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FBI Investigates Internet Death Threat of Episcopal Bishop
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
January 6, 2010
The FBI is investigating a notice of information about a death threat received by The Rt. Rev. F. Clayton Matthews, Office of Pastoral Development of The Episcopal Church.
Following the threat, Linda Allmond Emory, Administrative Assistant to Bishop Matthews, sent out an e-mail to all members of the House of Bishops asking if they had received the same or a similar e-mail.
Neither Bishop Matthews nor his assistant returned e-mail requests for information, but an orthodox bishop who asked not to be named told VOL that he had received an e-mail from Emory, but said that the threat does not seem credible.
Amy Thoreson, public relations specialist with the FBI Charlotte, NC office, said that the FBI cannot confirm or deny any investigation due to Department of Justice regulations.
In her note to the bishops Emory wrote, "A death threat has been received by a member of the HOB. The FBI would like to know if other bishops have received the same or a similar e-mail. If you have received this or a similar email over the Christmas Holidays, please let our office know, ASAP."
2857 Trent Road,
New Bern, NC 28562
Phone: 252-635-5004
Fax: 252-635-5006
Email: lemory@episcopalchurch.org
The threat came from a Mohammad Gazal Bin Ali.
It is dated Dec. 27, 2009 at 2:57
Subject: A Christmas Gift From GOD Bishop,
"Let me introduce myself. (I was) born in a small town in the Nile Delta, Egypt in 1984, I moved with his family to section of Cairo at the age of 10. I studied mechanical engineering at Cairo University, and went to Hamburg, Germany in 2001 to continue my studies at the Technical University of Hamburg, where I remained a student until fall 2003. In Hamburg, I became involved with the Al-Quds Mosque. At some point, I disappeared from Germany for periods of time, spending some time in Sudan and Saudi Arabia, including several months in late2004 and early 2005 in Afghanistan where I met a representative of Osama bin Laden and other top Al-Qaeda leaders. I and the other Africans who have become radical extremist where recruited by Bin Laden though not in person for the "terrorist operations" against western religion leaders because we believe they preached against Islam and lack respect for AL-lah and Mohammad in the United States and Britain. I traveled to England early 2006 where I obtained multiple visas into the united states In late March 2006, I entered the U.S and began contacting flight schools. In the United States i started inquiring about you. Early this year i was given an assignment by a radical Islamic group involve with al-Qaeda to eliminate you because you have been identified as "a target of Islam" and AL-LAH has ordered your ASSASSINATION, a mission I gladly accepted with the conviction that I will kill you for the sake of AL-LAH. I have intensionally delayed the you assassination because I want to leave the US immediately for Africa. My mother back in Cairo is worried about so I intend to quite and return to Africa but this is suicide or me because this people will hunt me with all the have but i will take that chance. If you agree to pay me the sum of 50 000dollars in cash to be transfered to the country where i want to relocate andstart a new life then i will spare you life. But if no reply in the next 72hours the this will be your last Christmas."Remember can kill even my mother in the name of ALLAH". Reply me without delay to give you the details of the payments. 50 000 dollars is nothing compare to your life or doyou want to go to hell? am not sure. After 72 hours i will not hesitate to kill you. A bomb will explode where? when? only i can tell. It's real you lordship we don't make false treats. you have just 72 hours. sir don't #$%&^! with me. My life is nothing to me now am desperate. You know what am saying. OK? Mohammad GAZAL Bin Ali.
VOL footnote: VOL has not cleaned up the e-mail leaving both spelling and grammar as it is.
END
NOTE: VOL today (1/12/2010) has received further information regarding this threat. It was a "notice of information" received by Bishop Matthews rather than a threat directed personally against him. VOL apologizes for the misinformation. The FBI is still investigating the case. No further threats have been received by the HOB.
