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Bryant Neal Vinas (born 1983, in Queens, New York; also Ibrahim, Bashir al-Ameriki and Ben Yameen al-Kanadeeis) is a Muslim American convicted of participating in and supporting Al-Qaeda plots in Afghanistan and the U.S.

After converting to Islam in 2004, he traveled to Waziristan, Pakistan, in 2007 with the intention of meeting and joining a jihadist group to fight U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. He was accepted into al-Qaeda, and received training in general combat and military explosives.

He also volunteered detailed information about the operation of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) system to a senior al-Qaeda leader, to help plan a bomb attack on an LIRR commuter train in New York's Penn Station. Subsequently, he participated in two al-Qaeda rocket attacks on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan in September 2008.

He was captured by Pakistani forces in 2008, and transferred to FBI custody. In January 2009 he plead guilty to all three charges against him.

Early life

Vinas lived on Long Island, with his parents and his sister, Lina. His parents had both immigrated to the U.S., his mother from Argentina and his father, now a retired engineer, from Peru. A one-time Boy Scout who grew up in Medford, New York, Vinas was raised Catholic.

His parents divorced in 2000. Vinas graduated from Longwood High School in Middle Island, New York. He joined the U.S. Army at age 18 in 2002, but was discharged after just three weeks of basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina.

After first living with his mother in Medford, Vinas had a dispute with her and moved in with his father in Patchogue, New York, in approximately 2005. He worked as a licensed truck driver and at a car wash, and sporadically attended technical college.

Conversion to Islam

He converted to Islam in 2004, and is a member of the Salafi sect. He attended a local Selden, New York, mosque, the Islamic Association of Long Island, most of whose members are Pakistani. He attended the mosque regularly from approximately 2004/05 until late 2007, and began going by the name "Ibrahim" there.

Mosque president Nayyar Imam said he talked regularly to FBI and Homeland Security officials, and that: "I keep an eye like a hawk on this place". On the other hand, a former FBI counter-terrorism official said "there could be a person in the mosque who has some radical thoughts and ideas who the imam knows nothing about," and that suspected extremists had in fact been identified at the mosque. Vinas began wearing Islamic robes and a skullcap, immersed himself in the Koran and studying Arabic, brought three Pakistani friends from the mosque to his father's home on one occasion, and encouraged his father to consider converting to Islam. Law enforcement officials believe he was radicalized through the internet, as his confiscated computer revealed that while in the U.S. he had visited jidahist websites.

In September 2007, he quite his job and abruptly left his father's home, saying he wanted to study Islam and Arabic.

Taliban and Al-Qaeda

Taliban

On September 10, 2007, he traveled to Lahore, Pakistan, with the intention of meeting and joining a jihadist group to fight U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. Three of his Pakistani friends in New York helped him plan his trip.

One friend arranged for relatives in Lahore to greet Vinas, and find him a hotel. Another introduced him to an Afghan family in Lahore who, through a cousin, connected him with a Taliban commander, the "chief of a group of fighters who have fought the U.S., NATO, and Afghan forces in Afghanistan." On September 12, Vinas joined the Taliban chief's group, crossed the Afghan border, and took part in an attack on an American base. Vinas then returned to the Pakistani tribal area of Mohmand, in the North-West Frontier Province. He also traveled to Peshwar, Pakistan, to have a doctor amputate the little toe of his right foot due to an unspecified ailment.

Al-Qaeda training camp

Later in 2007 he traveled to Waziristan, Pakistan. He made contact with members of al-Qaeda from Yemen and Saudi Arabia and its leadership, and with "a good reference" was accepted into al-Qaeda.

He received "military type training" in the Waziristan al-Qaeda camp between March and August 2008. During intake, he filled out an information form, listed his relatives, handed his passport over, and adopted an alias.

His training included "courses" in general combat, firearms (the AK-47, machine gun, and pistol), rocket-propelled grenades, a 15-day course in military explosives theory and assembly (including TNT, C4, voltmeters, and suicide belts), and a course in assassination and silencers. Ten to 20 other students were in his classes. There were other classes offered in forgery, poison, and "advanced bombs". The trainees' performance was evaluated in writing and the reports kept in their personnel file. He lived in safe houses with trainees from Europe and Turkey, and learned Arabic, Dari, and Urdu. He agreed to become a suicide bomber, but his handlers eventually decided that he needed more indoctrination and training.

Vina took part with other masked fighters in an al-Qaeda propaganda video featuring Abu Yahya al Libi, a leader and frequent spokesman. He also had contact with Rashid Rauf, a Pakistani/British member reportedly involved in the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot to bring down U.S. flights.

