My Philly Daily Crime Beat Column On Philly Police And FBI Arresting More Than A Dozen Violent Gang Members

Philly Daily ran my Crime Beat column today on a major bust of Philadelphia violent gang members.

You can read the column via the link below or the text below:

 Davis: Philly police and FBI arrest more than a dozen gang members - Philly Daily 

I’ve been critical of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner here. But in the interest of fairness, after I interviewed two prominent critics of the progressive and activist DA, we at Philly Daily offered a Q&A of Krasner in which we allowed him to fully state his views on crime in Philadelphia without our editing or critical commentary. 

Davis: My Q&A with Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner - Philly Daily

And although I remain critical of Krasner, in fairness I’d like to also commend his office’s participation in the huge takedown of violent criminal gangs in Philadelphia. 

For too long, violent gang members have made life in some of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods a living hell. Like the old Wild West, these gangs face off and fire guns at each other on the streets and often hit innocent bystanders rather than their gangland rivals. (I’ve joked that I’d like to open a school to teach gangbangers how to properly aim and shoot and not turn their guns sideways like they do in the movies). 

I’m glad that the city and the federal government worked together to take some of these violent hoodlums off the board. 

On February 25th, the District Attorney’s Office announced that their Gun Violence Task Force (GVTF), along with the Philadelphia Police Department’s Shooting Investigations Group (SIG), the Philadelphia FBI’s field office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the charging of more than a dozen defendants belonging to multiple West, South and Southwest Philadelphia street groups involved in several shootings in their neighborhoods and elsewhere in the city. 

“The shooting spree occurred between September 21, 2022, and May 18th, 2024, and resulted in five homicides and 35 total shooting victims, the youngest victim being five years old,” the DA’s office stated. “The 33rd Philadelphia County Investigating Grand Jury (IGJ) has determined that Mark Johnson, Kasim Brown, Salahuddin Carter, Jymir Burbage, Jerwayne Haywood, Anthony Woodson, Ronnie Vincent-Quan, Herman Stigall, Markees Muhammad, Quamere Hall, Stephen Weddington, Hassan Stafford, Hamzah Curry, Paul Beckwith, Nasir Wells, Hasin Muse, and Tatiana Edwards are implicated in the shooting homicides of four victims, the non-fatal shootings of five survivors, and eleven other shooting incidents. Two other individuals are not being named at this time as part of ongoing investigations.”

The DA’s announcement stated that the Investigating Grand Jury also determined that nine of the defendants are connected to the street group known as the “Young Bag Chasers,” or “YBC,” six are associated with the street group “Campers Campers Klapperz,” or “CCK,” and two are connected to the street group “Parkside Killers,” or “PSK.”

The list of charges includes:

·     Murder (H) and other related charges:

·         Anthony Woodson

·         Ronnie Vincent-Quan

·         Herman Stigall

·         Markees Muhammad

·         Stephen Weddington

·         Jymir Burbage

·         Hasin Muse

·         Hamzah Curry

·     Attempted Murder (F1) and other related charges:

·         Mark Johnson

·         Kasim Brown

·     Aggravated Assault (F1) and other related charges:

·         Salahuddin Carter

·         Jerwayne Haywood

·         Quamere Hall

·         Hassan Stafford

·         Paul Beckwith

·         Nasir Wells

·     Criminal Conspiracy (H) to Murder and other related charges:

·         Tatiana Edwards

“Ballistic evidence was recovered from various crime scenes and analyzed. The analysis was compared to fired cartridge casings (FCCs) to determine whether the FCCs were fired from the same firearm, and what specific firearm that was. Surveillance video of the shooting incidents were also recovered from businesses, residential properties, city cameras as well as police vehicles equipped with video recording equipment.

