Terrorism???

[Mona]

He could be telling the truth, but if not, I am a little scared.. :eek2:

Pakistani National Arrested In N.C. On Immigration Charges

POSTED: 12:36 pm EDT August 10, 2004
UPDATED: 12:51 pm EDT August 10, 2004

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Federal officials have charged a Pakistani citizen with immigration violations and said Tuesday the man was detained last month after being spotted taking videotapes of downtown skyscrapers.


Federal officials have charged Kamran Akhtar, a Pakistani citizen, with immigration violations. They say Akhtar was detained July 20 by Charlotte police after being spotted taking videotapes of downtown skyscrapers.


Kamran Akhtar was arrested July 20 after being taken in for questioning by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Anthony Maglione. Charges against him were contained in indictments unsealed in federal court Tuesday.

Akhtar is charged with violating federal immigration and naturalization laws and making a materially false statement, according to a news release by U.S. Attorney Gretchen Shappert.

U.S. District Judge Carl Horn ordered Akhtar held in federal custody at a brief hearing Tuesday morning in federal court; he had been in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

He was being held Tuesday at the Mecklenburg County Jail.

According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Darrell Stephens, Akhtar told Maglione at the time of his arrest that he was making videotapes for family members.

"This is one that will require more investigation, to determine just what he was doing with these tapes," Stephens said.

Mayor Pat McCrory said Charlotte residents and workers in the city's busy financial district, which is home to two of the nation's top five bank headquarters, should not alter their routine.

"People working in the center city should continue to go to work and go on with their everyday actions," McCrory said.

A federal affidavit unsealed Tuesday said a review of the tape in Akhtar's camera and others in his possession showed film of the downtown Wachovia Bank and Bank of America headquarters buildings, as well as film of other major U.S. cities, including Atlanta; Austin, Houston, Dallas in Texas; and New Orleans.

According to an affidavit by John Scott Sherrill, a federal immigration agent, Akhtar's videotapes showed what appeared to be the Mansfield Dam in Austin and public transportation systems such as Atlanta's MARTA and trolleys in Houston, Dallas and New Orleans

According to the affidavit, the camera was turned sideways at times to film an entire building, and frequently zoomed in on street signs.

Maglione said Akhtar behaved suspiciously when the officer approached to ask him what he was doing as he filmed with his videocamera around noon on a weekday.

The officer described Akhtar's actions as "evasive" and said the suspect walked away when he tried to approach.

"His statements were all over the place, from taking these videos for his brother to visiting around town," Maglione said. "He said he had to hurry up and get back to the bus station" even though Akhtar was headed away from the downtown bus terminal.

Asked why police kept the arrest a secret until Tuesday, Stephens said, "It was business as usual. He was observed engaged in unusual activity by a police officer and he was arrested."

Stephens said police did not publicize the arrest while they tried to determine whether Akhtar was simply a tourist.

Last week, federal officials issued urgent terror warnings, saying they had uncovered information in Pakistan that indictaed five financial institutions in New York, Washington and Newark, N.J., were potential targets.

Bush administration officials have said a new stream of intelligence has indicated al-Qaida wants to strike financial institutions.

[Mona]

He could be telling the truth, but if not, I am a little scared.. :eek2:

Pakistani National Arrested In N.C. On Immigration Charges

POSTED: 12:36 pm EDT August 10, 2004
UPDATED: 12:51 pm EDT August 10, 2004

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Federal officials have charged a Pakistani citizen with immigration violations and said Tuesday the man was detained last month after being spotted taking videotapes of downtown skyscrapers.


Federal officials have charged Kamran Akhtar, a Pakistani citizen, with immigration violations. They say Akhtar was detained July 20 by Charlotte police after being spotted taking videotapes of downtown skyscrapers.


Kamran Akhtar was arrested July 20 after being taken in for questioning by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Anthony Maglione. Charges against him were contained in indictments unsealed in federal court Tuesday.

Akhtar is charged with violating federal immigration and naturalization laws and making a materially false statement, according to a news release by U.S. Attorney Gretchen Shappert.

U.S. District Judge Carl Horn ordered Akhtar held in federal custody at a brief hearing Tuesday morning in federal court; he had been in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

He was being held Tuesday at the Mecklenburg County Jail.

According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Darrell Stephens, Akhtar told Maglione at the time of his arrest that he was making videotapes for family members.

"This is one that will require more investigation, to determine just what he was doing with these tapes," Stephens said.

