FBI agents search homes, won't say why

CNN.com ^ | November 13, 2001

[maggie]

CHESTER, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- About 30 FBI agents, some wearing hazardous materials gear, searched two houses in this town about 13 miles southwest of Philadelphia Tuesday and set up a decontamination tent outside.

FBI spokeswoman Linda Vizi said no one has been arrested and the search warrants are sealed. She said she would be able to give more information if they were unsealed.

[maggie]

Anyone know the scoop on this?

[vannrox]

WHAAA?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

FBI spokeswoman Linda Vizi said no one has been arrested and the search warrants are sealed. She said she would be able to give more information if they were unsealed.

Who is she trying to kid? After the passage of Ashcroft's "anti-Terror" legislation, the FBI don't need now steenking search warrants.

[Black Agnes]

Hmmm, anthrax related maybe? Dunno.

[Ben Hecks]

Somebody post a map so we can get a Freeper over there right away.

[muggs]

bump!

[ThirdMate]

"About 30 FBI agents, some wearing hazardous materials gear"

How do you feel if you are the FBI agent on scene without your HazMat gear? Naked? Embaressed? Do you say "Hey guys, nobody told me I needed HazMat gear! Can I stay in my car?"

[lelio]

anthrax related...
Any right wing Christian gun lovers out there?
And who says that there has to be anything in there for the FBI to knock down doors? Maybe they just wanted a test case to see if they can do it and if the sheeple will ask questions.

[abner]

I'm about an hour away from Chester. Thing is, sorry to say, I am the wrong color to go into Chester. Especially at night. It is not a nice neighborhood to say the least.

[abner]

Any right wing Christian gun lovers out there?

I'm sure there are a few churches. Lots of gangs too.

[prambo]

Brought to you by the newer, more competent, more patriotic FBI.

Yes that same bunch of losers that lost top secret computers, scads of firearms and, G_d help us, gave us Waco.

It took terrorists and 4,000 of our fellow Americans dying to resurrect this Keystone Kops outfit.

Ain't America great??!!

prambo

[lelio]

Oh this is classic:
"No threat. Everything is contained. Whatever problem it is, it's contained."
FBI: There is no threat.
Q: Why were you there with hazmat suits
FBI: (Damn media) Okay we contained the threat
Q: So there was a threat, why no arrests?
FBI: Um, okay if there was a threat then we most likely contained it.

[is_is]

I was in Chester for 3 months a few years ago and i think your charactorization is pretty unfair....true some areas a pretty rough but not all....

[lelio]

Here's the Philly Inquirer's article about it.
Major points (verbatum from article):
"We are taking every precaution that this is a safe environment," she said. "This facility will be left safe. But whether this has anything to do with weapons of mass destruction, I can not say because the warrants are sealed. There's no reason for anybody to panic. We're taking every precaution because of the nature of the world as it is today."
According to real estate records, the Edgmont Avenue home is owned by Irshad Shaikh, the city health commissioner and a native of Pakistan. He was being questioned by the FBI this afternoon.
It was not immediately clear if Shaikh lived in the Edgmont Avenue house. "The FBI came in, they had some questions," Shaikh said afterward. "What they asked I answered. They're reviewing them and may come back. I'm getting back to work now."
The Crozer Circle home belongs to Asif Kazi, the Chester city accountant, according to Chester Mayor Dominic F. Pileggi. He is also a Pakistani native, Pileggi said.
Authorities also questioned a third man, Masood Shaikh, the head of Chester's lead abatement program. He is the brother of Irshad Shaikh. "They inspected my house, fine," Masood Shaikh said after officials questioned him. "I have nothing to hide."
Investigators removed a computer from his Chester city office.
Records indicate he is also an owner of the Edgemont Avenue home.

[abner]

I'm sorry if you think I'm being unfair. What I've seen of Chester, I'm not a welcome individual. That's fine, I stay away. I'm just going on my individual experience.

[Timesink]

Why should we be upset that the FBI is refusing to submit to the press? They don't have no right to undermine investigations. There is no law that the FBI must hand over evidence, or even copies of search warrants, to anyone with a $400,000 TV camera on their shoulder that issues demands. The hell with them.

I don't particularly trust the FBI, but I mistrust the media far more.

[is_is]

LOL....hey your the local....i'll defer to you judgement

[TomGuy]

Surely, it wouldn't have anything to do with anthrax. Pakastani. Health Commissioner=science=biological related. And about 10 miles or so from Trenton, NJ.

We all know the anthrax was a right-wing extremest in the Midwest who is a loner.

Probably just checking for terminites at the house...yeh, that's it.