Immigrants accused of targeting Fort Dix

CAMDEN, N.J., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Five Muslim immigrants wanted to conduct a terror attack on the Army's Fort Dix in New Jersey to kill U.S. soldiers, a prosecutor alleged Monday.

Deputy U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick alleged in his opening statement in a Camden court the five terror suspects were arrested before they could carry out their planned attack on the base, The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger reported.

"These five defendants, their motive was to defend Islam, their inspiration was al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden, their intent was to attack the United States," Fitzpatrick said, referring to the extremist militant group and its terrorist leader.

The suspects in the case are Mohamad Shnewer, 23, Serdar Tatar, 25, and brothers Eljvir, 25, Dritan, 29, and Shain Duka, 27.

The five suspects, who all pleaded innocent to related terror charges, are facing life in prison if convicted of plotting the Fort Dix assault.

The Star-Ledger said the men were all arrested in May 2007 following a lengthy FBI investigation.