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To: nw_arizona_granny

I totally agree with your last paragraph. Here's an update. They were near an air duct!

AP NewsBreak: FBI: Muslims detained were close to arena air duct

11/2/2005, 10:47 a.m. ET
By WAYNE PARRY
The Associated Press

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Five Muslim football fans were detained and questioned during a New York Giants-New Orleans Saints game because they were congregating near the main air intake duct for Giants Stadium, not because they were praying, an FBI spokesman told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Several of the fans were expected to detail their experience from the Sept. 19 game at an afternoon news conference in Manhattan. One of the men, along with his lawyer, said Tuesday the five were unfairly profiled and detained because they had been praying at the stadium, as their Muslim faith requires five times a day.

But Special Agent Steven Siegel told The Associated Press that the men aroused suspicion because they were congregating near the main air intake duct for the stadium. Former President Bush was on hand that night as part of a fundraising campaign he and former President Clinton were leading for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"You had 80,000 people there, Bush 41 was there, and you had a group of gentlemen gathering in an area not normally used by the public right near the main air intake duct for the stadium, and a food preparation facility," Siegel said. "It was where they were, not what they were doing."

One of the men, who asked not to be identified because he said he fears harassment from the incident, said he and the other four had no idea they were near an air intake.

"I don't even know what an air duct looks like," he said. "To me, it was just a wall."

He said several stadium workers were about 10 feet from where he and the others were praying.

"We weren't hiding from anyone," he said. "There were workers right there."

Soon after walking through the gates and having their tickets scanned, the men found an open space near the concrete pillars at Gate D, and began to pray during the first quarter, the man said.

Other fans apparently notified security, who followed the men to their seats and asked them to come with them during the third quarter, the man said.

According to the man, an FBI agent said they were being detained because someone had reported they were taking photos of the building, and asked if any of them had cameras. They said no, had their identification documents checked and were questioned for about a half-hour on topics including which mosques they attended, and where and how frequently they prayed, the man said.

The men were later told they could return to watch the game, but were asked to sit in different seats, said Sohail Mohammed, the man's lawyer. They chose instead to leave, angered by the experience.

Siegel said the men were offered upgraded seats closer to the field as compensation for their inconvenience, and also were given the use of a private room in the stadium in which to pray. He said several of the men used the room to pray, but declined the better tickets.

"This was a routine, precautionary law enforcement action," he said. "The number one priority of the FBI is to prevent future terrorist attacks, and we ask people to report what they consider to be suspicious behavior when they see it. It turned out to be just a group of gentlemen congregating in an area where the public doesn't normally go."

That area, which was accessible to anyone at the time, has since been fenced off, Siegel said.

Officials with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which operates the stadium, did not return calls seeking comment.


112 posted on 11/02/2005 9:23:43 AM PST by freeperfromnj
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To: freeperfromnj

That was not a prayer session.

Everyone talks and looks at the muslims who are 'praying'.

Remember the "white jihadi" or the "blue eyes" or the
"prison convert" ???

I would bet money that they did have a camera and a white jihadi walked out with it.

That same or another white jihadi, also had the vial of needed germs to apply to the vents.

Next will come the Legionaire's disease, or something worse.

If they had managed to take down two American Presidents, then imagine the publicity and the new volunteers.

Paul Harvey, said at the top of the hour broadcast, and I
was not listening to him, but heard something about 70 officers having come down with food poisoning, it was at a
place that sounded like Plata del Mar.....is that in Argentina? will attempt to catch him again at noon.


Thank you for the update, good police and citizen work, who knows what was coming.......


115 posted on 11/02/2005 10:23:40 AM PST by nw_arizona_granny (The only way to eat safe food, is to grow it yourself and learn to cook it. Grow herbs for healing.)
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To: freeperfromnj
"Siegel said the men were offered upgraded seats closer to the field as compensation for their inconvenience, and also were given the use of a private room in the stadium in which to pray. He said several of the men used the room to pray, but declined the better tickets."

&^%$#@%^&%^

WHY are they praying at a football game anyway? And coincidentally right next to the main air intake. Hmmmm. Then they are rewarded. Sheesh! How many of you think if we asked as Christians or Jews for a special room in which to pray that we would get one?

Coco is getting madder by the minute. We are so stupid!

And one more thing, they were noticed and reported during the first quarter and nothing was done until the third quarter. Just great! Dry run?

152 posted on 11/02/2005 1:37:44 PM PST by WestCoastGal
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To: freeperfromnj
"I don't even know what an air duct looks like," he said.

Yeah, right.

240 posted on 11/03/2005 5:36:38 AM PST by Velveeta
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