The eldest son of a convicted terrorist became a certified New York City firefighter last month, it was reported on Saturday.
Omar Ahmed Sattar, 30, was one of 279 firemen and women who graduated from the Fire Department of New York Academy last month, the New York Post reported.
Sattar’s father, Ahmed Abdel Sattar, was convicted by federal authorities in 2005 of ‘soliciting crimes of violence’ and conspiracy to murder Jews.
He is currently serving a 24-year prison sentence in the federal penitentiary in Marion, Illinois.
Authorities said that Ahmed Abdel Sattar, 58, was an associate of the late radical Egyptian cleric Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman.
Abdel-Rahman was the blind cleric who masterminded the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.
Omar Ahmed Sattar (above), 30, was one of 279 firemen and women who graduated from the Fire Department of New York Academy last month
Omar Sattar’s mother posted a photo of her son on Facebook wearing FDNY gear
Six people died in that attack.
Abdel-Rahman and his co-conspirators were also convicted of plotting to bomb New York landmarks, tunnels, and bridges.
Abdel-Rahman’s lawyer, Lynne Stewart, and another accused terrorist, Mohammed Yousry, were tried and convicted alongside Abdel Sattar.
Abdel Sattar, the Egyptian-born immigrant who worked as a postal employee in his hometown of Staten Island, was also tried by the government for issuing a fatwa, or Islamic edict, which called for the killing of Jews.
Abdel Sattar has long maintained his innocence. He said the charges against him were part of a conspiracy orchestrated by the former Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak.
The Mubarak government, which ruled Egypt for decades until it was forced out by the Arab Spring in 2011, jailed its Islamist political opponents at home.
Sattar’s father, Ahmed Abdel Sattar, was convicted by federal authorities in 2005 of ‘soliciting crimes of violence’ and conspiracy to murder Jews. He is currently serving a 24-year prison sentence in the federal penitentiary in Marion, Illinois
Abdel Sattar’s son, Omar, wrote a letter to the sentencing judge asking for leniency for his father.
‘I know that he did not commit any crimes or plan to,’ the son, who was 18 years old at the time, wrote.
‘I feel that an injustice has been done. My father is a man of honesty and kindness, he wouldn’t attempt to hurt anyone or even think about it.’
‘Yes, he has views, like so many people, but his views were just that and nothing more.’
Omar Sattar told the Post that becoming a New York City firefighter was a dream come true.
‘This is what I have always wanted to do. This is who I have always wanted to be. I have always admired firefighters,’ he said.
Omar Sattar said that he has admired firefighters ever since he saw one rescue his family’s missing cat after his family’s apartment caught on fire when he was just eight years old.
‘One of the firefighters standing in the street overheard, walked over and asked who was missing,’ Sattar said.
‘My mother replied, “Our cat”, and he went up and found her hiding under a bed and brought her down,’ he said.
Authorities said that Ahmed Abdel Sattar, 58, was an associate of the late radical Egyptian cleric Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman (above). Abdel-Rahman died in February 2017
Abdel-Rahman was the blind cleric who masterminded the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Six people died in that attack
‘I remember being impressed and in awe of what just happened.
‘I respect FDNY members, and I am humbled to have this opportunity to be a part of this incredible Department.
‘The FDNY is a family that always supports each other, and now I am living it.
‘It means the world to me to be here. When I look back on my career as a firefighter, I want to know that I did the best I could with the opportunity I was given.’
His mother, Lisa Sattar, has long defended her husband as ‘a man with morals and values.’
She once accused the owner of a local restaurant of firing Omar and his brother because of their race in 2004.
‘My son Omar decided to go straight to the boss and ask him to his face why they were fired,’ she wrote.
‘Well, the truth came out in front of customers and other employees: “My wife died on 9-11, every time I look at you I think of my wife and I don’t want you working here!”’
Omar Sattar will be assigned to Engine Company 282 in Borough Park, Brooklyn – an area with a large population of Orthodox Jews.
The Post quoted a number of FDNY employees who said they did not agree with allowing Omar Sattar to become a fireman because of the unfettered access that firefighters have to hospitals, crimes scenes, and other official areas.
But an FDNY spokesperson said: ‘Omar Sattar will be judged on the merits of Omar Sattar.’
John Palombo, whose father, Frank, was one of the 343 firefighters killed in the World Trade Center terror attacks of 2001, also graduated with Omar Sattar last month.