Man arrested at Chicago O'Hare for making 'terroristic threats'

A man wanted by Minnesota authorities for alleged terrorist threats was arrested at O'Hare Airport Thursday night, Chicago Police officials said.

He looks like he's got a bit of an attitude problem, doesn't he? --->

Ismail Alqawasmi, 36, of Richfield, Minn., remains in custody after being taken into custody at about 7:45 p.m., officials said.

According to police, a customs official conducting a name check found an active warrant from Wright County in Buffalo, Minn. for Algawasmi.

Details of those "terroristic threats" were not released by police.

Alqawasmi had just arrived in the United States from Amman, Jordan on Royal Jordanian Arlines. He holds a Jordan passport, which has been seized by police.

Alqawasmi is scheduled to appear in court at 11 a.m. Friday in the Cook County Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave.

Update: 4:50pm MST - It DOES appear to be an attitude problem not the jihadi syndrome. The so called "terroristic threats" were threatening a man in an altercation of some sort.

A Cook County judge this morning dropped an out-of-state fugitive warrant for a man wanted in Minnesota for alleged terrorist threats. Ismail Hashem Alqawasmi, 36, still faces misdemeanor assault and felony terrorist charges, but the Jan. 18, 2008 incident related to the warrant apparently wasn’t serious enough for Minnesota officials to come get him.

...

That charge is deceptive, because local statutes classify verbal disputes or threats -- even between individuals -- as “teroristic,” Alqawasmi’s Minnesota attorney, Patrick Ledray, said.

"This was yelling back and forth through a closed door. It has nothing to do with terrorism as you would think about it in the media. It just means you put terror into something,” Ledray said.

“If his name would have been John Smith, you wouldn't be calling me. There’s a prejudice out there. When we see his last name and the country he’s from, we make assumptions,” he said.

(Hey Lawyer! Guess what? If his name was John Smith and there was a warrant out for his arrest - he would have still been picked up and he would have STILL been calling you.)