September 14, 2009
New York residences raided in terrorism probe (UPDATED, BUMPED)
Did we just dodge a bullet?
WASHINGTON (AP) - Law enforcement agents have raided residences in New York City as part of a terrorism investigation, and are preparing to brief Congress about the investigation.UDATED and bumped by Rusty: Um, you know where our suspicions are running, don't you? So, we don't even have to mention who exactly we think of when we think of terrrorism and Queens. Or maybe said tough guy's friends who you may have noticed lurking in the comments lately wishing us a "Happy 9/11"?New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne confirms that searches were conducted in the borough of Queens on Monday by agents of a joint terrorism task force. He would not discuss the matter further.
Separately, federal authorities planned to brief senior lawmakers in Congress on the case later Monday.
Okay, here's some more info on the raid's location:
The New York City Police Department confirms homes on 147th Street between Parsons and 41st Avenue in Queens have been raided by law enforcement agents in connection with an ongoing investigation.It looks like this was not an imminent attack, but that the raid may have been triggered by the arrival of someone from the Middle East.
And AllahP asks a very important question:
Is that normal for U.S. intel in an average terror bust — to grab hold of the congressional leadership and get them up to speed ASAP?So, a real threat if not imminent. Also big enough that it's time to brief Congress about it?
I'll also note that it was multiple homes that were raided.
UPDATE: Okay, this report says that at least one of the apartment was "on 41st Avenue near 144th Street." Here's a map.
More:
"They looking for some powder, some different things for making bombs and different things," resident Assad Niazi said.Pakistanis? Doesn't seem like a description of you-know-who.In fact, the federal search warrant spelled out all manner of possible bomb-making components, including powders, gels, TNT, and fuses.
"I don't know [the other residents]," Niazi said. "They are roommates - they go to work in the morning, and at night they come back." ..
The building's superintendent, Ramiz Berisha, says those who were questioned are Pakistani.
Thanks to Google's "street view" function, we can see what the area looks like.
Update: Some minor details from NY Times blog [sorry for no link, but I'm in iPhone and found this at NPR:
The official said authorities had only a hazy view of the group, its operations and goals, but decided to act fearing that undercover surveillance had failed to detect plans that might be developing.This is good news that at least in NYC the JTTF is willing to risk early arrest and maybe a convction on a lesser charge rather than wait too long and risk another 9/11.
Update: Just saw this over at Hot Air, follow the link to AllahP above for original [again, sorry, iPhone]:
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.So, he drove to NYC and flew home? Sounds like a red flag to me.The man the FBI had been watching has since flown home and is not in custody, the sources said.
Again, when it comes to terror it's not necessarily "jumping the gun" to arrest earlier than you would in other cases.
Has any one heard from CAIR yet?
