In the wake of the arrests of some suspected terrorists, we’re now learning of the difficulties the FBI had tracking them. In New York, the counterterrorism task force apparently lost suspect Najibullah Zazi on the NY subway for a brief time. And now we see here the difficulties the FBI had tracking Hosam “Sam” Smadi.
By MELODY McDONALD
Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
FT. WORTH, Tex. — The FBI had Hosam “Sam” Smadi under surveillance in the months before the Jordanian national was accused of trying to blow up a Dallas skyscraper, according to newly released court documents.
But tracking him wasn’ t without its problems, according to a search warrant affidavit.
Agents twice placed a tracking device on Smadi s 1991 Honda Accord. Because of the car s age and condition, the device fell off each time, the affidavit states. On the third try, agents secured the tracker with a different attachment in hopes that it would hold.
Because the tracker was unreliable, agents went to a judge in September and got permission to track Smadi s cellphone, which was in the name of Kellye Kines.