“The IGJ alleged that Defendants Salahuddin Carter and Jymir Burbage were involved in a double non-fatal shooting on September 22, 2022, where an eight-year-old was struck by a stray bullet while playing on the front steps in the area of 1500 Block of North 13th Street. Officers responded to the scene at approximately 8:50 P.M. where they found the victim with a graze wound to the side of the victim’s head. The victim was taken to Temple Hospital where a second shooting victim with a gunshot wound to the leg arrived shortly thereafter. The second victim had been the passenger in a vehicle when the vehicle was shot on 13th Street. The driver of the vehicle ultimately crashed the car on the way to the hospital.”

The IGJ also alleges that Defendants Stephen Weddington and Jymir Burbage were involved in a homicide of a victim on December 7, 2023. After the homicide, the “Young Bag Chasers,” or “YBC” relentlessly mocked the victim and the victim’s workplace.

“The DAO remains deeply committed to working with all of our partners to secure justice for victims and co-survivors of violent crime,” said District Attorney Larry Krasner. “Our message to other groups who are engaged in violence: we will use every legal tool, resource and enforcement strategy to hold you accountable and seek an appropriately lengthy jail time for the harm you cause to residents of Philadelphia.”

“I’d like to thank ADA Marianne Aguilar, ADA Anna Walters and members of the Philadelphia Police Department’s Shooting Investigation’s Group for their diligent investigation into a sprawling shooting spree that captured and injured the lives of too many in West, Southwest, and South Philadelphia,” said Assistant District Attorney William Fritze, Chief of the DAO’s Gun Violence Task Force. “This work is a testament to the integral use of witness statements and digital evidence processed through the DAO’s GVTF Forensics Lab.”

Captain James Kearney of the Philadelphia Police Department’s Shooting Investigations Groups also weighed in, “The collaboration between the Philadelphia Police Department’s Shooting Investigations Group and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office’s Gun Violence Task Force allows for successful outcomes like the one today. It’s because of the collaboration with our Law Enforcement Partners that our city can sleep safer tonight.”

Paul Davis’s Crime Beat column appears here each week. He is also a contributor to Broad + Liberty and Counterterrorism magazine. He can be reached at pauldavisoncrime.com.  

Two ISIS Supporters Charged With Attempting To Detonate Explosive Devices During Protests Outside Gracie Mansion

The U.S. Justice Department released the below photos and information:

The Department of Justice announced charges against Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi alleging that they attempted to detonate two explosive devices in the vicinity of Gracie Mansion, and that they were acting in support of ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

“This was an alleged ISIS-inspired act of terrorism that could have killed American citizens,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will not allow ISIS’s poisonous, anti-American ideology to threaten this nation—our law enforcement officers will remain vigilant, as they were when these devices were brought to a protest.”

“These men allegedly sought to inflict mass casualties in service to ISIS with the hope of exceeding the carnage of the Boston Marathon bombing,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We are tremendously grateful to the brave law enforcement officers who ran into harm’s way to apprehend these individuals and disarm the explosives before anyone was harmed. Thanks to the quick investigative work by federal law enforcement, this Department of Justice will prosecute these men who pledged allegiance to a foreign terrorist organization to the fullest extent.”

“The defendants allegedly support ISIS and tried to follow the path of that deadly group by attempting to detonate explosive devices in a crowd,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI and our partners have no tolerance for terrorist organizations or those inspired by them to engage in attacks. We are committed to stopping acts of violence and will hold accountable those who seek to harm our citizens. I want to commend the brave NYPD officers who took action to prevent injuries or loss of life on the streets of New York.”

“This alleged act of terrorism, including the packing of metal shrapnel into explosive devices, reveal an intent to cause multiple deaths or serious injuries,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “This is a sober reminder of the threat posed by ISIS and its despicable ideology.  NSD will continue to use all tools at its disposal to protect this Nation and its people.”

“As alleged, on Saturday, March 7, during a protest taking place outside Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi attempted to detonate two improvised explosive devices amongst the protesters,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “Moreover, after being apprehended by NYPD officers, both Balat and Kayumi stated they were aligned with ISIS. Free speech and peaceable assembly are the bedrock of American democracy. Violence is not protected speech, and it’s not protected protest. In New York, violence—particularly acts of terror—will be met with swift justice. This investigation remains ongoing, and we encourage anyone with further information to please contact tips.fbi.gov online or 1-800-CALL-FBI.”

