Breaking news from Miami where seven suspects have been arrested in an apparent plot to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago.
From the AP:
The official told The Associated Press the alleged plotters were mainly Americans with no apparent ties to al-Qaida or other foreign terrorist organizations. He spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to pre-empt news conferences planned for Friday in Washington and Miami.
AP appears intent on dismissing any al-Qaida ties however, ABC News reports that the suspects may have been sympathetic to radical Islam:
The group has been under surveillance for some time and was infiltrated by a government informant who allegedly led them to believe he was an Islamic radical, a Justice Department official said.
CNN.com provides few additional details, but Reuters reports information again suggesting Islamic sympathies:
“In the past couple of days, the U.S. government has taken into custody seven people who were conspiring to conduct jihad (holy war) in the United States,” the law enforcement source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Recall that Miami has been a hot bed of Islamofacist activity and linked to 9/11.
It will be interesting to see the names of the arrested individuals. The event is certain to provide ample material for the blogosphere.
