Oakland ‘Bomb Plot’ Raises Questions of Entrapment

Ali Winston
East Bay Express
Feb 9, 2013

A foiled “bomb plot” in Oakland announced today by the FBI turned out to be not a real plot at all. That’s because the supposed “bomb” was a fake device that could not have exploded. According to federal court documents, the inert device was made by an undercover FBI agent and was supplied to a man who is now facing charges for attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction — even though the weapon never posed a threat to anyone. The court documents also raise questions as to whether that man, Matthew Adam Llaneza, 28, of San Jose had the wherewithal to plan and carry out a bomb attack were it not for help from the FBI.

The revelations about the supposed bomb plot also raises questions as to whether the Oakland case was yet another example of FBI entrapment in supposed “terrorism” cases. Since September 11, 2001, the FBI has come under heavy criticism for running similar operations to snare suspected terrorists. Academics and activists allege that the FBI is essentially entrapping susceptible individuals into committing alleged terrorist acts by initiating contact with such people and materially facilitating a fake plot that never endangers anyone.

Like the other entrapment cases, the FBI announced the Oakland plot today with much fanfare. The agency, along with United States Attorney of Northern California, said it had thwarted a “bomb plot” targeted at the Hegenberger Road branch of the Bank of America. According to the complaint, Llaneza was working hand in glove with a person he believed to be an agent of the Taliban in Afghanistan. In reality, his contact was an undercover FBI agent with the South Bay Joint Terrorism Task Force.

The San Jose Mercury News also is reporting that the Llaneza has a history of mental illness. And it seems clear that the FBI would have known that fact, since it’s readily available in public records.

Full article here

This article was posted: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 6:03 am

Tags: government corruption, terrorism

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