Federal judge denies N.J. terror suspects bail

With no challenge from the defendants, a Newark federal magistrate Thursday ordered two men arrested on terror charges over the weekend be held without bail because they posed a danger to the community.

Prosecutors had shown that there were no bail conditions that would "assure the safety of the community," said Magistrate-Judge Madeline Cox Arloe.

Mohamed Mahmood Alessa, 20, and Carlos Eduardo Almonte, 24, were also at risk to flee if given bail said Arloe because they had dual citizenship: Alessa was born in Jordan and Almonte in the Dominican Republic. Both were living in New Jersey when arrested.

Alessa and Almonte were brought into court in handcuffs and leg shackles, which were not removed during the brief court appearance. Sobs from family members of Alessa were heard as he came into court.

Sitting at separate tables, the defendants spoke to each other briefly but their remarks couldn't be heard by reporters. Neither man addressed Arloe.

Federal prosecutors Andrew Kogan and L. Judson Welle had asked Arloe to not grant bail on the grounds that both suspects, arrested Saturday on charges they plotted to commit murder and mayhem abroad, posed a danger to the community and were flight risks. Defense attorneys didn't contest the request.

Defense attorneys James Patton, who represents Almonte, and David Holman who is handling Alessa, waived the need for a preliminary hearing. Such waivers are common in federal cases because they allow prosecutors and defense attorneys to share information before any indictment and leave room for plea negotiations.

Alessa and Almonte were nabbed last Saturday at Kennedy Airport where they planned to take separate flights to Egypt for further travel to Somalia to join al-Qaida-linked terrorists, investigators said. Both men came to the attention of the FBI-NYPD joint terror task force in 2006 after a private citizen raised concerns about their activities. An undercover NYPD detective befriended the suspects and secretly taped their comments about wanting to kill Americans and fight overseas. Investigators said they visited paint ball firing ranges and undertook other paramilitary training in the New Jersey area.

Last Sunday NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said the pair had traveled to Jordan in 2007 in the hope of traveling to Iraq to support the jihad by fighting against Americans. But both were turned back at the border, officials said.

Outside court Thursday, Andrew Elliot, 27, a Muslim from Teaneck, N.J., who knows Alessa, said that his friend seemed "immature."

"That is how I think he got in this situation," Elliot said. "The situation is unfortunate because it stems from their immaturity."