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Authorities Foil Plot to Kill Senator Obama and Commit Massacre
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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives thwarted an effort by two Neo-Nazi skinheads to assassinate the Democratic candidate for President, Senator Barack Obama
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
10/27/2008 (1 decade ago)
Published in U.S.
WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives thwarted an effort by two Neo-Nazi skinheads to assassinate the Democratic candidate for President, Senator Barack Obama. The records concerning the plot were unsealed in the Federal District Court for Jackson Tennessee today.
The two apparently planned to rob a gun store and go on a National shooting spree, seeking to kill as many "non-Caucasians" as possible, first targeting a predominantly African American High School in Tennessee.
The sick plot gets even worse.
A Special Agent in the ATF Office, Jim Cavanaugh, told the Associated Press that the two planned to kill 88 people, including 14 African Americans, by decapitation.Apparently some groups within the White Supremacist community attach special significance to the numbers 88 and 14.
Two "8"s, represent two "H"s, which stand for "Heil Hitler" and the number 14 refers to the number of words in a slogan attributed to a prominent imprisoned white racist who is somewhat of a leader in the movement. The words, "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children",
Cavanaugh also told the Associated Press that following this spree the two intended to assassinate Senator Obama, "They said that would be their last, final act -- that they would attempt to kill Sen. Obama...They didn't believe they would be able to do it, but that they would get killed trying."
The two men are in custody and have been identified as Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tenn., and Paul Schlesselman 18, of Helena-West Helena, Ark. They were arrested on October 22 by the Crockett County, Tenn., Sheriff's Office.
Further details in the unsealed records make this insane plot seem even more bizarre. The Complaint alleges that the two "planned to drive their vehicle as fast as they could toward Obama shooting at him from the windows" and that "Both individuals stated they would dress in all white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt...and that "Both individuals further stated they knew they would and were willing to die during this attempt."
The two men met on the Internet, sharing their evil "skinhead" philosophy. They were arrested in the area around Jackson, Tennessee with a number of guns in their automobile and further information was unavailable at the time of this report.
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