Mayor Pat McCrory said Charlotte residents and workers in the city's busy financial district, which is home to two of the nation's top five bank headquarters, should not alter their routine.

"People working in the center city should continue to go to work and go on with their everyday actions," McCrory said.

A federal affidavit unsealed Tuesday said a review of the tape in Akhtar's camera and others in his possession showed film of the downtown Wachovia Bank and Bank of America headquarters buildings, as well as film of other major U.S. cities, including Atlanta; Austin, Houston, Dallas in Texas; and New Orleans.

According to an affidavit by John Scott Sherrill, a federal immigration agent, Akhtar's videotapes showed what appeared to be the Mansfield Dam in Austin and public transportation systems such as Atlanta's MARTA and trolleys in Houston, Dallas and New Orleans

According to the affidavit, the camera was turned sideways at times to film an entire building, and frequently zoomed in on street signs.

Maglione said Akhtar behaved suspiciously when the officer approached to ask him what he was doing as he filmed with his videocamera around noon on a weekday.

The officer described Akhtar's actions as "evasive" and said the suspect walked away when he tried to approach.

"His statements were all over the place, from taking these videos for his brother to visiting around town," Maglione said. "He said he had to hurry up and get back to the bus station" even though Akhtar was headed away from the downtown bus terminal.

Asked why police kept the arrest a secret until Tuesday, Stephens said, "It was business as usual. He was observed engaged in unusual activity by a police officer and he was arrested."

Stephens said police did not publicize the arrest while they tried to determine whether Akhtar was simply a tourist.

Last week, federal officials issued urgent terror warnings, saying they had uncovered information in Pakistan that indictaed five financial institutions in New York, Washington and Newark, N.J., were potential targets.

Bush administration officials have said a new stream of intelligence has indicated al-Qaida wants to strike financial institutions.

[Caniac]

Living in Charlotte, this pisses me off. This is my backyard.

[Caniac]

Living in Charlotte, this pisses me off. This is my backyard.

[Mona]

Living in Charlotte, this pisses me off. This is my backyard.

If they are in Charlotte, I am sure they are in Raleigh too!! :crazy:

[Mona]

Living in Charlotte, this pisses me off. This is my backyard.

If they are in Charlotte, I am sure they are in Raleigh too!! :crazy:

[caniac369]

Oh, boy...

I've heard talk of a rumored attack in November on election day. As terrible as this would be, I have a somewhat selfish reason for hoping that it doesn't happen then: November 2, Election Day, is 4 days before my wedding and that's the day Brian is flying out here to meet up with me (I'm flying out here on 10/30). Again, I don't want to sound selfish b/c I don't want there to be ANY attack... but if they mess up my wedding I'm going to hunt them down like rabid dogs and hang them from the rafters by their toenails. :mad:

Sidenote- God forbid that ANYTHING happen, but it would be the second wedding on my mom's side of the family disrupted by terrorist activity; my cousin got married 3 years ago in September- the Saturday after 9/11.

[caniac369]

Oh, boy...

I've heard talk of a rumored attack in November on election day. As terrible as this would be, I have a somewhat selfish reason for hoping that it doesn't happen then: November 2, Election Day, is 4 days before my wedding and that's the day Brian is flying out here to meet up with me (I'm flying out here on 10/30). Again, I don't want to sound selfish b/c I don't want there to be ANY attack... but if they mess up my wedding I'm going to hunt them down like rabid dogs and hang them from the rafters by their toenails. :mad:

Sidenote- God forbid that ANYTHING happen, but it would be the second wedding on my mom's side of the family disrupted by terrorist activity; my cousin got married 3 years ago in September- the Saturday after 9/11.

[puck_it]

Living in Charlotte, this pisses me off. This is my backyard.

it would piss me off too. id start packin heat and bustin caps in them mofos

[puck_it]

Living in Charlotte, this pisses me off. This is my backyard.

it would piss me off too. id start packin heat and bustin caps in them mofos

[Mona]

This is disturbing.. especially about the name... :eek2:

Pakistani Facing Immigration Charges Arrives For Court Hearing

POSTED: 9:10 am EDT August 13, 2004

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A Pakistani citizen arrested last month while videotaping the 60-story Bank of America headquarters and other Charlotte skyscrapers arrived in federal court Friday amid heavy security.

Kamran Akhtar arrived in a caravan of about a half dozen vehicles protected by officers armed with automatic weapons.

