Suspicious `surveillance' at Dallas' Love Field airport

Dallas police and federal terrorism officials are investigating an interesting and ominous incident in which two women, both dressed in camouflage pants under their traditional Muslim robes and scarves, were seen acting suspiciously and conducting what appeared to be surveillance at Dallas' Love Field airport.

One of the women, Kimberly "Asma" Al-Homsi, 42, of Arlington, is already on probation for threatening another motorist with a fake grenade is said to have long-range assault rifle and explosives training, according to a Dallas police intelligence bulletin issued March 5.

"I'm a trained sniper and proud of it," Ms. Al-Homsi said in an interview Thursday. She refused to mention where her training came from -and also refused, at first, to comment on whether she has any ties to terrorism ties. She then said no.

"I am not a dangerous individual," said Ms. Al-Homsi, who said she is an accountant who has dual Syrian-U.S. citizenship.

On the afternoon of Feb. 25, Ms. Al-Homsi and Aisha Abdul-Rahman Hamad, 50, of Irving, were spotted at Love Field wearing Muslim robes and camouflage pants and "acting suspiciously," the bulletin states. The surveillance video shows one of the women walking back and forth, apparently pacing off distances and watching angles of flight approach.

When asked what they were doing in a restricted area, the women said they were looking for the Frontiers of Flight museum. They left in a red Honda. Descriptions of the incident and the car were circulated at the airport.

Two days later, the Honda was seen parked facing the runway. A woman, later identified as Ms. Al-Homsi, was sitting on the hood, looking through binoculars at the airplanes.

When the Dallas police stopped the car, the women refused to let them do a search of the vehicle, according to a police report. The women had digital camera memory cards, binoculars, a flashlight and several lighters on them.

Police issued one of them a citation for having no front license plate and failing to change her address on a driver's license and sent them on their way.

"We watching the airplanes," Ms. Al-Homsi said. "That's not a crime, unless you're Muslim."

"We are aware of the activities that occurred at Love Field in February and are giving it appropriate consideration," said Lori Bailey, spokeswoman for the Dallas FBI.

Interesting, to be sure.