As alleged in the Complaint:

On or about March 7, 2026, a protest called “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer” and a counter-protest called “Run Nazis Out of New York City” were held outside of Gracie Mansion in Manhattan, New York. Gracie Mansion is the official residence of the Mayor of New York City.

At approximately 12:15 p.m., Balat ignited and threw an explosive device (Device-1) toward the area where the protesters were gathered, as pictured below:

Immediately after throwing Device-1, Balat ran to another location down the block and received a second explosive device (Device-2) from Kayumi, as pictured below:

After apparently igniting Device-2, Balat dropped Device-2 near where several NYPD officers were standing, ran away from the NYPD officers, and jumped over a barricade. He was tackled and arrested by NYPD officers shortly thereafter, as was Kayumi. Pictured below are Balat mid-flight and Device-2 hitting the ground:

Following his arrest, while en route to the NYPD precinct, Balat stated to NYPD officers: “this isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the prophet . . . We take action! We take action!”; and “if I didn’t do it someone else will come and do it.” Then, after arriving at the NYPD precinct, Balat requested a piece of paper and, after being given a paper and pen, wrote the following: “All praise is due to Allah lord of all worlds! I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State. Die in your rage yu [sic] kuffar! Emir B.” “Kuffar” is an Arabic term that refers to “non-believers” or “infidels,” and “Die in your rage” is a slogan used by ISIS.

Law enforcement officers later asked Balat if he was familiar with the Boston Marathon bombing, and if that was what Balat had hoped to accomplish. Balat responded: “No, even bigger.  It was only three deaths.”

After Kayumi was arrested, and as he was being placed inside an NYPD vehicle to be transported from the scene to an NYPD precinct, an individual from the surrounding crowd yelled to Kayumi and asked why Kayumi had done this.  Kayumi responded, “ISIS.” Then, at the NYPD precinct, in response to a question from law enforcement about whether he was affiliated with ISIS, Kayumi indicated that he was. He further stated, in substance and part, that: (i) he has watched ISIS propaganda on his phone; (ii) his actions that day were partly inspired by ISIS; (iii) he did not feel comfortable holding the Devices earlier that day; and (iv) he would not feel comfortable if the Devices were in the interrogation room with him.

After Balat and Kayumi were arrested and the Devices were secured, an FBI Special Agent Bomb Technician (SABT) conducted a preliminary examination of the Devices and determined that they were each approximately the size of a mason jar; that they each had an attached fuse; and that they each had nuts and bolts attached to the exterior, surrounded by duct tape. A preliminary analysis of Device-1, the device that Balat threw into the crowd of protesters, showed that it contained TATP, a highly volatile explosive that is colloquially known as the “Mother of Satan” and extremely sensitive to impact, friction, and heat. TATP has been used in multiple terrorist attacks over the last decade.

Pictured below are the contents inside Device-1 after it was opened by law enforcement:

1.     On or about March 8, 2026, law enforcement officers located a parked vehicle registered to a family member of Balat a few blocks from Gracie Mansion. From inside the vehicle, law enforcement officers recovered a coiled green material consistent in appearance with hobby fuse, an empty metal can of the same approximate dimensions and appearance as the can recovered from inside Device-1, and a notebook containing handwritten notes. One page of the notebook contains the note “TATP explosive”; another page contains a list of chemical ingredients, including “hydrogen peroxide,” “sulfuric acid,” and “acetone”; and a third page contains a list of components and quantities, such as “aluminum can x6,” and “a box of bolts ect [sic] 2x.”

As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the charging instrument to date constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.

Balat, 18, of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and Kayumi, 19, of Newtown, Pennsylvania, are charged with attempted provision of material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; use of a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; transportation of explosive materials, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; interstate transportation and receipt of explosives, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and unlawful possession of destructive devices, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding efforts of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force of the FBI, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the New York State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI Newark Field Office, the FBI Philadelphia Field Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their assistance.

