Intro Into Homeland Security

Intro into Homeland Security

Essay: Florida Mosque Bombing

May 10,, 2010 the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida was bombed causing a little over
five hundred dollars of damage to the mosque; but no one was killed or seriously injured. The
assailant was caught on video doing the act and was later found out to be forty-six year old
Sandlin Matthew Smith. Soon after the attack Smith fled from Florida, but the FBI agents were
tipped off to the Smith’s location in a tent at Glass Mountain State Park in northwest Oklahoma.
FBI agents and other officers blocked off the area overnight and then approached the man around
midday on about a week after his pipe bombing to the mosque. Smith pulled out his weapon and
when the FBI asked him to surrender and he refused and opened fire he was shot and killed.

Before Smith was killed, an FBI agent that was investigating Smith describes how his
marriage was falling apart, and how he allegedly told people close that he was angry at Muslims.
The reason he bombed the mosque was because he was angry about American soldiers going
overseas, fighting and dying. The agent also described how Smith had recently told other
friends that he had bombed the mosque and that the “feds” were after him. Truly Smith’s
problem started when he fell out of a tree in November 2009 and broke both legs. He was given
methadone and other painkillers and began to act strangely. In late April 2010, he and his wife
had an argument and she filed for divorce and left the house.

In conclusion Smith’s death was his bad karma a hate crime is still a hate crime; after
investigating it was clear to see that he was just an emotionally disturbed man that just wanted
someone to blame for his depleted marriage and his downhill in life. [continues]

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