ideology calls for punishments of amputations and public stonings for violations of Islamic law; their rule has been severe, prohibiting music and television, and the wearing of bras by women. Al-Shabab was also praised by Osama bin Laden prior to his death in May 2011. Its leaders have reputedly worked closely with terrorists of al-Qaeda in Yemen and Pakistan. It is thought to have harbored al-Qaeda terrorists responsible for the 1998 Kenya and Tanzania U.S. embassy bombings. Sheik Abdirisaq Mohamed Qaylow, a spokesman for the Somalia Ministry of Information, welcomed the arrests of Alessa and Almonte, saying: "Foreign terrorists here are an obstacle to lasting peace in Somalia. So we welcome the move and we are calling on all governments to take such steps against al-Shabab and all terrorists at large". Reaction Bernard Kerik, former New York City Police Commissioner from 2000 to 2001 and Secretary of Homeland Security nominee blogged that since 9/11, he and several others had predicted that "some of our greatest threats would eventually come from within, from home grown and naturalized citizens who were radicalized and hate this country", and that the arrests of Alessa and Almonte were an example of that. References External links Criminal Complaint in U.S. v. Alessa, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, June 4, 2010 "Two New Jersey Men Arrested and Charged With Conspiring to Kill Persons Outside the United States — Defendants Allegedly Intended to Join Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization Al Shabaab", Press Release, U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey, June 6, 2010 Anwar al-Awlaki People imprisoned on charges of terrorism Islamic terrorism in New York (state) 2010 in New York City