Federal Agents Raid Suspected Terror Cell in Miami
June 22, 2006 — -- Federal agents, including the FBI, launched a series of raids tonight targeting a suspected terror cell based in Miami, and federal law enforcement officials said seven people have been arrested over the past two days.
Among those arrested, five were U.S. citizens, one was a permanent legal resident, and one was a Haitian who was in the United States illegally on a visa overstay, federal officials told ABC News.
The group has been under surveillance for some time and was infilitrated by a government informant who allegedly led them to believe he was an Islamic radical, a Justice Department official said.
The group had expressed interest and discussed bombing targets in Miami and the Sears Tower in Chicago, sources familiar with the investigation said.
Sources say the arrests reflect the government's concern about so-called "homegrown terrorists." It's a threat FBI Director Robert Mueller discussed during a recent speech in New York.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and the FBI are expected to hold a press conference about the arrests at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Washington at the Justice Department. Following the press conference, the U.S. Attorney in Miami is expected to hold a press conference as well.
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