From the Miami Herald.
FBI agents backed by state and local law enforcement cordoned off an area of Liberty City and made several arrests on Thursday as part of what U.S. officials called a significant terror-related investigation.
There was no immediate threat to Miami, officials said. Formal details on the raid, which apparently focused on a warehouse, were to be released by U.S. officials at news conferences set for Friday in Miami and Washington.
In all, seven men were arrested during the investigation, authorities said.
About 20 FBI agents arrived on the scene at NW 15th Avenue, between 62nd and 63rd streets. They were backed up by state and local police officers.
In a prepared statement, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami said the arrests were made “as part of an ongoing investigation into a terrorist-related matter.
''The individuals arrested posed no immediate threat to our community,'' the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
One law enforcement source said authorities arrested seven people who allegedly were conspiring to conduct attacks in the United States — but that there was no immediate threat.
Five of those arrested are U.S. citizens, one is a legal U.S. resident and one is an illegal alien, the source told the Miami Herald on condition of anonymity.
Citing an investigation before Thursday's raid, the source said the group talked about an attack on the Sears Tower in Chicago and the FBI building in Miami — but that they had no “overt explosives or other things.''
The group thought that they ''were doing (the attacks) in conjunction with al Qaeda'' but were really dealing with'' undercover law enforcement, the official said.
It was ''pretty much talk, we were on top of them,'' the source said.
The operation sounds rather similar to the one recently reported in Canada. They are catching on to these plotters very early. The report here implies that there were more than the seven arrested involved, but officials are saying they got all the plotters. There will be a news conference later today that may answer a few questions.
But it sounds as if law enforcement is working pretty efficiently and doing a good job catching wind of plots early on. Look for a leaked story to be published in the New York Times soon to tell terrorists how to avoid being captured.
Wow – and they did this without invading a Middle Eastern nation! Bravo!
You don’t have to wait for the NY Times to tell terrorists how to avoid being captured, I can do it for you. Anyway, the Times has to lay low for a few days just now, so I don’t think they’ll object if I take up the slack.
All the terrorists have to do is get jobs as MSM “journalists.” It really doesn’t matter where, although at the NY Times, WaPo, Boston Globe, and LA Times is best for those who can read and write the English language.
Now, I know the pay sucks, but there are other “compensations” and you can always get a few drinks and a free lunch over at the Socialist Worker’s Party Canteen and Go Go Lounge. BTW, they’re going to be showing “Barbarella” this week, after the usual boring harangue from Helen (72 Virgins) Thomas.
For those unfamiliar with the written word, broadcast “journalism” is the ticket. ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN are definitely to be preferred, the junior varsity cable operations are OK as entry level spots, but any terrorist worth his salt should be able to move up quickly. And, the chicks are younger and more frisky at the second rate outlets too.
But the really big payoff comes from posing as “journalists” so terrorists can come and go freely, have easy access to high value targets, keep their “sources” confidential, and enjoy immunity from the very laws they demand others observe in the most excruciatingly minute detail. (After all, even terrorists need to blow off some steam and get a chuckle or two occasionally.)
But, never forget the big picture, after all this is serious business. The best part is that even if the clueless Bush administration does come up with some way to fight terrorism effectively, we can always put it on page one, in big headlines, so even those “cave men” who think they’re actually running this little shooting match will catch on. But, that’s another story. Got to run. Keep your powder dry, and remember, the pen is mightier than the sword, although you need to be proficient with both if you get my drift.