Tamil Tigers assoc gets security clearance at EWR...

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime_f ... hei-2.html

Sri Lankan terror gang busted in ATM heist plot

By BARBARA ROSS
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER


Until his arrest, alleged ringleader Sivapalasri Velayuthampillai worked three jobs at Newark Airport as a security agent and baggage handler with complete security clearance.

Until his arrest, alleged ringleader Sivapalasri Velayuthampillai worked three jobs at Newark Airport as a security agent and baggage handler with complete security clearance.

The Tamil Tigers are one of the world's most ruthless and violent nationalist organizations. Thirty-two countries, including the U.S., have branded the Tigers a terrorist group.

Founded three decades ago in Sri Lanka, the Tigers have indiscriminately attacked civilians in order to create a separate Tamil state in parts of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon.

Known formally as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the group pioneered the use of suicide bombers, called the Black Tigers. Female suicide bombers were employed in the assassination of former Indian President Rajiv Gandhi and in an attempt on the life of Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaranatunga.

Experts have linked them to other terrorist organizations and note the similarity between the Tigers' attack on Sri Lanka Navy ships and the Al Qaeda attack on the U.S. destroyer Cole that killed 17 American sailors.

Their sources of worldwide funding, in addition to credit card fraud, include sea piracy, human smuggling and drug trafficking, the experts say.

A band of men linked to Tamil Tiger terrorists - led by a Sri Lankan who used a fake passport to get security clearance at Newark Airport - has been busted in a massive plot to loot city ATMs.

Manhattan prosecutors told the Daily News the eight men had ties to the terror group and were part of a scheme to use stolen credit card numbers to steal $250,000 in New York - and tens of millions from ATMs worldwide.

Six were nabbed in January in a raid at the Chelsea Inn, a reputed lair for the ultraviolent Sri Lankan separatist group.

Ironic he was working at an airport considering these are the guys who attacked Sri Lanka's major international airport causing significant damage particularly to SriLankan Airlines' fleet (which had to totally write off 2 aircraft)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandaranai ... ort_attack

It amazes me that despite the ongoing civil war, many European tourists consider Sri Lanka a resort destination and continue to go down there on holiday with little concern.

And as for hotels, check out the second user review of the Chelsea Inn (this is the dump on 23rd & 11th not the apparently reputable place of the same name further downtown) ...got to love Manhattan 'budget hotels'

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review ... _York.html