'Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, aka Sam Bacile, has been identified by law enforcement officials as the filmmaker behind the anti-Islamic film, 'Innocence of Muslims', that has precipitated angry reaction from Muslims around the world. Law enforcement officials used cell phone records traced to the same address to identify Nakoula.
Law enforcement has identified Nakoula Basseley Nakoula as the man behind "Innocence of Muslims," the anti-Islam movie that is widely blamed for riots around the world, the AP reports
Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, told The Associated Press in an interview outside Los Angeles Wednesday that he managed logistics for the company that produced "Innocence of Muslims," which mocked Muslims and the prophet Muhammad.
The movie has been blamed for inflaming mobs that attacked U.S. missions in Egypt and Libya this week as well as U.S. Embassy in Yemen on Thursday.
Nakoula ran afoul of the law in 2010, when he pleaded no contest to federal bank fraud charges after being indicted in a somewhat intricate scheme involving fake bank accounts created using stolen Social Security numbers. He was given a 21 month prison sentence and had to pay $790,000.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced the film as "disgusting and reprehensible." (Continued below squiggle)
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said the United States had nothing to do with the making of this film, this morning:
"Let me state very clearly — and I hope it is obvious — The United States government had nothing to do with this video. We absolutely reject its content and message," Clinton said in a statement at a State Department.
Clinton said that the video's intended purpose seemed to be inciting violence.
"I know it's hard for some people to understand why the United States cannot or does not just prevent these kinds of reprehensible videos from ever seeing the light of day," ... But she quickly added that the video was no excuse to incite violence, condemning the actions that led to the deaths of multiple Americans, including the U.S. Ambassador to Libya.
"There is no justification for responding to this video with violence," Clinton said. "We condemn the violence that has resulted in the strongest terms and we greatly appreciate that many Muslims in the US and around the world have spoken out on this issue."
The complete film and its trailer are available on Youtube, but I've decided not to link to it. A Security analyst on CNN notes that most of the angry young protesters in the Middle East have not seen the film, but with 25% unemployment, local political leaders may feel it useful to channel their anger against the U.S.
This morning angry protesters breached the out wall of the US embassy in Yemen, and protests continue in Baghdad, and Cairo. Two additional US Navy warships have been deployed off the coast of Libya, and surveillance drones are looking for clues to possible camps of those behind the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya where four Americans were killed two days ago.
9:29 AM PT:
Earlier this morning I reported the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Yemen and Cairo, as well as today's anti-American marches in Iraq, demanding that the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad be closed. Protesters Storm U.S. Embassy In Yemen, Another Attempt Against Cairo Embassy, Protests In Iraq The following is the introduction from that report.
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Protesters chanting "death to America" stormed the US embassy in Yemen, managing to breach the outer wall, but were unable to enter the inner main building housing, this morning. Protester in Cairo attempted again to seize the embassy but were fought off. Also, protesters in Baghdad marched demanding the closure of U.S. embassy in Iraq, reports, Ahmed Al-Han, of the Associated Press, in Yemen Protests: Demonstrators Angered By Anti-Islam Film Storm U.S. Embassy In Sanaa.
SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Chanting "death to America," hundreds of protesters angered by an anti-Islam film stormed the U.S. Embassy compound in Yemen's capital and burned the American flag on Thursday, the latest in a series of attacks on American diplomatic missions in the Middle East.
American missions have been attacked in three Arab nations — Yemen, Egypt and Libya — that have faced persistent unrest and are struggling to restore law and order after last year's revolts deposed their authoritarian regimes.
Protesters assumed to be responding to the inflammatory film "Innocence of Muslims," burned the Americans flag, and tires, and tore down the embassy sign, replacing it with a black banner inscribed with "There is no God but Allah." But, Yemen is home to al-Qaida's most active branch, and the government announced,Tuesday, that the number 2 al-Qaida leader had been killed there in an air strike, so anger may be from other sources, as well. Systematic U.S. predator drone strikes have decimated al-Qaida top leadership over recent years.
Egyptian protesters clashed Thursday with police near the U.S. Embassy in Cairo for the third day in a row. Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters and the two sides pelted each other with rocks. But unlike Tuesday, the police kept the protesters away from the embassy's compound. ...
US officials are investigating whether the attacks have been coordinated, and the results may determine our response. Two additional U.S. Warships are reported headed for Libya, and surveillance drones are looking for clues.
10:08 AM PT: President Obama is making a noble statement now, saying "no act of terrorism shall go unpunished." He is demanding that Egypt and other countries protect American. Yesterday, he said "justice will be served."
I will fetch the transcript as soon as I can.
This speech which is on CNN right now is so excellent it probably deserves several posts of its own.
10:27 AM PT: http://abcnews.go.com/...
By RICHARD ESPOSITO
Sept. 13, 2012
As outrage over the anti-Muslim film "Innocence of Muslims" spreads across the Middle East, police were sent to the California home of the many they identified as the producer of the film, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, who according to authorities is frightened for his life.
Sheriff's deputies were sent to the Cerritos, California home of Nakoula, 55, Thursday to protect him and his family, a senior law enforcement official told ABC News. According to a sheriff, the police were at Nakoula's home overnight Thursday but have now left, as media reports identifying him as the man behind "Innocence of Muslims," and listing his address, have circulated.
According to California law enforcement officials, Nakoula, who is also known to authorities as Bacily Nakoula, was frightened for his life and "scared of retaliation" against his family.
Sheriffs from the Cerritos police station were sent to his home to keep Nakoula safe and to provide a uniformed presence to assist the members from the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, official reports said. ...
A senior official said that they also had sent local law enforcement officers to the production company "Media for Christ" on Hamilton Road in Duarte, California to keep watch on the facility, which authorities said was affiliated with making the film that has been a trigger for anti-U.S. violence and protest in several countries.
Several commenters note that Nakoula appears to be in violation of his parole, so it seems curious that the FBI has not brought him in for questioning, at the very least.