Cyberspace Sleuth Cautions Fellow Americans Against Laxness on Terrorism
by Allie Martin
September 29, 2005
(AgapePress) - The director of a faith-based homeless shelter in New Mexico is also helping in the fight against terrorism -- by browsing the Internet. Shortly after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Jeremy Reynalds -- director of the Joy Junction homeless shelter in Albuquerque -- wanted to find a way to help fight the war on terror. So he began monitoring the Internet, searching for websites or postings from terror supporters. Recently his work alerted authorities to an American Muslim in Connecticut who, according to Reynalds, was searching for financial contributions to a fund for terrorist acts against Americans.
Reynalds says Americans must be vigilant and not fall into the trap of believing it could never happen to them. "I'm sure in one instance this gentleman, living in Hartford, Connecticut, with his family, was a nice guy," Reynalds offers. "I'm sure there were neighbors [in the man's apartment complex] who went across to have tea or coffee with him. But again, it just shows you there are infiltrators, terrorists, wannabe-terrorists, living among us."
According to the Albuquerque resident, there are many websites and Internet bulletin boards promoting terrorism against Americans. He says recent terror attacks in England show how easy it is for terrorists to infiltrate society.
"And if we ignore issues like this," he says, "we ignore them at our risk. That's the whole issue with the folks in England -- they ignored these Islamic militant types, saying 'Well, they just like talking.' Maybe they could have said that on July 6, but now England is playing a very, very different tune altogether."
Reynalds says he plans to publish a book about his Internet-based search for terrorists early next year.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