This case is being handled by the National Security and International Narcotics Unit for the Southern District of New York. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan L. Bodansky and Jane Y. Chong are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and paralegal specialist Juan Muñoz.                                                                            

The Walnut Street Theater In Philadelphia Is Offering Edward Albee’s Award-Winning Play, ‘A Delicate Balance’

Philly Daily, where my Crime Beat column appears each week, reports that the Walnut Street Theater is offering a production of Edward Albee’s classic Pulitzer Prize-winning play A Delicate Balance.

You can read the rest of the piece via the link below:  

The Walnut Street Theater is offering Edward Albee’s Award-Winning Play, ‘A Delicate Balance’ - Philly Daily

Iranian Intelligence Agent Convicted Of Terrorism And Murder For Hire In Connection With Foiled Plot To Assassinate U.S. Politicians And Government Officials

The U.S. Justice Department released the information below:

On Friday, a federal jury convicted Asif Merchant, also known as “Asif Raza Merchant,” of murder for hire and attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries. Merchant was a trained operative of the Iranian government’s global terrorist force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Merchant admitted at trial that the IRGC sent him to the United States to arrange for political assassinations and steal documents, but law enforcement foiled the plot before any attack could be carried out. Merchant arrived in the United States in April of 2024, met with purported hitmen in June—who were in fact undercover U.S. law enforcement officers in New York—and was placed under arrest before leaving the country in July of 2024. Merchant faces up to life in prison.

“This man landed on American soil hoping to kill President Trump — instead, he was met with the might of American law enforcement,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice will remain ever-vigilant to protect Americans, prosecute terrorists, and halt acts of terrorism before they happen.”

“Merchant tried to hire someone to kill a politician or a U.S. government official, but the FBI and our partners stopped that deadly plot,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This was not the first attempt by Iran to harm our citizens on U.S. soil; the other efforts also failed. Let this verdict serve as a reminder that the FBI is committed to detecting such threats and preventing acts of violence, and we will hold accountable anyone who tries to interfere with our democratic system.”

“Merchant, a trained Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps operative, entered the United States intending to commit acts of terror, and ultimately, to facilitate the assassination of U.S. government officials, including President Trump,” said Assistant Attorney General for National security John A. Eisenberg.  “Merchant’s plot struck at the heart of our democracy and our commitment to the rule of law. NSD remains committed to defending our Nation from the pernicious threat of terrorism.”

“Iran’s terrorist regime sent Asif Merchant here to sow mayhem and murder,” stated United States Attorney Nocella for the Eastern District of New York.  “Thanks to the vigilance of our law enforcement partners, his scheme ended in failure.  Today, with Merchant’s conviction, that failure is complete.  This Office will always remain vigilant in our mission to protect the United States from foreign terrorist adversaries. ”

As set forth in trial exhibits and testimony, including the defendant’s own testimony, Merchant began working for the IRGC in Pakistan in late 2022 or early 2023, when he received training in tradecraft, including countersurveillance.  Later in 2023, he was sent to the United States to look for potential IRGC recruits who could stay behind in the United States.  Merchant testified that he knew that the IRGC was a designated terrorist organization.  Throughout this period, Merchant repeatedly traveled to Iran to meet with his IRGC handler.

Merchant testified that in 2024, he was sent back to the United States with a new mission:  to recruit “Mafia” members to steal documents, stage a protest, and arrange  the murder of one of three specific U.S. government officials and politicians.  To that end, Merchant contacted an acquaintance in New York who he thought could help him with his scheme.  That person, Nadeem Ali, instead reported Merchant’s conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source.

In early June, Merchant met Ali in New York and explained his assassination plot.  Merchant told Ali that he had an ongoing opportunity for him and then made a “finger gun” motion with his hand, indicating that the opportunity was related to a killing.  Merchant further stated that the intended victims would be “targeted here,” in the United States. Merchant instructed Ali to arrange meetings with individuals whom Merchant could hire to carry out these actions.  Merchant explained that his plot involved multiple criminal schemes: (1) stealing documents or USB drives from a target’s home; (2) planning a protest; and (3) killing a politician or government official.

