FBI Kept Quiet About Assassination Plot on OWS, FOIA Obtained Docs Show -- Updated re Comments
The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund
has uncovered FBI documents obtained through a FOIA request that show
the FBI had knowledge of a specific plot to assassinate OWS leaders in
Texas using silencer-equipped sniper rifles.
An identified [DELETED] as of October planned to engage in sniper attacks against protestors in Houston, Texas if deemed necessary. An identified [DELETED] had received intelligence that indicated the protesters in New York and Seattle planned similar protests in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin, Texas. [DELETED] planned to gather intelligence against the leaders of the protest groups and obtain photographs , then formulate a plan to kill the leadership via suppressed sniper rifles.However, the FBI did not inform OWS leadership or local police of the threat. Houston FBI is not issuing comment about why they neglected to inform OWS. The link to the documents and a snip from the relevant page follow over the jump.
The documents are archived on the PCJF website here: FOIA FBI OWS Docs
It's a fairly large set of documents, mostly showing summaries and plans for various OWS protests nationwide. The following is the relevant excerpt on page 61 of the released documents about the sniper assassination threat:
It sure would be nice to know who or what organization is being deleted out here. The if deemed necessary part is certainly unnerving and implies this is not some lone individual, but some organization.
I don't doubt the FBI would have acted if it knew the threat was
being actualized, but at a minimum it shows incredible callousness that
OWS leaders or local police were not informed of the threat. The FBI has
apparently confirmed the information is correct and will not fill in
the identifying information deleted in the FOIA released documents due
to privacy concerns. I am not sure why a someone planning a murder plot
is entitled to privacy.
Sat Jun 29, 2013 at 10:38 PM PT: Reclist! Cool. Thanks folks.
2:10 PM PT: I just wanted to add a note upon reflection and reading a day's worth of comments. Clearly this strikes a nerve, even since it turns out some of this was covered in two previous diaries linked to within the comments. I contend the heightened sensitivity is in fact a result of all the new information surrounding domestic data collection, spying on the EU, etc. that many of us consider extreme overreach of the government in its purported attempts to "keep us safe." Our community is divided on the meaning of all this, but we all surely recognize that at the very least this is politically a problem. Maybe its a bipartisan problem that really points to the insatiable appetite of the military/intelligence complex that is draining resources that SHOULD be going to the welfare of Americans in some fashion. I think it represents an opportunity to win wide public support by insisting our candidates support repeal of the Patriot Act and commitments to reign in the beast. I'd appreciate seeing some commentary wrapped around this concept. Thanks again for all the participation and placement on the Reclist.
It's a fairly large set of documents, mostly showing summaries and plans for various OWS protests nationwide. The following is the relevant excerpt on page 61 of the released documents about the sniper assassination threat:
attribution: None Specified
Sat Jun 29, 2013 at 10:38 PM PT: Reclist! Cool. Thanks folks.
2:10 PM PT: I just wanted to add a note upon reflection and reading a day's worth of comments. Clearly this strikes a nerve, even since it turns out some of this was covered in two previous diaries linked to within the comments. I contend the heightened sensitivity is in fact a result of all the new information surrounding domestic data collection, spying on the EU, etc. that many of us consider extreme overreach of the government in its purported attempts to "keep us safe." Our community is divided on the meaning of all this, but we all surely recognize that at the very least this is politically a problem. Maybe its a bipartisan problem that really points to the insatiable appetite of the military/intelligence complex that is draining resources that SHOULD be going to the welfare of Americans in some fashion. I think it represents an opportunity to win wide public support by insisting our candidates support repeal of the Patriot Act and commitments to reign in the beast. I'd appreciate seeing some commentary wrapped around this concept. Thanks again for all the participation and placement on the Reclist.
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