Just two ‘regular‘ Muslim women living in Queens:
(Reuters) – Two New York City women have been arrested and accused of planning to carry out a “terrorist attack” in the United States, according to a federal criminal complaint made public on Thursday…
The women, former roommates in the city borough of Queens, had researched how to build an explosive device and had read textbooks on electricity and watched online videos about soldering, it said.
When they were arrested, agents found bomb-building materials including propane gas tanks, soldering tools, pipes, a pressure cooker and fertilizer, authorities said.
The women also voiced support for beheadings of Western journalists and others by militants in control of territory in Syria and Iraq, the complaint said.
And, of course, everyone in the community is shocked — shocked, I tell you — that gambling was happening at Rick’s Café.
“Bomb suspects Noelle Velentzas and Asia Siddiqui described as devout Muslims with no hint of extreme leanings” is how Newsday puts it.
Those who saw Noelle Velentzas and Asia Siddiqui attending services at their masjid, or walking in their Queens neighborhood said the former roommates were devoted to Islam and family — but never showed interest in violent jihad, as authorities charge.
“They have been an upright family,” said Imam Charles Aziz Bilal of Masjid Al-Hamdulillah mosque on Sutphin Boulevard, speaking of Velentzas, her husband and daughter…
“Very honest, very sincere, very dedicated family,” he said of Velentzas and her husband, Abu Bakr. “They’re family-oriented. They have children in the community, born in the mosque. Good religious people.”…
“A mother who took care of her daughter, normal,” he said. “Very friendly, nothing political, nothing extremist. . . . If they were doing it, they were doing it on the down low.”
