for a terrorist attack. It should hit the national news this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/2 "2009-09-19T00:35:14Z")
This is all Obama’s fault! ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/3 "2009-09-19T01:34:41Z")
And now Zazi [admitted to having Al Qaeda ties.](http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13369232) > [@](#): > > An Aurora man embroiled in a multi-state terror investigation has admitted to having ties to al-Qaeda and is negotiating a plea agreement with federal officials, multiple news organizations reported this afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/4 "2009-09-19T03:16:17Z")
Perhaps we do have some good intelligence re these assholes. I hope so. Or an officer that really smelled something fishy. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Understander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@The\_Understander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Understander)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/5 "2009-09-19T03:31:21Z")
I guess now is the time to proclaim that we have a new 21st Century record for an administration beginning its term without a major terrorist attack on the nation. Kudos to you, President Obama! And an alleged Al Qaeda member admitting his ties without one day of waterboarding. Bonus! ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/6 "2009-09-19T03:42:54Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Perhaps we do have some good intelligence re these assholes. I hope so. Or an officer that really smelled something fishy. > Interesting. You made post number 5,280 in a thread about Denver. I see what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/7 "2009-09-19T03:53:49Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > You made post number 5,280 in a thread about Denver. > > I see what you did there. Eh, you’re high. You must be on something. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/8 "2009-09-19T03:59:36Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Eh, you’re high. You must be on something. The beauty of the mountains? ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/9 "2009-09-19T04:53:02Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Perhaps we do have some good intelligence re these assholes. I hope so. Or an officer that really smelled something fishy. > Interesting. One of the Denver Post stories reported that Zazi’s car was pulled over in NYC, which led to the car being towed and the apartments in Queens being searched. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/10 "2009-09-19T12:55:53Z")
> [@Enfant Terrible](#): > > And an alleged Al Qaeda member admitting his ties without one day of waterboarding. Bonus! Or at the very least the administration has the discipline and mechanisms in place to keep secrets secret. Unlike the previous 3 dudes. Either way… ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/11 "2009-09-19T21:06:40Z")
Like I’m going to believe what the government says. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/12 "2009-09-19T21:20:29Z")
> [@Xan](#): > > Like I’m going to believe what the government says. Joe Isuzu for President: “Isn’t it time for an honest liar in the White House?” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/13 "2009-09-19T21:23:31Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Joe Isuzu for President: “Isn’t it time for an honest liar in the White House?” > > Stranger Police have a track record of getting people to admit to crimes they didn’t commit. Furthermore all they got him to admit to is that he had AQ ties. That could easily be that they asked “Do you know so and so” and he says yes and so and so is a terrorist. Then they tell the media he has terrorist “ties” ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/14 "2009-09-19T21:30:30Z")
> [@Enfant Terrible](#): > > I guess now is the time to proclaim that we have a new 21st Century record for an administration beginning its term without a major terrorist attack on the nation. Kudos to you, President Obama! Please do not say crap like this. ---
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/15 "2009-09-19T21:43:00Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > You made post number 5,280 in a thread about Denver. > > I see what you did there. What exactly does this mean? What is that the poster “did there”? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/16 "2009-09-19T21:49:37Z")
> [@Shig](#): > > What exactly does this mean? What is that the poster “did there”? Denver is 5,280’ above sea level. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/17 "2009-09-19T21:49:47Z")
> [@Shig](#): > > What exactly does this mean? What is that the poster “did there”? That’s how many feet are in a mile. Denver is the mile-high city. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/18 "2009-09-19T21:53:17Z")
> [@Shig](#): > > What exactly does this mean? What is that the poster “did there”? Denver is the “Mile High City” A mile is 5,280 feet… The top step of the Colorado Capital Building (which is in downtown Denver) was built exactly at an altitude of one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/19 "2009-09-19T21:58:36Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > Denver is 5,280’ above sea level. Yes, at the 18th step of the Capitol Building, located in one of the highest points of the city. Interestingly, there are [three](http://www.mesalek.com/colo/trivia/elev.html) markers. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666/20 "2009-09-19T22:06:31Z")
Plus a row of Purple seats at Coors field. Which after the novelty of sitting exactly 5280 feet, and the incredible view wear off you realize they are really crappy seats, and you can’t see anything. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-queda-sleeper-cell-in-denver/510666.md?page=2)