Vinas met Najibullah Zazi in Pakistan in 2008. Zazi, from Queens, had also traveled to Pakistan (flying with friends to Peshawar in August 2008) to join the Taliban and fight against the U.S. military and its allies in Afghanistan. In Peshawar, he and his friends were instead recruited by al-Qaeda, and taken to a training camp in Waziristan. Zazi also underwent weapons and explosives training there in 2008. Al-Qaeda leaders also discussed target locations in New York City with Zazi, including the New York City subways. Zazi returned to the U.S. in January 2009. He was arrested in September 2009, accused of planning suicide bombings during rush hour on the New York City subway system, and has pleaded guilty.

Plot to bomb Penn Station; rocket attacks

He provided detailed information about the operation of the New York City transit system and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) system, communications equipment, and personnel to a senior al-Qaeda leader, between March and November 2008. He had gleaned the information as a frequent rider on the LIRR.

The purpose was to help plan a bomb attack on an LIRR commuter train in New York's Penn Station. His later admission of a plot to blow up an LIRR train inside Penn Station triggered a U.S. security alert over the 2008 Thanksgiving holiday.

Subsequently, he participated at the direction of al-Qaeda in two rocket attacks on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan in September 2008. Both attacks failed.

Arrest

He traveled again to Peshwar, Pakistan, in October 2008, this time in search of a wife, and to buy supplies and use the internet. It was there that he was captured in November 2008 by Pakistani troops, guided by U.S. agents who had been tracking him.

He was transferred to FBI custody, and began cooperating with authorities.

Charges and guilty plea

Vinas was charged with conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals, providing material support to Al-Qaeda, and providing “expert advice and assistance” (in relation to the information about the LIRR). The charges carried a maximum penalty of life in prison.

He originally pleaded "not guilty". But he switched and plead guilty to all three charges on January 28, 2009, in United States District Court in the Eastern District of New York before Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis.

Cooperation

He has been cooperative with officials, providing information and playing the role of key prosecution witness in at least two terrorism trials in Europe. In these trials, his testimony has placed suspects in al-Qaeda training camps, linking them to the terrorist network. In addition, he has provided what intelligence officials have described as a "treasure trove" of valuable information about the workings of the Al-Qaeda network; as a speaker of Arabic, Dari, and Urdu who had rare contact with al-Qaeda leadership and participated in extensive training, he is uniquely familiar with the organization.

He has been linked to a Belgian-French terror cell, and to Moez Garsallaoui, a Tunisian Islamist militant whom he may have met while in Pakistan. He is expected to be a key witness in the cases of other al-Qaeda members, including Malika El Aroud, a Morrocan-born Belgian woman accused of recruiting al-Qaeda members over the internet. Another friend was a Frenchman of Moroccan descent, Hamza el Alami.

As of July 2009, he was reported to be in the custody of United States Marshals in an undisclosed location in New York State.

Reaction

"He's not my son no more," said Maria Luisa Uraga, his mother. "I don't know him if he's able to do this. He has no family anymore."

See also

• Najibullah Zazi, trained in al-Qaeda Waziristan training camp to commit suicide bombing attack on trains near Grand Central Station in New York City in September 2009
• David Matthew Hicks
• Yasser Esam Hamdi
• Adam Yahiye Gadahn
• List of notable converts to Islam

References

1. ^ Rotella, Sebastian and Josh Meyer U.S.-born militant who fought for Al Qaeda is in custody. Los Angeles Times. July 22, 2009.
2. ^ Rashbaum, William K. and Souad Mekhennet. L.I. Man Pleaded Guilty in Attack on U.S. Base in Afghanistan. New York Times July 22, 2009
3. ^ "Transcript of Guilty Plea; U.S. v John Doe; Sealed Pages" (PDF). US District Court, Eastern District of NY. January 28, 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
4. ^ Rotella, Sebastian (July 24, 2009). "A young American's journey into Al Qaeda; Bryant Neal Vinas of Long Island, N.Y., tells investigators how he trained and fought alongside terrorists". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 February 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
5. ^ Rotella, Sebastian. "U.S.-born militant who fought for Al Qaeda is in custody; After being captured at an extremist training camp in Pakistan, Bryant Neal Vinas, of Long Island, is working with authorities in converging investigations rooted in at least seven countries". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 February 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
6. ^ Suddath, Claire (July 24, 2009). "Bryant Neal Vinas: An American in Al Qaeda". TIME. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
7. ^ Karoliszyn, Henrick (July 24, 2009). . New York Daily News. Retrieved 26 February 2010. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
8. ^ Powell, Michael (July 23, 2009). "U.S. Recruit Reveals How Qaeda Trains Foreigners". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
9. Blitzer, Wolf, "The Situation Room: American Al Qaeda Suspect; Senate Stalls President's Timetable; Bin Laden's Son Reportedly Killed," CNN, July 23, 2009, accessed February 25, 2010
10. Cruickshank, Paul and Nic Robertson "New Yorker says he would have been suicide bomber". CNN. July 24, 2009
11. Rotella, Sebastian, "U.S. sees homegrown Muslim extremism as rising threat; This may have been the most dangerous year since 9/11, anti-terrorism experts say," Los Angeles Times, December 7, 2009, accessed February 25, 2010
12. Goldman, Adam. "NYC Bomb Plotter Plea Deal Might Help Broaden Case NYC subway bomb plotter's cooperation could lead to expansion of case, charges against others". ABC News. Retrieved February 24, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
13. "Najibullah Zazi reveals chilling details on Al Qaeda training and terrorist plot to blow up subways". New York Daily News. February 23, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
14. "2 plead not guilty to more charges in alleged plot to bomb NYC subway". CNN. February 25, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
15. Karen Zraik, David Johnston (September 15, 2009). "Man in Queens Raids Denies Any Terrorist Link". New York Times. Archived from the original on September 21, 2009.
16. David Johnston, Al Baker (September 18, 2009). "Denver Man Admits to a Possible Al Qaeda Connection, Officials Say". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 21, 2009.
17. David Johnston, William K. Rashbaum (September 20, 2009). "Terror Suspect Had Bomb Guide, Authorities Say". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 21, 2009.
18. Hays, Tom, and Barrett, Devlin, "Feds: US Man Gave Al-Qaida NYC Subway Information", ABC News, June 22, 2009, accessed February 25, 2010
19. "Superceding Information", U.S. v. Vinas, January 28, 2009, accessed February 25, 2010
20. ^ Goldman, Adam and Devlin Barret "New direction in terror fight may stem from case". Associated Press. July 26, 2009.

v t e Alleged militants in the war on terror who have lived in United States
People listed in italics have died.
September 11 attacks	Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Mohamed Atta Satam al-Suqami Waleed al-Shehri Wail al-Shehri Abdulaziz al-Omari Marwan al-Shehhi Fayez Banihammad Mohand al-Shehri Hamza al-Ghamdi Ahmed al-Ghamdi Hani Hanjour Khalid al-Mihdhar Majed Moqed Nawaf al-Hazmi Salem al-Hazmi Ziad Jarrah Ahmed al-Nami Saeed al-Ghamdi Ahmed al-Haznawi
Buffalo Six	Sahim Alwan Mukhtar al-Bakri Kamal Derwish Jaber A. Elbaneh Faysal Galab Yahya Goba Shafal Mosed Yaseinn Taher
al-Qaeda/al-Jihad	Anwar al-Awlaki Adam Yahiye Gadahn Wadih el-Hage Ziyad Khaleel Khaled Abu al-Dahab Ali Mohamed Zacarias Moussaoui Aafia Siddiqui Bryant Neal Vinas Najibullah Zazi
Boston cab drivers	Mohamad Elzahabi Nabil al-Marabh Raed Hijazi Bassam Kanj
Portland Seven	Jeffrey Battle Ahmed Bilal Muhammad Ibrahim Bilal Patrice Lumumba Ford Mike Hawash October Lewis Habis Abdulla al Saoub
Arrested in 2005 and convicted	Abdulrahman Farhane Mahmud al-Mutazzim Rafiq Abdus Sabir Tarik Shah
Liberty City Seven	Patrick Abraham Burson Augustin Rotschild Augustine Narseal Batiste Stanley Phanor
2007 Fort Dix plot	Agron Abdullahu Dritan Duka Eljvir Duka Shain Duka Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer Serdar Tatar
D.C. Five	Umer Farooq Waqar Khan Ahmed Abdullah Minni Aman Hassan Yasir Ramy Zamzam
Others	Shirwa Ahmed Yahya al-Bahrumi Mohamed Mahmood Alessa / Carlos Eduardo Almonte Daniel Patrick Boyd / Raleigh jihad group John Walker Lindh Sayed Malike Adnan Gulshair el Shukrijumah Nuradin Abdi Ahmed Omar Abu Ali Farooque Ahmed Iyman Faris Rezwan Ferdaus Michael Finton Jude Kenan Mohammad ”AustraliWitness” Nidal Hasan David Headley Daniel Maldonado José Padilla Tahawwur Hussain Rana Michael Curtis Reynolds Faisal Shahzad Hosam Maher Husein Smadi Majid Khan Jose Pimentel
Related articles	Detroit Sleeper Cell Virginia jihad network 2005 Los Angeles bomb plot 2009 Little Rock recruiting office shooting 2010 Portland car bomb plot 2011 Manhattan plot
Currently imprisoned.    Released after serving sentence.

• Living people
• Converts from Roman Catholicism
• Converts to Islam from Christianity
• American prisoners and detainees
• Prisoners and detainees of the United States federal government
• American al-Qaeda members
• Peruvian-Americans
• 1983 births
• Islamic terrorism
• Terrorism in the United States
• Al-Qaeda trainees
• American criminals
• 21st-century criminals
• People imprisoned on charges of terrorism
• American Muslims
• People from Long Island
• People convicted on terrorism charges
• People from Queens