A federal judge was scheduled to hear arguments later for granting bond to Akhtar, 35, of New York City, who has been jailed since his arrest last month on immigration charges. Officials are trying to determine whether his activities are connected to terrorism.

Along with the Charlotte skyline, other landmarks recorded by Akhtar included the Texas governor's mansion, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, the Downtown Transit Center in Houston and trolleys in Dallas and New Orleans.

Akhtar was arrested on July 20, but police kept it from the public until a criminal complaint was unsealed Tuesday. He is accused of immigration violations and making false statements to officers. The two charges carry penalties of up to 10 and five years in prison, respectively, and $250,000 fines each.

Federal officials have not issued any public alerts and neither local or state officials have imposed additional security measures beyond the ones that have been in place since Sept. 11, 2001.

Authorities are divided on which way they lean on Akhtar - whether the tapes were produced by a video buff or someone who was doing something more sinister.

His brother, Irfan Akhtar, has said he enjoys taking pictures of tourist spots and buildings and had been traveling the country after he lost his job at a photo store in New York that closed.

Kamran Akhtar was staying with a cousin in Texas when he took videos of sites in Dallas, Houston and Austin, and was traveling by bus back to New York, Irfan Akhtar said in an e-mail to several newspapers. He was due back July 21.

Videotapes found in a Akhtar's Queens home show images of 34 locations in Las Vegas, including interiors and exteriors of buildings. The tapes showed "hours and hours" of Las Vegas, said Ellen Knowlton, FBI special agent in charge in Las Vegas. The tapes did not constitute a credible threat to Las Vegas and the city was not on a heightened state of alert, the FBI said.

Agents with the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force seized the tapes Aug. 3, and the contents were soon shared with Las Vegas officials, Knowlton said. She said her bureau received seven tapes Thursday morning and immediately invited local authorities and casino chiefs to view them.

Irfan Akhtar said his brother and his sister-in-law have three children ages 1 to 5. His brother's wife is a permanent U.S. resident working to become a citizen, said Irfan Akhtar, who is a doctor living legally in the country and married to a U.S. citizen.

Kamran Akhtar entered the United States from Tijuana, Mexico, in 1991, according to immigration records. But Irfan Akhtar said in his e-mail that his brother originally entered the country in 1989.

Kamran Akhtar was then able to get another passport from Pakistan in 1991 under the name Kamran Shaikh, which he was using on work papers and his New York driver's license.
In 1998, a New York court denied Kamran Akhtar an asylum request and ordered him to leave the country within four months, according to the complaint unsealed Tuesday. But he apparently never filed the paperwork that would have allowed him to remain, the complaint said.

[Mona]

This is disturbing.. especially about the name... :eek2:

Pakistani Facing Immigration Charges Arrives For Court Hearing

POSTED: 9:10 am EDT August 13, 2004

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A Pakistani citizen arrested last month while videotaping the 60-story Bank of America headquarters and other Charlotte skyscrapers arrived in federal court Friday amid heavy security.

Kamran Akhtar arrived in a caravan of about a half dozen vehicles protected by officers armed with automatic weapons.

A federal judge was scheduled to hear arguments later for granting bond to Akhtar, 35, of New York City, who has been jailed since his arrest last month on immigration charges. Officials are trying to determine whether his activities are connected to terrorism.

Along with the Charlotte skyline, other landmarks recorded by Akhtar included the Texas governor's mansion, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, the Downtown Transit Center in Houston and trolleys in Dallas and New Orleans.

Akhtar was arrested on July 20, but police kept it from the public until a criminal complaint was unsealed Tuesday. He is accused of immigration violations and making false statements to officers. The two charges carry penalties of up to 10 and five years in prison, respectively, and $250,000 fines each.

Federal officials have not issued any public alerts and neither local or state officials have imposed additional security measures beyond the ones that have been in place since Sept. 11, 2001.

Authorities are divided on which way they lean on Akhtar - whether the tapes were produced by a video buff or someone who was doing something more sinister.

His brother, Irfan Akhtar, has said he enjoys taking pictures of tourist spots and buildings and had been traveling the country after he lost his job at a photo store in New York that closed.

Kamran Akhtar was staying with a cousin in Texas when he took videos of sites in Dallas, Houston and Austin, and was traveling by bus back to New York, Irfan Akhtar said in an e-mail to several newspapers. He was due back July 21.

