Mourad Topalian - Knowledge

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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

223:, concealing and storing stolen explosives, improper storage of explosives (dangerously near a daycare center, a school and gas station), possession of machine guns and possession of firearms with defaced serial numbers. US authorities also accused him of participating in a crusade of 405:, an operating gas station, and an office complex. The storage was less than 300 feet from a public highway with a daily traffic volume of 3,000 vehicles. The charges of terrorism were taken out after the plea-bargaining and his admission of the charges. 297:. According to federal authorities in Ohio, a prominent Armenian-American once used the camp as a training ground for terrorism aimed at the Turkish government. Mourad "Moose" Topalian showed others how to use submachine guns and built and exploded 427:, 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." 344:

Topalian and two other persons detonated the bombs causing damage to a stolen car they were using and to the Turkish Mission at the UN destroying property belonging to Turkey. In this act three innocent by passers were injured.

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with conspiracy acts, possession and storage of explosives and firearms, and transportation of them in interstate commerce. The Bedford storage facility used by him and his accomplices was within the vicinity of

390:, 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. 402: 348:

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.

216:, who was interviewed by FBI regarding this case and the contents of the interview were not disclosed. It was believed that Hagopian fled the USA following the arrest of Topalian. 415:

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.

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moments after he learned that the explosives had been found by police in the storage unit near the day care center. Some of the other accomplices of Topalian known to

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in October 1980. Police suspect that he helped arrange the bombing and directed a group that stole weapons and explosives used for the attack. Between

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Topalian was accused of plotting attacks against Turkish targets in the United States for two decades, and was suspected of links to two

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storage garage. The storage unit was opened after rent went unpaid for six months (Topalian had been renting that space since

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But the most serious charge against Topalian was that of involvement in a car bombing that injured three people outside the

251:”. The attacks included 160 bombings and assassinations of 22 Turkish diplomats worldwide. The terror ebbed by the mid- 158: 86: 37: 598: 587: 512: 464: 267: 289:, Topalian recruited bombers and assassins from Armenian American youth, and provided weapons demonstrations at 75: 26: 181:

The investigation against Topalian began with the 1996 discovery of weapons and explosives in a suburban

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It was known that as a prominent member of the Armenian society in the USA, Topalian visited the

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and received a prison sentence of 37 months, the maximum allowed under sentencing guidelines.

193:). Inside, police found guns and 100 pound of decaying explosives in the storage facility. 82: 33: 8: 61: 576: