Too Many Questions Around the New York City Terrorist Raid
|
Print This Post
New York City has been on high alert since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the recent anniversary has reminded many that the city was targeted in the suicide hijackings that destroyed the World Trade Center eight years ago. The Twin Towers were also hit by a truck bomb attack in 1993 that killed six people and wounded more than 1,000.
Several news agencies inform that New York City police and the FBI raided at least one home in the borough of Queens early on Monday as part of an investigation into suspected terrorism, focusing on one man who has been under surveillance.
Members of U.S. Congress briefed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation said there was no imminent danger. “There was nothing imminent, and they are very good now at tracking potentially dangerous actions and this was preventive,” said Charles Schumer, a U.S. Senator from New York who was among those briefed by FBI officials.
The New York Times, citing an unnamed senior law enforcement official, said authorities had uncovered a small group of people who espoused a militant ideology aligned with Al Qaeda. Neither a specific plot nor a target of any planned attack had been detected, but their activities had aroused enough suspicion to obtain search warrants, the New York Times reported.
Schumer told reporters the rumors indicated the terrorist threat was related to an upcoming appearance in New York by President Barack Obama but authorities learned that this was not true. Some pundits consider that this may have been a terrorist plot against Obama due to the fact that the President was in downtown Manhattan on Monday for his speech at Federal Hall and lunch with Bill Clinton.
Peter King, a Republican congressman from New York who was also briefed on the case, told ABC News about the suspect: “He was being watched and concern grew as he met with a group of individuals in Queens over the weekend. The FBI went to court late last night for an emergency warrant to conduct the raids this morning,” ABC quoted King as saying.
NYPD and FBI officials provided few details, calling it part of an ongoing investigation of the joint terrorism task force. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly declined to say more, telling reporters only that it was part of an ongoing investigation and “normal procedure.”
A congressional aide said members of the Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Committee were given a classified briefing on the raid. WCBS TV’s John Slattery reported the federal search warrant spelled out all manner of possible bomb-making components, including powders, gels, TNT, and fuses…
As we slowly learn more information, a senior law enforcement official said authorities had not detected a specific plot or target of any planned attack, but had uncovered a small group of people who espoused a militant ideology aligned with Al Qaeda and whose activities had aroused enough suspicion to obtain warrants for the searches and arrests, which began late Sunday night.
The official said authorities had only a hazy view of the group and its operations and goals, but decided to act, fearing that undercover surveillance had failed to detect plans that might be developing.
Other sources indicate that the FBI agents have been monitoring a man from the western part of the U.S. who had recently driven to New York, federal sources said. The man met with several people in Queens, and the activities aroused enough suspicion to obtain warrants for the searches, the sources said. The man the FBI had been watching has since flown home and is not in custody, the sources said.
In the final analysis, there are very few details about just what this terrorist threat is all about, other than the clue that senior members of Congress have been briefed on the investigation. But it is precisely the lack of information and some inner contradictions about the sources that create too many questions to the American public, and they all need to be carefully looked into.
The Americano / Agencies
Related posts:
- Another Failed Terrorist Attack in New York City Late Saturday, New York City authorities say they found...
- Obama Approves Targeted Killing of Muslim Terrorist Cleric U.S. officials say the Obama administration has authorized the CIA...
- Suspect in NYC Car-Bomb Captured Federal agents and New York police detectives arrested Faisal Shahzad,...
- Political Fight Begins After Terrorist Plot in Detroit The Obama Administration has been receiving a lot of criticism...
- Two Arrested at Kennedy Airport on Terror Charges Federal and local authorities arrested two New Jersey men at...
Is there anything that Schumer doesn’t comment about??? This author is right in saying there are too many conflicting statements being thrown around. Many good articles in this site. Keep up the effort to keep us informed.