At that meeting, Merchant began planning potential assassination scenarios and quizzed Ali on how he would kill a target in the various scenarios.  Specifically, Merchant asked Ali to explain how the target would die in different scenarios.  Merchant told Ali that there would be “security [] all around” the person.

Merchant stated that the assassination would occur after he left the United States and he would communicate with Ali from overseas using code words.  Ali asked whether Merchant had spoken to the unidentified “party” back home with whom Merchant was working. Merchant responded that he had and that the party back home told him to “finalize” the plan and leave the United States.  Merchant would later testify that the “party” was his IRGC handler.

In mid-June, Merchant met with the purported hitmen, who were in fact undercover U.S. law enforcement officers (the UCs) in New York. Merchant advised the UCs that he was looking for three services from them: theft of documents, arranging protests at political rallies and for them to kill a “political person.” Merchant stated that the hitmen would receive instructions on who to kill after Merchant had departed the United States.

Throughout this period, Merchant performed internet searches for the locations of political rallies and sent reports back to his IRGC handler regarding security protocols at rallies.

Merchant then began arranging means to obtain $5,000 in cash to pay the UCs as an advance payment for the assassination, which he eventually received with assistance from an individual overseas.  On June 21, Merchant met with the UCs in New York and paid them the $5,000 advance.  After Merchant paid the $5,000 to the UCs, one of the UCs stated, “now we’re bonded,” to which Merchant responded “yes.”  The UC then stated “Now we know we’re going forward. We’re doing this,” to which Merchant responded “Yes, absolutely.”

Merchant subsequently made flight arrangements and planned to leave the United States on Friday, July 12, 2024. On that day, law enforcement agents placed Merchant under arrest before he could leave the country.  

The FBI’s Field Offices in Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago and Albany for partnered in the investigation of this case.  The New York City Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection assisted with the investigation.

The case is being handled by the Office’s National Security & Cybercrime Section for the Eastern District of New York.  Assistant United States Attorneys Sara K. Winik, Nina Gupta and Gilbert Rein for the Eastern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Deputy Chief Paul Casey and Trial Attorney Jessica Joyce of the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division.                                                                                    

Mark Twain On Being Named As One Of The Great Authors

 

The Launch Of The Fideri News Network

Six months ago, Editor & Publisher offered a video on the launch of the Fideri News Network in the Philadelphia area. 

The video offered an interview with Jim McDonald, Chairman of the Fideri Network, and Terry Tracy, founder of Broad + Liberty, and the publisher & Chief Executive Officer of the Fideri News Network.

I’ve been a contributing writer to Broad + Liberty a good while, having followed my Philadelphia Weekly editor, Kyle Sammin, there.  

With the launch of the Fideri News network and Philly Daily, I began to post my weekly Crime Beat column at both Broad + Liberty and Philly Daily.  

I’m proud to be a contributor to the Fideri News Network.   

You can watch the Editor & Publisher video via the link below:

Bing Videos

You can also go to the Fideri News Network website via the link below:

 Fideri News Network: Your Source for Local News & Sports

And you can read my Crime Beat columns via the link below:

Paul Davis On Crime: My Philly Daily Crime Beat Columns 

My Philly Daily Crime Beat Column On The Feds Warning Of Possible Iranian Sleeper Cell Terrorists

 Philly Daily ran my Crime Beat column today on the threat from Iranian sleeper cell terrorists. 

You can read the column via the link below or the following text:

Davis: Feds warn of possible Iranian sleeper cell terrorists - Philly Daily

With President Trump’s bold, decisive and historical military combat action against Iran, called Operation Epic Fury, there are concerns that the fanatical Iranian government will unleash sleeper terrorist cells in America. 

I support President Trumps’s actions, as the Iranian government has been at war with America for more than 47 years, and has killed many Americans directly and indirectly through their terrorist proxy groups. We needed to finally strike back, particularly now, as the Iranians posed a great threat to America, the middle east and the world. We simply could not allow this dangerous nation to produce advanced ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. 

