Posted on 10/16/2004 8:17:40 AM PDT by Dubya
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Almost half of the FBI's domestic field offices have become involved in the broadening criminal investigation of a charity based in Columbia, Mo., that is accused of aiding terrorists, the FBI confirmed Friday.
Previously, the investigation of the Islamic American Relief Agency-USA, which originated from the Kansas City field office, appeared confined to regional efforts in Missouri and the search of a home in Wolcott, Conn.
Members of a regional terrorism task force raided the charity's office and the home of a former executive director and president, Mubarak Hamed, on Wednesday. Agents returned to Hamed's home Thursday morning, FBI spokesman Jeff Lanza said.
No one was arrested and no charges have been filed, but authorities said the search warrants were part of an ongoing criminal investigation. Agents also searched and sealed a Columbia storage locker.
Acting separately, the Treasury Department on Wednesday designated the charity and five of its senior international officers as financial supporters of global terrorism. The agency alleges that IARA and its officers have raised more than $5 million for terrorist causes and have supported Osama bin Laden, Hamas and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Lanza said the Kansas City office had asked 26 of the bureau's 56 field offices to interview 80 to 90 people related to the investigation. He would not elaborate on the interviews.
In its first public statement since Wednesday, IARA on Friday described its situation as "unfortunate" and urged its patrons to contribute to other charities.
Hope CAIR is next on the list.
ping
Nail these PsOS.
The Feds brought these people here in the first place, caused the problem in the first place, and now we're supposed to pat them on the head because they cleaned up a tiny speck of their mess. What will they do when Muslims make up 10 or 20% of the population? Do you think they'll be able to control them then?
I sure don't understand why the govt. has rolled out the welcome mat, and allowed these people to bring their failed culture to set up a mini-mideast, here.
Deport, detain, and defenestrate as necessary..
Throw out the window?
Could be..
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