Videotapes found in a Akhtar's Queens home show images of 34 locations in Las Vegas, including interiors and exteriors of buildings. The tapes showed "hours and hours" of Las Vegas, said Ellen Knowlton, FBI special agent in charge in Las Vegas. The tapes did not constitute a credible threat to Las Vegas and the city was not on a heightened state of alert, the FBI said.

Agents with the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force seized the tapes Aug. 3, and the contents were soon shared with Las Vegas officials, Knowlton said. She said her bureau received seven tapes Thursday morning and immediately invited local authorities and casino chiefs to view them.

Irfan Akhtar said his brother and his sister-in-law have three children ages 1 to 5. His brother's wife is a permanent U.S. resident working to become a citizen, said Irfan Akhtar, who is a doctor living legally in the country and married to a U.S. citizen.

Kamran Akhtar entered the United States from Tijuana, Mexico, in 1991, according to immigration records. But Irfan Akhtar said in his e-mail that his brother originally entered the country in 1989.

Kamran Akhtar was then able to get another passport from Pakistan in 1991 under the name Kamran Shaikh, which he was using on work papers and his New York driver's license.
In 1998, a New York court denied Kamran Akhtar an asylum request and ordered him to leave the country within four months, according to the complaint unsealed Tuesday. But he apparently never filed the paperwork that would have allowed him to remain, the complaint said.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I wonder if these would be seen as any more than vacation videos were this guy not Pakistani. I've certainly seen people with the video camera attached to their eye throughout their entire vacation. Heck, young professional athletes do it all the time when they get to visit another city! I always notice because I wonder when they are going to sit down and watch 8 hours of their vacation. :lol:

Too bad he has these immigration issues. He may just be a poor smuck who's here illegally (like many) who just happened to get noticed taking vacation videos....or he could be a terrorist. Sad part is, we'll probably never know.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I wonder if these would be seen as any more than vacation videos were this guy not Pakistani. I've certainly seen people with the video camera attached to their eye throughout their entire vacation. Heck, young professional athletes do it all the time when they get to visit another city! I always notice because I wonder when they are going to sit down and watch 8 hours of their vacation. :lol:

Too bad he has these immigration issues. He may just be a poor smuck who's here illegally (like many) who just happened to get noticed taking vacation videos....or he could be a terrorist. Sad part is, we'll probably never know.

[Caniac]

Well, regardless of his immigration troubles, if he isn't a terrorist, he's not too bright.

I'm as lily white skinned as they come, and I wouldn't be downtown of any city filming in that manner without a good reason for it. We've got to stop anybody who's doing that and at least ask a few questions...

[Caniac]

Well, regardless of his immigration troubles, if he isn't a terrorist, he's not too bright.

I'm as lily white skinned as they come, and I wouldn't be downtown of any city filming in that manner without a good reason for it. We've got to stop anybody who's doing that and at least ask a few questions...

[Mona]

When he was asked to leave and didn't and then had papers with a different name, that concerns me a great deal. I know they will do something else and it is scary because we don't know when and where, but we have to live our lives and not dwell on it right??

9/11 still doesn't seem real..until I see the footage.. :sad:

[Mona]

When he was asked to leave and didn't and then had papers with a different name, that concerns me a great deal. I know they will do something else and it is scary because we don't know when and where, but we have to live our lives and not dwell on it right??

9/11 still doesn't seem real..until I see the footage.. :sad:

[puck_it]

Too bad he has these immigration issues. He may just be a poor smuck who's here illegally (like many) who just happened to get noticed taking vacation videos....or he could be a terrorist. Sad part is, we'll probably never know.

Im trying to decide if hes more of a schmuck or a putz... hmmm idunno but his ass is grass.

[puck_it]

Too bad he has these immigration issues. He may just be a poor smuck who's here illegally (like many) who just happened to get noticed taking vacation videos....or he could be a terrorist. Sad part is, we'll probably never know.

Im trying to decide if hes more of a schmuck or a putz... hmmm idunno but his ass is grass.

[Mona]

If this was not on purpose it is a terrible coincidence.. :cry: :sad:


Russia Says No Evidence Of Terror In Plane Crashes
Technical Failures May Have Caused Crash

POSTED: 6:01 pm EDT August 24, 2004
UPDATED: 9:04 am EDT August 25, 2004

BUCHALKI, Russia -- Russian officials are looking for what caused two Russian airliners to crash almost simultaneously.

