By Chuck Hustmyre

(Continued)

advertisement

The license plate on the van at the time of Ahmed's arrest was stolen from another vehicle, according to police spokeswoman Mumford, but she could not confirm whether the van had also been reported stolen.

According to police reports obtained by Crime Library, in November, Ahmed (whose real name is Ibrahim Sheikhahmed) led police on a wild chase through downtown Nashville after an officer tried to stop him for a traffic violation. During the chase, which reached speeds of 100 mph, Ahmed drove across a sidewalk, blasted through seven red lights, almost hit a marked police car, drove against traffic, and nearly ran down a police officer. It ended only when Ahmed crashed into another vehicle.

Police arrested Ahmed for risking death or injury to others by evading arrest. In January, Ahmed pleaded guilty.

Although there is no evidence of a connection, in 2006, WorldTribune.com and other media outlets reported that some militant Islamic Web sites were promoting a book that contains a section titled Guide for Individual Jihad. According to those reports, the guide offers advice to lone terrorists about how to kill their enemies. Techniques include poisoning, drug overdoses, shooting, arson, and running people down with cars.

In March 2006, Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar, a 22-year-old student from Iran, intentionally ran over nine people with his rented 2006 Jeep Cherokee at the University of North Carolina.

Five months later, in August, 29-year-old Omeed Aziz Popla, from Afghanistan, mowed down 14 people with his black Honda SUV during a 20-minute kamikaze-style attack on the streets of San Francisco.

Crime Library called the FBI's Nashville office on Tuesday to ask if Ahmed had any known link to terrorism or if the FBI was investigating his actions as a possible hate crime, since the attack appears to have been motivated by the victims' religious beliefs, but Special Agent Steve Richardson did not return Crime Library's telephone call.

Ahmed is being held in jail on a $302,000 bond.

Previous Page

Contact Chuck Hustmyre at chuck3174@yahoo.com

For more daily crime news