Torrance theft suspects focus of terror probe (CA)
Two men charged in Torrance with a series of gas station holdups are under investigation for possible links to terrorist activities, authorities and a family member confirmed today.
Police and FBI officials refused to discuss an investigation into Gregory Vernon Patterson, 21, of Gardena and Levar Haney Washington, 25, of Los Angeles, but acknowledged the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is looking at the men. :::snip:::
Patterson's mother, Abbie Patterson, vice president of student services at Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington, said she knew nothing about the terrorism suspicions.
She called her son an "idealistic young man" who was an honors student and Christian who recently converted to Islam.
"My son has never done anything wrong," she said. "All they told us is he was picked up for robbery and they brought in the FBI because they suspected some terrorism.
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http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/1673022.html
Although Torrance police said their investigation was just beginning, several law enforcement officials said the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force was investigating the men for possibly planning a hate crime or other extremist action. The list found by investigators, according to one source, included a variety of public and private locations that would not logically be targeted by suspected robbers.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/state/la-me-arrest8jul08,1,5844440.story?coll=la-news-state
Thanks Velveeta.