Muslim Driver Claimed to be a Terrorist! Claim Denied by SFPD

Since 08-31-06

DRIVER'S RAMPAGE - THE HUMAN TOLL

SUSPECT: Family cites history of mental problems

Jaxon Van Derbeken, Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Staff Writers

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/30/MNGVQKRRQ81.DTL

Hit-And-Run Rampage
Swath of central San Francisco terrorized

Within half an hour, 14 pedestrians picked off one by one

Newsom: 'No pattern' among victims

Suspect had recent arranged marriage

 Islamic terrorist Omeed Aziz Popal, now in custody for a fatal hit-and-run rampage...

Muslim terrorist Omeed Aziz Popal, now in custody for a fatal hit-and-run rampage that apparently began in Fremont and ended in San Francisco, has a history of mental problems and suffered an apparent mental breakdown Tuesday on the way to a job interview, family members and his attorney said Tuesday.

But those involved in the investigation -- speaking on condition of anonymity -- discount any mental illness, saying the 29-year-old Afghanistan native seemed coherent, unrepentant and claimed that he repeatedly drove at pedestrians because he "just wanted to.''

According to his attorney, Majeed Samara, Popal suffered a breakdown about five months ago and had to be hospitalized.

"He woke up and started freaking out,'' he said. The family took Popal to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fremont for treatment, but he was released. "It looks like he felt better, but after that, he started getting worse.''

About two months ago, Popal falsely confessed to killing someone in San Francisco, Samara said. He said Popal was interviewed by investigators in Fremont and his statement turned out to be a "John Karr confession,'' referring to the man recently released in the killing of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey.

Popal's prior contact with law enforcement, authorities say, amounted to a string of four traffic tickets in Fremont and separate minor citations in Pleasanton and Palo Alto since 2003. He was twice cited for driving in carpool lanes. He was also twice cited on seat belt violations, once for an unsafe lane change and once for going beyond the limit line.

He also had a dismissed citation for speeding out of Turlock in Stanislaus County last year.

A month ago, the one-time autoworker returned home after getting married in his native Afghanistan, his family said. There was a wedding celebration two weeks ago, and Popal seemed to have everything to live for, some family members said. The family said Popal's father had arranged the marriage.

"He was so happy and excited about being married -- I can't believe this happened today,'' said Homa Aziz, a cousin who lives in Hayward. "Omeed is not that kind of boy. I don't know what is wrong with him. He is the nicest boy.''

She said that Popal, who was studying auto mechanics at WyoTech, formerly known as the Sequoia Institute, intended to bring his wife from Afghanistan to settle in the area. "He just talked about his wife.''

Hamid Nekrawesh, another cousin, said Popal's arranged marriage could have been stressful.

"Arranged marriage is a very common practice -- people don't kill people over that,'' Nekrawesh said. "But that was the only thing new in his life.''

Popal was "a very loving, caring person,'' he said. "I can never see him doing such an act.''

He said that he joked with Popal before he went to Kabul about him becoming a man. "I didn't see anything out of the ordinary,'' Nekrawesh said. "After he came back, he went to the celebration gathering at his house -- he was happy.''

On Tuesday, Nekrawesh said, Popal was to go to an interview for a job with an employment agency in San Francisco.

But another cousin, Zarghona Ramish, said Popal was having mental problems. Popal "thought the devil was coming to get him" and dreamed about bad things, Ramish said.

Neighbors in Fremont recalled that Popal also had worked for New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. auto plant in Fremont, which manufactures Toyotas and Pontiacs. They said he lived there with his parents, two sisters and brother in a middle-class neighborhood on Cabrillo Drive in Fremont.

William Lofton, a neighbor, said Popal worked on his car a few years ago, and he struck up a conversation.

"He seemed like a very friendly young man,'' he said. "We talked a long time, we talked about how did he like the neighborhood -- he said he liked it all right.''

The suspect would come over to his house to say hi, Lofton said, adding, "He seemed really nice. That really would be a shock to think it was him."

Neighbors say the family lived on Cabrillo Drive for three years and was known for frequent garage sales in which they would sell everything from DVDs to household appliances.

Records show that Popal's parents declared bankruptcy in 1998 when they were living in Hayward.

Popal also owns a tan stucco home in the Stanislaus County town of Ceres, where a woman who rents from him described him as a quiet man.

Other neighbors said the family usually kept to themselves. Frank Silva, who lives next door to the suspect, said the family asked him to keep an eye on their house about a month ago. They stayed in Afghanistan for about a week, Silva said.

Popal was usually friendly but wasn't talkative lately, Silva said. "It seemed like since he got married he quieted down," he said.