THE CITY OF NEW YORK

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

N E W Y O R K , N Y 10 00 7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 12, 2011
No. 152
www.nyc.gov

MAYOR BLOOMBERG UPDATES NEW YORKERS ON THE ARREST OF TWO

SUSPECTS IN SYNAGOGUE TERROR CASE WITH POLICE COMMISSIONER KELLY
AND MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY VANCE

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s remarks as delivered in the Blue Room of City Hall today follow:

“Good afternoon. I’m joined by Police Commissioner Kelly, Deputy Commissioner for
Intelligence David Cohen, and our Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance. And we’re also honored
to have with us today Rabbi Michael Miller and David Pollock from the Jewish Community
Relations Council, the JCRC, and Imam Shamsi Ali, the Imam of the Islamic Cultural Center on
96th Street and Jamaica Muslim Center in Queens.

“The successful raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound was a critically important victory in
our nation’s war against terrorism, and it was a testament to exceptional work done by our military
and intelligence communities. But we knew that we could not rest for a moment.

“New York City is an international symbol of freedom and liberty. And for that reason, we
will always be a target – we will always be on guard to protect the people of this city.

“Yesterday, detectives from the NYPD arrested two men who said they wanted to destroy a
major synagogue in Manhattan, and then purchased several weapons and a hand grenade from an
undercover officer.

“Fortunately, long before their aspirations could take hold, New York City police officers
were watching them and were in a position to take them into custody, before they could maim and
murder innocent New Yorkers.

“We are concerned about ‘lone wolves’ acting against New York City in the wake of the
killing of bin Laden. And that’s why the case before us today is so important.

“No city has invested more in counterterrorism efforts than ours, because keeping New
Yorkers safe is our highest priority. By assigning 1,000 of our best officers to counterterrorism and

(more)
intelligence duties, and by investing in high-tech systems that improve our ability to identify and
react to potential terrorist activity, the NYPD has been able to prevent terrorists from striking our
city since the attacks of 9/11.

“As I said last week during our budget presentation, we always make sure the Police
Department has enough resources to protect this city, and, if necessary, we’ll figure out how to pay
for it later. Commissioner Kelly has done a masterful job over the years of doing more with less,
including assigning more than a thousand police officers daily to counterterrorism duties.

“Yesterday’s developments, and 12 other plots thwarted since 9/11, I think are ample
evidence of just how good a job they’ve done. I wanted to commend Commissioner Kelly and his
investigators, as well as District Attorney Vance and his outstanding staff for pursuing this
important case.

“Before Commissioner Kelly provides details of the investigation and arrests that took place
last evening, let me just point that even as the NYPD continues to do such great work in this area,
today there was a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on a measure that would have
prevented people on the terrorist watch list from purchasing guns. I’m sorry to report that that
measure failed. Our Coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns has urged Congress to pass such
restrictions, and last night’s arrest is a perfect illustration why.”

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Contact: Stu Loeser (212) 788-2958

Michael Miller and David Pollock of the JCRC attended the press conference announcing the arrest
of two suspects accused of plotting to bomb a major synagogue in Manhattan. As Mayor
Bloomberg explained in his opening remarks:

“Yesterday, detectives from the NYPD arrested two men who said they wanted to destroy a major
synagogue in Manhattan, and then purchased several weapons and a hand grenade from an
undercover officer.

“Fortunately, long before their aspirations could take hold, New York City police officers were
watching them and were in a position to take them into custody, before they could maim and
murder innocent New Yorkers.

Read Mayor Bloomberg's full remarks here.

Ahmed Ferhani, 26, and Mohamed Mamdouh, 20, are charged with multiple felony counts and hate
crimes carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. In the course of the

2
investigation Mr. Ferhani expressed clear anti-Semitism and asked an undercover officer whether he
would join him in a plan to bomb a synagogue.

Manhattan DA, Cyrus Vance, Jr., noted:

"The defendants plotted and took concrete steps to bomb synagogues and kill Jewish New Y orkers
as an act of terrorism"

Read DA Vance's statement here. Read the full criminal complaint providing more details here.

NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly described the police activities leading to the arrests and
commended NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence David Cohen and his team for their
outstanding work.

Commissioner Kelly commented that:

"While there are no specific plots targeting New York City in the wake of Bin Laden's death, this
latest case reminds us that we must remain vigilant every day ..."

JCRC Executive Vice President &