I recall former CIA operations officer Gary Berntsen telling me that going up against the Iranians was like fighting the Nazis. The Iranians, he said, are ruthless religious fanatics who are brutal and do not hesitate to kill. He noted that Iran employs a network of proxy militant groups around the globe to carry out violent attacks against Western countries.

I followed the news with pride as our great military pounded the Iranian government’s leaders and their terroristic war machine. 

Having served as a teenager on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War, I wish I were young again and able to serve on one of the aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean Sea as they launch sorties against the Iranians. 

Although the Iranian government is being bombed out of existence, we must be cognizant of the possibility that the Iranians may have planned for terrorist counterattacks on the U.S. homefront. 

There are concerns that perhaps some hundreds of Iranian terrorists slipped across the southern border during President Biden’s term in office. Law enforcement and security officials believe that these Iranians and their proxies may have formed into sleeper cells across the U.S. and are lying dormant until they receive orders to strike American targets. 

There is also the fear that lone wolf fanatics will commit acts of terrorism in support of Iran. 

FBI Director Kash Patel stated that he placed the FBI’s regional Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) on high alert as the U.S. military conducts combat operations against Iran.

"Last night, I instructed our Counterterrorism and intelligence teams to be on high alert and mobilize all assisting security assets needed," Patel wrote on X. "Our JTTFs throughout the country are working 24/7, as always, to address and disrupt any potential threats to the homeland.

“While the U.S. military is handling force protection overseas, the FBI remains at the forefront of deterring attacks here at home and will continue working around the clock to protect Americans.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also issued an alert. “We are in direct coordination with our federal intelligence and law enforcement partners as we continue to closely monitor and thwart any potential threats to the homeland."

 

Despite the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and many law enforcement agents going unpaid due to a congressional spat over ICE operations, the DHS remains on high alert.  

On February 28^th, The Philadelphia Police Department released a message on X “The PPD is monitoring developments overseas with federal, state, and regional partners. While there are no credible threats to Philadelphia, we’ve increased patrols at religious and cultural sites out of Caution. Report suspicious activity to 911 or 215-686-TIPS.   

Concerns about a sleeper terrorist or lone wolf shooter increased after a gunman with a shirt adorned with an Iranian flag and the words, “Property of Allah” shot and killed two people and seriously wounded 14 others in Austin, Texas on March 1^st.

The gunman, armed with a rifle and pistol, opened fire on customers at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden at 2 A.M. The shooter, identified as Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Senegal, was shot and killed by police. 

The FBI is investigating the Texas shooting as a potential act of terrorism and the FBI did not place a timeline on the national terrorism alert.

A random street shooting like the one in Austin can happen anywhere, but if Iranian backed terrorists and their supporters are looking to make a symbolic violent gesture, then Philadelphia might be a target, especially as we approach the 250th anniversary of our founding.

I recall interviewing then-Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H Ramsey in his office at the “Roundhouse,” the old Philadelphia police headquarters, back in 2013.         

I asked him if Philadelphia was a prime target for terrorists.

 “Philadelphia is geographically located on the eastern corridor between New York City and Washington DC,” Ramsey said. “The harder the target they make New York and the harder they make DC, the more attractive Philadelphia will look to terrorists. 

“The historical monuments and institutions we have here in Philadelphia make the city of targeted value to someone who wants to psychologically harm the United States in addition to actually harming people.”  

Let’s hope that the Feds and the Philadelphia Police will be able to thwart any Iranian retaliatory terrorist attacks here. 

Paul Davis’s Crime Beat column appears here each week. He is also a contributor to Broad + Liberty and Counterterrorism magazine. He can be reached via pauldavisoncrime.com.  

Museum Of American Revolution Celebrates Women’s History Night

Philly Daily, where my Crime Beat column appears each week, reports that the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia announced that they will celebrate Women’s History Month with Women’s History Night on Wednesday, March 18^th, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. 

You can read the rest of the piece via the link below: 

Museum of American Revolution Celebrates Women’s History Night - Philly Daily 

Four Days In, Hegseth, Caine Say U.S. Making Decisive Progress In Iran

Matthew Olay at the Pentagon News offers a piece on the Pentagon briefing on Iran.  

