Shliach’s neighbors – terror fans

Toledo 24

The West Toledo neighborhood where Amera and Hor Akl live has resumed to normal. Thursday, federal agents searched two vehicles and the home where the Akl’s live with their three children.

The arrests came Thursday after an 18 month long investigation. According to reports, the Akl’s agreed to funnel $500,000 to Hezbollah, an Islamist terrorist group.

“You don’t anticipate anything like this happening, its surreal,” says Brent Vogel Jr. who’s lived across the street from the Akl’s for two years.

The charges against the couple are particularly shocking to one neighbor, who has repeatedly bragged on the interfaith relations on Brookfield. “I always said if there can be peace on Brookfield, why can’t there be peace everywhere else,” Alida Foreshaw said.

Rabbi Yossi Shemtov, Director of Bais Menachem Mendel – Lubavitch Chabad House of Greater Toledo, lives down the street from the Akl’s.

He says he’s saddened by the charges brought against the couple but is glad law enforcement was able to intercept the plan they conspired to commit.

“That is the beauty of this country. You don’t have to give up your traditions. You’re free to look different, act different, think different, just obey the laws,” Rabbi Shemtov.

Akl are being charged with conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiring to launder money and arson related to an insurance fraud scheme. Hor Akl has also been charged with two counts of bankruptcy fraud and one count of perjury.