Sears Tower says never heard of credible threat

WAVY Channel 10 ^

[markedmannerf]

CHICAGO Managers at the Sears Tower in Chicago say law officials have told them there's never been "evidence of a credible terrorism threat" against the landmark. The statement comes after authorities arrested seven young men in Miami on terror charges tied to alleged plots, including one to blow up the Chicago skyscraper.

The Sears Tower statement says authorities have never reported a threat "that has gone beyond criminal discussions."

Workers at the Sears Tower this morning said they didn't plan to change their routines.

A federal indictment says the suspects conspired with al-Qaida to "levy war against the United States." It also says they planned to blow up a federal building in Miami.

The men are due in court today.

[markedmannerf]

Here is the correct link to the story. I posted the wrong link. http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=5070102

[willyd]

CNN has already dismissed the Miami 7 as wannabes and "not real terrorists" in an obvious attempt to deflect any political gains the Whitehouse might get for providing some actual security. The big story for the Times today was of course not the big arrests in Miami, but the outing of yet another clandestine anti terror program. After all, only dead Americans make for interesting news stories.

[L98Fiero]

I read that story and thought, "The old, 'nothing to see here, move along' story."

Despicable.

[Types_with_Fist]

I seem to remember a few months back that there was an incident at the tower, caught on the security camera. Several dubious-looking men had pulled up to the tower, gotten out and -- in some sort of rehearsed fashion -- walked up to the door, climbed back into their vehicle and departed. Nobody knew what they were doing and I never heard anything else.

We had the incident in a thread here, if I recall correctly. Perhaps somebody knows how to find it, and maybe there is a connection.

[markedmannerf]

Shadowy trio seen studying Sears Tower
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1597860/posts

[markedmannerf]

Shadowy trio seen studying Sears Tower
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1597860/posts

[willyd]

I can't believe that CNN actually admitted that the men were Muslim to begin with.

[Types_with_Fist]

Thanks! That's it. I wonder...

[roses of sharon]

And yet they spent three wks smearing our Marines with war crimes charges, and headlines and mag covers screaming the word "atrocities".

[cotton1706]

there's never been "evidence of a credible terrorism threat" against the landmark.

Well this guy's delusional. The Sears Tower was considered in the 911 plot. I'm a busy layman in Boston and even I remember reading that.

[markedmannerf]

I had forgot about that story until you mentioned it. I remembered thinking I wonder what is going on here.

[Types_with_Fist]

I can't believe I remembered it. I have three teens in the house for Summer and I work nights. It's a miracle I remembered it actually...:-)

[rod1]

Well if the "wannabes" had been going blow up CNN headquarters in Atlanta, maybe they would not be quite so dismissive.

[Oystir]

Having read the indictment, this group of wannabes don't seem like they have the ability to tie their own shoes. But in the days to come we will see if they were a valid threat or not.

[willyd]

Of course that would be about as likely as Al Qaeda bombing the Al Jazeera network in the Middle East. Not a chance when they benefit from all the good press they get in those news stories.

[1rudeboy]

Any word on how long Osama bin Laden was a wannabe before making it to the big leagues?

[willyd]

Reid didn't have the ability to light his own shoes, but he was still a terrorist. Also, any idiot can make and detonate an explosive device.

[livius]

They don't have to be very bright. Just vicious enough to want to kill total strangers drinking coffee at their desks some September morning...

They obviously thought they were in touch with somebody who was going to plan things for them, and this is what AQ has been looking for: domestic people who are dumb enough and violent enough to let AQ use them for operations here. Fortunately, dumb also means more likely to get caught (like the shoebomber, Muslim convert Richard Reid, whose IQ was probably only a little higher than that of his shoes).

[Oystir]

They couldn't even get a digital camera on their own to take pictures of the local FBI building - the FBI gave them a camera. They had to get their "boots" for their "war" from the FBI agent (yes, the FBI gave them boots). They don't seem smart enough to even form an intent to harm. Richard Reid is a genius compared to these clowns. This "plan" was going nowhere. That said, I am glad we got them.