The planes went down Tuesday night after taking off from the same Moscow airport, raising fears it could be a terrorist attack.

Investigators from Russia's main intelligence agency said they've found no evidence so far of terrorism. The Federal Security Service said it's looking at other possibilities such as technical failures, the use of poor quality fuel, breaches of fueling regulations and pilot error. Weather conditions are also being looked at as a possible cause.

Airport officials said flight preparations "were carried out properly."

Officials had expressed concern that Chechen rebels were responsible in an effort to upset upcoming local elections. A rebel spokesman denies any involvement in the crashes.

Authorities say in all, 89 people died.

Both planes vanished from radar about the same time Tuesday night after they took off from Domodedovo airport less than an hour apart.

The first plane, a Tu-134 airliner, was reportedly carrying 43 people when it crashed in the Tula region, about 110 miles south of Moscow, around 11 p.m. local time. An emergency official said that everyone aboard the plane was killed in the crash.

The ITAR-Tass news agency said witnesses reported seeing an explosion before the crash. Rescuers have found the jet's tail.

About 600 miles south of Moscow, fires were reported seen near Rostov-on-Don, near where contact was lost with the second plane, according to The Associated Press.

The second plane, a Tu-154, was carrying 46 people, according to the latest reports, when it disappeared from radar.

About 900 Tu-154s have been built since 1971. The aircraft can carry up to 164 passengers, along with a crew of four. The Tu-134, a standard short-haul aircraft started service in 1967; it carries up to 96 people.

[Mona]

If this was not on purpose it is a terrible coincidence.. :cry: :sad:


Russia Says No Evidence Of Terror In Plane Crashes
Technical Failures May Have Caused Crash

POSTED: 6:01 pm EDT August 24, 2004
UPDATED: 9:04 am EDT August 25, 2004

BUCHALKI, Russia -- Russian officials are looking for what caused two Russian airliners to crash almost simultaneously.

The planes went down Tuesday night after taking off from the same Moscow airport, raising fears it could be a terrorist attack.

Investigators from Russia's main intelligence agency said they've found no evidence so far of terrorism. The Federal Security Service said it's looking at other possibilities such as technical failures, the use of poor quality fuel, breaches of fueling regulations and pilot error. Weather conditions are also being looked at as a possible cause.

Airport officials said flight preparations "were carried out properly."

Officials had expressed concern that Chechen rebels were responsible in an effort to upset upcoming local elections. A rebel spokesman denies any involvement in the crashes.

Authorities say in all, 89 people died.

Both planes vanished from radar about the same time Tuesday night after they took off from Domodedovo airport less than an hour apart.

The first plane, a Tu-134 airliner, was reportedly carrying 43 people when it crashed in the Tula region, about 110 miles south of Moscow, around 11 p.m. local time. An emergency official said that everyone aboard the plane was killed in the crash.

The ITAR-Tass news agency said witnesses reported seeing an explosion before the crash. Rescuers have found the jet's tail.

About 600 miles south of Moscow, fires were reported seen near Rostov-on-Don, near where contact was lost with the second plane, according to The Associated Press.

The second plane, a Tu-154, was carrying 46 people, according to the latest reports, when it disappeared from radar.

About 900 Tu-154s have been built since 1971. The aircraft can carry up to 164 passengers, along with a crew of four. The Tu-134, a standard short-haul aircraft started service in 1967; it carries up to 96 people.

[rkbrasse]

Pissing the Russians off is usually a bad idea.

[rkbrasse]

Pissing the Russians off is usually a bad idea.

[Mona]

Pissing the Russians off is usually a bad idea.

I agree with that.. if it turns out to be terrorism related to the Iraqi war, I don't know if that will be good or bad for us. They may think if we had stayed out that this would not have happened to them . But on the other hand, they may get mad and decide to participate in the occupation and kick some serious ass. In any event, what a tragedy. :sad:

[Mona]

Pissing the Russians off is usually a bad idea.

I agree with that.. if it turns out to be terrorism related to the Iraqi war, I don't know if that will be good or bad for us. They may think if we had stayed out that this would not have happened to them . But on the other hand, they may get mad and decide to participate in the occupation and kick some serious ass. In any event, what a tragedy. :sad:

[rkbrasse]

Thats about the only way to describe it.

I think I remember the Russians getting hit once by middle eastern Terrorists back in the 80's. The rumor was the perpetrators and their cohorts were sent to thier families in pieces. I believe that was the end of terrorist acts against the USSR.

