Four charged with plotting LA terror attacks

LOS ANGELES - The suspected founder of an Islamic prison gang and three other men have been indicted for plotting attacks on Los Angeles-area military facilities and synagogues, the Israeli consulate and El Al airlines.

The United States District Court indictment, which was handed down in Santa Ana, said the men were actively recruiting members of their organisation and robbed several southern California gas stations to finance their operations.

The indictment accuses California prison inmate Kevin James of "conspiracy to levy war against the United States" among other charges and says he founded the organisation Jam'iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh behind bars with the goal of attacking enemies of Islam.

The indictment said James recruited inmates by clandestinely distributing documents on Islam, including one on the justification for killing nonbelievers.

Also named in the indictment are another California prison inmate, Levar Washington, along with Gregory Patterson and Hammad Samana.

The men allegedly had bought firearms and conducted surveillance on military facilities.

- REUTERS