Two Jordanians who may have been engaged in a “dry run for al-Qaeda or ISIS” have been arrested after allegedly trying to drive a truck into a US Marine Corps base in Virginia.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed to the Post that two Jordanians were stopped at the main gate of Marine Corps Base Quantico, 55 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., and are currently in custody.
“On May 3, 2024, the Marine Corps Base Quantico Criminal Investigation Division arrested two Jordanian non-nationals on charges of trespassing,” said ICE Washington Spokesperson James Covington.
“Forcibly deported personnel in forced removal operations” [ERO] The Criminal Apprehension Program responded and arrested both men without incident. ”
This incident was first reported by Potomac local news It was also featured in Monday’s Post.
The truck’s occupants recently crossed the southern border into the United States, and one person was on the U.S. government’s terrorist watch list, a local website said, citing multiple sources.
But authorities would not confirm whether the men were on a terrorist watch list or provide details about their intentions or the contents of the truck, saying only that they would remain in custody and face deportation from the United States. Stated.
On May 3, the two Jordanians drove a box truck to the Fuller Road Gate at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, where they were stopped by military guards, said base spokesman Col. Michael Curtis. base spokesman Col. Michael Curtis said in an earlier statement. post.
“When questioned, the truck driver told military police that he was working for an Amazon subcontractor and was making deliveries to the U.S. Post Office in Quantico,” the statement said.
Military officers reportedly realized that the vehicle’s occupants were not affiliated with Quantico or had approved qualifications and escorted them to a detention center for inspection.
“At that time, one of the military police officers noticed that the driver ignored the officer’s direct instructions and continued to move the vehicle beyond the hold area and attempt to enter Marine Corps Base Quantico,” Curtis said.
“Through their rapid response and mission execution, officers were able to deploy a no-vehicle barrier, prevent further access to Marine Corps Base Quantico, and detain individuals who were ultimately turned over to ICE custody. did it.
“There were no injuries.”
Robert O’Neill, a former Navy SEAL, told the Post that the incursion was a “dry run” by “Al Qaeda or ISIS” to see “how far they could get trucks into the base and how it worked.” He said there were signs that this was likely. Prepare for future terrorist attacks.
“I tried to get in, saying I was a delivery man, but when a barricade appeared, it sped up, so it appeared to be some type of test, like a truck bomb.
O’Neill said the Marine Corps’ response shows they “did a good job” because no one was killed in the process.
” [Jordanians] “They were lucky they weren’t shot,” he said.
The incident is the latest in a series of break-ins at U.S. Marine Corps bases.
On March 17, an unauthorized driver failed to stop or slow down as he approached the main gate of Naval Air Station North Island, part of Naval Station Coronado, California.
As the vehicle passed through the gate, base security personnel opened fire on the vehicle, forcing it to stop. As a result, the base was placed on lockdown and all gates were closed.
Base security took the suspect into custody and he was arrested by the Coronado Police Department.
Just 10 days later, a Chinese national tried to drive into the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., after being told by military police that he did not have permission, Marine Corps officials told Military.com.
“The suspect briefly evaded gate security but was quickly apprehended by military police,” Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Joshua Pena told Military.com.
In December, a deranged Florida man calling himself “Captain America” tried to break into MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. He was later identified as Baruch Roche, 33 years old.
“Mr. Roche got into an argument and threatened to come back every day to find the officer who denied him entry,” prosecutors said in a press release.
“Due to suspicious behavior, Roche was taken into custody and security officers searched his vehicle.
“The trunk contained a large number of AR-15s, including five magazines containing 125 rounds of ammunition.”
Last October, Air Force security personnel were forced to fire several shots in self-defense after a driver entered the main entrance at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, according to the Air Force base.
Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Press Secretary Robert Strain told military.com. The driver allegedly drove “in the opposite direction of the vehicle at high speed” toward the security guard.
