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Mourad Topalian (also Murad Topalian, Mourad "Moose" Topalian; Template:Lang-hy) is a prominent Armenian-American political activist, former chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), and a suspected leader of the Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide.
Criminal charges: US vs. Mourad Topalian
According to US News, tall and charismatic, Topalian "was well known in the halls of Congress and had met with President Clinton a half-dozen times."
In 2000 he pled guilty to storage of stolen explosives and owning two machine guns. Topalian received a sentence of 37 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.
According to the indictment, Topalian recruited bombers and assassins from Armenian American youth, and provided weapons demonstrations at Armenian Youth Federation summer camps in Franklin, Massachusetts. According to federal authorities in Ohio, a prominent Armenian-American once used the camp as a training ground for attacks against the Turkish government. Mourad "Moose" Topalian showed others how to use submachine guns and built and exploded booby traps - one went off prematurely, injuring a person - in 1976 and 1977. He also sent Armenian youth to Beirut to train in weapons and explosive tactics.
Topalian was questioned about the New York bombing and denied he was a terrorist but agreed to plead guilty to storing the weapons, which were used in the Turkish Mission bombing.
Topalian also was accused of ordering a California man to bring five sticks of dynamite and blasting caps to Boston in 1982 that were to be used in a bombing in Philadelphia. FBI agents intercepted the explosives and said the suspect, Steven John Dadian, may have had ties to the Justice Commandos.
Overall, the indictment alleged that Topalian was "a part of the conspiracy that the defendant and others both known and unknown formed an 'elite group' of individuals in order to bring publicity and attention to the Armenian genocide of 1915, commonly referred to as 'the Cause,' " prosecutors said in court papers.
Between 1976 and 1996, Topalian allegedly ordered or was involved directly in bombings in New York and Anaheim and Beverly Hills, Calif., the robbery of munitions factories, and the illegal purchase of numerous high-powered weapons.
Key evidence against Topalian, came from two of his former allies.
When the federal charges were filed, Topalian resigned from his post at the ANCA, an organization with an office in Washington that serves as an advocate on Armenian issues.
Awards
In 2000, ANCA presented Mourad Topalian with the "Freedom Award" for his "dedication to advancing the Armenian cause,” and his "unique brand of leadership in driving forward and promoting Armenian history and the cause of the Armenian nation."
References
- FBI Publication: Terrorism 2000/2001
- The Boston Globe. Armenian-American site in Franklin named Camp was allegedly used for terrorist training, by John Ellement. October 16, 1999
- The Filthiest 48 Hours. LA Weekly
- The Boston Globe. Armenian-American site in Franklin named Camp was allegedly used for terrorist training, by John Ellement. October 16, 1999
- The Boston Globe. Armenian-American site in Franklin named Camp was allegedly used for terrorist training, by John Ellement. October 16, 1999
- The Boston Globe. Armenian-American site in Franklin named Camp was allegedly used for terrorist training, by John Ellement. October 16, 1999
- The Boston Globe. Armenian-American site in Franklin named Camp was allegedly used for terrorist training, by John Ellement. October 16, 1999
- The Filthiest 48 Hours. LA Weekly
- The Filthiest 48 Hours. LA Weekly