Man gets questioned by FBI for cooking rice...

[Ammi]

A Saudi student living in Michigan was questioned in his home by FBI agents after neighbours saw him carrying a pressure cooker and called the police.

Talal al Rouki had been cooking a traditional Saudi Arabian rice dish called kabsah and was carrying it to a friend's house.

According to reports in a Saudi newspaper on Friday, the FBI are increasingly vigilant about 'pressure cooker' home-made bombs after the Boston bombers used one to make an explosive

The Saudi journal, Oukaz reported on the story of the Saudi student who had FBI agents come to his home, following a tip-off from neighbours that he was seen moving about with a pressure cooker bomb.

While armed agents surrounded his apartment block, other agents, asked a 'nervous' Mr al Rouki if they could come in to question him

'They asked me about my major, when I arrived in the US and what I do in my spare time' he told the Saudi newspaper.

Officers said that two days earlier that a woman had seen him walking out of his apartment carrying the pressure cooker pot, which was described as ‘bullet coloured’

The young student showed them his pressure cooker and explained to them he used to make a rice dish.


An FBI agent said: 'You need to be more careful moving around with such things, Sir'


Mr al Rouki has become a focus of attention now in the Saudi press.

According to reports in a Saudi newspaper, the FBI are increasingly vigilant about ‘pressure cooker’ home-made bombs and have a keen eye on Arabs who reside in the US

[AnnieK]

Aw poor guy...I know they have to be vigilant but that had to be pretty scary for him.

[Cherie]

A Saudi student living in Michigan was questioned in his home by FBI agents after neighbours saw him carrying a pressure cooker and called the police.

Talal al Rouki had been cooking a traditional Saudi Arabian rice dish called kabsah and was carrying it to a friend's house.

According to reports in a Saudi newspaper on Friday, the FBI are increasingly vigilant about 'pressure cooker' home-made bombs after the Boston bombers used one to make an explosive

The Saudi journal, Oukaz reported on the story of the Saudi student who had FBI agents come to his home, following a tip-off from neighbours that he was seen moving about with a pressure cooker bomb.

While armed agents surrounded his apartment block, other agents, asked a 'nervous' Mr al Rouki if they could come in to question him

'They asked me about my major, when I arrived in the US and what I do in my spare time' he told the Saudi newspaper.

Officers said that two days earlier that a woman had seen him walking out of his apartment carrying the pressure cooker pot, which was described as ‘bullet coloured’

The young student showed them his pressure cooker and explained to them he used to make a rice dish.


An FBI agent said: 'You need to be more careful moving around with such things, Sir'


Mr al Rouki has become a focus of attention now in the Saudi press.

According to reports in a Saudi newspaper, the FBI are increasingly vigilant about ‘pressure cooker’ home-made bombs and have a keen eye on Arabs who reside in the US

:joker: If that pressure cooker had been pink nobody would have reported it. Honestly who walks around outside their homes carrying cooking pots unless he had just bought it maybe, even then it would be in a box or a bag, never used a pressure cooker so maybe you have to take it outside to let off steam :conf:

[AnnieK]

He was taking a dish he had made to a friends house. What is bullet coloured anyway??

[Ninastar]

Can't wait for the 'fk da police' comments

[Ammi]

..yeah, I guess they do have to be vigilant as well, but as Annie says, It must have been very scary..there he was, just cooking his rice...it wasn't even Blastmati rice either...(..sorry, that was awful...)...

[Cherie]

Oh thanks Annie I missed the bit where he was taking it to a friends house, I thought pressure cookers had gone out in the 70s obviously they are the pot of choice in the US. No idea what bullet coloured is, siliver or copper I guess. In fairness to the person who reported it and the police it was a bit thoughtless of him given recent events.

[AnnieK]

Absolutely. I guess vigilance is the key here and law abiding citizens will appreciate the fact that these things have to be checked...I would rather a bit of embarrassment rather than the consequences of another attack. The bullet colour just made me laugh as I would never describe even a bullet as bullet coloured :laugh:

[Marc]

To be fair, rice will soon become the worlds most lethal chemical weapon

[Jesus.]

Seems like a bit of a naan-event.

The police are just trying to curry favour with the population after the recent Boston Bombayings.

I just hope the Muslim world doesn't rice up against the police profiling that's been taking place.

[Ammi]

Seems like a bit of a naan-event.

The police are just trying to curry favour with the population after the recent Boston Bombayings.

I just hope the Muslim world doesn't rice up against the police profiling that's been taking place.

..you know..I knew there was a reason why I voted 'for' in that crucifixion vote...

[Jesus.]

..you know..I knew there was a reason why I voted 'for' in that crucifixion vote...

You missed "curry favour".

You're just annoyed I beat you to it. You love a good pun, Ammi. Hopefully you like bad ones as well.

[Ammi]

You missed "curry favour".

You're just annoyed I beat you to it. You love a good pun, Ammi. Hopefully you like bad ones as well.

..no I didn't miss it at all..3 puns is the maximum amount in one post that good taste allows, so I kindly tried to save face for you by ignoring it...also, I didn't want to be accused of picking on you as it's common knowledge that you've been pulling that victim card for many, many years....

[MTVN]

Trouble is there's a fine line between being vigilant and paranoid racial profiling

[lostalex]

And if it was a bomb and the authorities did nothing, everyone would be blaming the authorities for not doing anything. The cops really are in a lose/lose situation with this sort of stuff.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

[Vanessa]

I never use pressure cooker. They scare me. :hugesmile:

[MTVN]

And if it was a bomb and the authorities did nothing, everyone would be blaming the authorities for not doing anything. The cops really are in a lose/lose situation with this sort of stuff.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

So armed FBI agents should be called to surround the home of every person spotted in possession of a pressure cooker?

[lostalex]

So armed FBI agents should be called to surround the home of every person spotted in possession of a pressure cooker?

If someone reports a suspicious person with what could be a bomb, yes they should check it out.

Better safe than sorry.

[MTVN]

If someone reports a suspicious person with what could be a bomb, yes they should check it out.

Better safe than sorry.

Tactical edit there ;)

I just think it's pretty crazy that a guy can't take food over to his friends house without having an armed FBI team surround his flat, and can't help feeling his ethnicity may have been a factor

[Ninastar]

And if it was a bomb and the authorities did nothing, everyone would be blaming the authorities for not doing anything. The cops really are in a lose/lose situation with this sort of stuff.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

agree 100%

[lostalex]

Tactical edit there ;)

I just think it's pretty crazy that a guy can't take food over to his friends house without having an armed FBI team surround his flat, and can't help feeling his ethnicity may have been a factor

It is unfortunate, and of course if this neighbor was just being racist, they should keep track of her reporting, and if she continues to make silly reports she should be told to stop or she will be charged with making false reports.