[rkbrasse]

Thats about the only way to describe it.

I think I remember the Russians getting hit once by middle eastern Terrorists back in the 80's. The rumor was the perpetrators and their cohorts were sent to thier families in pieces. I believe that was the end of terrorist acts against the USSR.

[Motorcat]

I don't usually talk politics on a message board as I have seen it lead to disater but.....

If I had one question to ask the Presidential canidates it would be " What actions are you going to take to secure our borders? "

This IMO is our biggest threat to another terrorist attack.

[Motorcat]

I don't usually talk politics on a message board as I have seen it lead to disater but.....

If I had one question to ask the Presidential canidates it would be " What actions are you going to take to secure our borders? "

This IMO is our biggest threat to another terrorist attack.

[tommy]

CNN has excerpts from the video that the Russian media aired yesterday from inside the school gym that those terrorists took over. They said also that they weren't all Chechen rebels -- up to a dozen of the terrorists were Arabs, officials said. Either way, I swear, those terrorists are sub-human creatures.

[Mona]

Scary...

Terror Suspects Accused Of Al-Qaida Conspiracy
FBI Conducts Terrorism-Related Investigation In Florida

UPDATED: 9:42 am EDT June 23, 2006

LIBERTY CITY, Fla. -- The seven men arrested in connection with an alleged plot to blow up Chicago's Sears Tower and a federal building in Miami have been charged with conspiring to work with al-Qaida under the terrorist group's control.

The seven men arrested in an FBI raid in Miami will make their first court appearances Friday afternoon.

The FBI is also holding a pair of news conferences later Friday morning to release further information on the alleged terror plot.

The men were arrested when agents swarmed into a warehouse in Miami's Liberty City on Thursday, using a torch to take off a metal door.

People who live in the area said the group was running an operation similar to a military boot camp. One woman added that a member told her that "they had given their lives to Allah." Tashawn Rose said the men "seemed brainwashed" and she said they seemed to be running a "military camp boot camp."

Residents living near the warehouse said the men taken into custody described themselves as Muslims and had tried to recruit young people to join their group.

A federal law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday that the alleged plotters were mainly Americans with no apparent ties to al-Qaida or other foreign terrorist organizations.

FBI agents investigating terrorism-related activities conducted a number of raids Thursday, federal officials said.

Though the FBI said the suspects were part of a terror plot, a man who said he's with the group told CNN that they are "peaceful" and study the Bible.

The man who called himself Brother Corey said the "Seas of David" do have "soldiers" in Chicago but it's not a terrorist organization.

FBI Director Robert Mueller, in an interview on CNN's "Larry King Live" refused to give many details about the investigation because "it's an ongoing operation." Mueller did say that he expects the "arrests and searches" to be wrapped up by Friday. More details about the probe are expected to be released then.

An FBI spokesman in Washington said there is no threat to the public in connection with the arrests.

Meanwhile, a reporter from affiliate station WMAQ in Chicago said that sources told him privately that city authorities knew about the Sears Tower plot on Wednesday. He also reported that sources said they have been informed that at least one of the suspects is from Chicago's southeast side.

The group had been infiltrated by the FBI, and thus it's not considered likely at all that an attack could have been carried out. However, the takedown of the group had to be moved up because of internal dissension, even possible violence, between members, WMAQ reported.

The Sears Tower may seem like a vulnerable target, but WMAQ reported that the building consists of nine column-free tubes, bound together to form a veritable fortress. Any attack would almost certainly have to be carried out from very close by, and following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the building was equipped with sophisticated detectors, capable of sniffing out chemicals such as the ammonium nitrate that was supposedly going to be used in the attack.

The main question is not whether this attack was likely to have succeeded, but exactly why it was planned and who the suspects are.

Nearby Residents Say Alleged Terrorists Seemed 'Brainwashed'

Some residents who live near a Miami warehouse raided by the FBI said the people arrested in an alleged terror plot acted odd.

The warehouse is the impoverished Liberty City area. Those who live nearby said FBI agents spent several hours in the neighborhood showing photos of the suspects and seeking information.

The men are said to be in their teens or 20s and had lived in the area for about a year.

Another man said the men sometimes had children with them. And a member of a nearby church said the men were very private and would come to the church often to ask for water.

[Kevs]

I am sure they were just trying to "clean up the community"...

Yeah right. :crazy: