The FBI has arrested 13 militia members over a plot to kidnap the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer.
A sworn affidavit from an FBI agent detailed the outlines of the plot, which was thwarted by law enforcement.
“The group talked about creating a society that followed the US Bill of Rights and where they could be self-sufficient,” the agent wrote.
“At one point, several members talked about state governments they believed were violating the US Constitution, including the government of Michigan and Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
“Several members talked about murdering ‘tyrants’ or ‘taking’ a sitting governor."
The government used informants and undercover agents to thwart the alleged plot.
Members of the group had anti-government views and were plotting to kidnap the Democrat from her summer home, the affidavit filed in court and revealed on Thursday.
The criminal complaint identified six of them as Adam Fox, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta, all of Michigan, and Barry Croft of Delaware.
They are being charged with kidnapping conspiracy.
Seven others, with links to a Michigan militia called the Wolverine Watchmen, are charged by state courts and accused of trying to target police and the Michigan capitol.
The federal affidavit said Mr Fox was recorded in June as saying he needed 200 men to storm the capitol building in Lansing, Michigan's state capital, and take hostages including the governor.
The ages of the accused men were not revealed.
Hours after the arrests, Ms Whitmer said President Donald Trump’s words had been a “rallying cry” for extremists.
She mentioned Mr Trump’s debate performance, when he told one far-right extremist group to “stand back and stand by" in a question about condemning white supremacy groups.
“Hate groups heard the president’s words not as a rebuke, but as a rallying cry,” Ms Whitmer said.
“When our leaders speak, their words matter. They carry weight. When our leaders meet, encourage or fraternise with domestic terrorists, they legitimise their actions and they are complicit.
"When they stoke and contribute to hate speech, they are complicit.”
Trained for an attack on state capitol
The FBI tracked the suspects' encrypted and social media messages and then had a source infiltrate a meeting that a larger group held in Ohio last June.
The affidavit said the source recorded the meeting and received $8,600 as compensation.
The complaint said Mr Fox then contacted the Wolverine Watchmen.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said the seven men linked to the militia would also be charged under the state’s anti-terrorism statute.
They are suspected of trying to identify the homes of law enforcement officers to “target” them and “make threats of violence intended to instigate a civil war”.
They also planned and trained for an operation to attack the Michigan capitol building and to kidnap government officials, including the governor, Ms Nessel said.
In the past two months, the group shifted to surveillance on Ms Whitmer’s summer home and planned to execute the operation before the election.
US President Donald Trump criticised Ms Whitmer on Twitter over the spring and summer, and called on his supporters to “liberate Michigan”.
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The five pillars of Islam
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinFlx%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202021%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amr%20Yussif%20(co-founder%20and%20CEO)%2C%20Mattieu%20Capelle%20(co-founder%20and%20CTO)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%20in%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.5m%20pre-seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Venture%20capital%20-%20Y%20Combinator%2C%20500%20Global%2C%20Dubai%20Future%20District%20Fund%2C%20Fox%20Ventures%2C%20Vector%20Fintech.%20Also%20a%20number%20of%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Name: Salvador Toriano Jr
Age: 59
From: Laguna, The Philippines
Favourite dish: Seabass or Fish and Chips
Hobbies: When he’s not in the restaurant, he still likes to cook, along with walking and meeting up with friends.
Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
RESULT
Aston Villa 1
Samatta (41')
Manchester City 2
Aguero (20')
Rodri (30')
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
John Cena v Triple H
Matches to be announced
WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Raw Tag Team Championship, United States Championship and the Cruiserweight Championship are all due to be defended
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
Tell Me Who I Am
Director: Ed Perkins
Stars: Alex and Marcus Lewis
Four stars
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Ammar 808:
Maghreb United
Sofyann Ben Youssef
Glitterbeat