During the War Department's second press conference since the U.S. and Israel's launch of Operation Epic Fury against the Iranian regime Feb. 28, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, today said America is making decisive offensive progress in the conflict.

"I stand before you today with one unmistakable message about Operation Epic Fury: America is winning decisively, devastatingly and without mercy," Hegseth told the media from the Pentagon's press briefing room.

"We are only four days into this, and the results have been incredible — historic, really. … Only the United States could lead this [mission]. … But, when you add the Israeli Defense Forces — a devastatingly capable force — the combination is sheer destruction for our radical Islamist Iranian adversaries," Hegseth said.

During his remarks, Caine reiterated that the U.S. and Israel's joint, three-pronged mission in the region is to target and eliminate Iran's ballistic missile systems, destroy the Iranian navy and ensure Iran cannot rebuild or reconstitute its combat capability or power — including ensuring the country never obtains nuclear weapons.

You can read the rest of the piece and watch a video of the news conference via the link below: 

Four Days In, Hegseth, Caine Say U.S. Making Decisive Progress in Iran > U.S. Department of War > Defense Department News | U.S. Department of War  

'The Big One Is Coming': Trump Says US Strikes On Iran Are About To Kick Into Even Higher Gear

The New York Post reports that President Trump on Monday vowed to step up strikes on Iran — warning, “The big one is coming.”

The president also told The Post that he won’t shy away from sending American ground troops into the Islamic Republic “if necessary” — though he did not believe they would be needed.

Trump pledged to continue the US campaign against the Islamist regime until it was completely defanged, despite the costs. He previously suggested it could last four weeks.

So far, six US service members have been killed — all in Iranian strikes on Kuwait, and America lost three advanced, $31 million F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets after they were accidentally shot down by the gulf country’s air defenses.

Iran has also attacked all of the US’s allies in the region in retaliation for its assaults, launching drones and ballistic missiles at every nation in the Persian Gulf, as well as Iraq, Israel and even Cyprus.

You can read the rest of the piece via the link below:

Trump says US strikes on Iran are about to kick into even higher gear: 'The big one is coming'

The U.S. Central Command Released Photos Of The USS Gerald Ford, The Worlds Largest Aircraft Carrier, That Is Supporting Operation Epic Fury

The U.S. Central Command released photos of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the world’s largest aircraft carrier, in the fight with U.S. forces supporting Operation Epic Fury. 

The aircraft carrier is launching aircraft from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea against Iranian targets. 

You can view the photos below:

Note: Having served as a young sailor on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War, I’m proud of today’s sailors and pilots aboard the Ford and the other ships involved in the Iranian attack.  

The fanatical Iranians have been killing Americans for more than 47 years. They had to be taken off the board before they had nuclear weapons. I salute President Trump’s bold and decisive action. 

From Hostage Crisis To Assassination Plots: Iran’s Near Half-Century War On Americans Iran Had Its Hand In The 1979 Hostage Crisis To The Cole Bombing, 9/11 And Assassination Threats Against Donald Trump

Charles Creitz at Fox News look back at Iran’s long war on America:

After radical students overthrew Iran's shah in 1979 and took hostages in the U.S. embassy, the Middle Eastern nation became a strident and blood-soaked adversary of what its new Islamic fundamentalist dictatorship has long called the "Great Satan."

Since then, Tehran has sponsored terrorism around the globe, including targeting the U.S. in multiple, high-profile instances. Former Reagan Justice Department chief of staff Mark Levin said Sunday there are at least 44 examples of Iran targeting Americans either directly or indirectly.

"The Iranian-Nazi regime… [has] murdered more than 1,000 Americans [and] relentlessly pursued nuclear weapons to use against us — they are genocidal warmongers," said Levin, an author, attorney and Fox News Channel host.

You can read the rest of the piece via the link below:

Iran's Islamic dictatorship has been connected to dozens of attacks on Americans | Fox News