Terror Suspects Arrested In Miami Housing Project.

(AP) MIAMI — After an operation that started about four months ago, the FBI has arrested several suspects of domestic terrorism in a Miami low-income housing project.

The arrests took place Thursday afternoon at the Scott Housing Projects in the area of NW 68th street and 15th Avenue. Miami Police officers were seen in the area securing a perimeter for the FBI to carry out their arrests.

Sources tell CBS4 News it is unclear whether weapons or bomb-making materials were found, but those detained are suspected of being involved in planning terrorist activity.

Neighbors say suspicious activity had been observed at the home recently.

Two months ago, a pair of Atlanta men, one a Georgia Tech engineering student, were arrested not long after communicating by e-mail with two of the suspects arrested in Canada over the weekend. The Atlanta men are charged with videotaping domestic targets, including the U.S. Capitol and the World Bank.

UPDATE at 6/22/06 5:12:16 pm:

More details at ABC News: Federal Agents Raid Suspected Terror Cell in Miami.

June 22, 2006 — ABC News has learned that federal agents, including the FBI, are launching a series of raids tonight targeting a suspected terror cell based in Miami. According to sources familiar with the investigation, the group allegedly planned to bomb the FBI building in Miami and the Sears Tower in Chicago.

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. The suspects are described as African Americans and at least one man of Caribbean descent.

Sources say the arrests reflect the government’s concern about so-called “homegrown terrorists.” It’s a threat FBI Director Robert Mueller discussed during a recent speech in New York. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and the FBI are expected to hold a press conference about the arrests Friday morning.

UPDATE at 6/22/06 5:26:12 pm:

Despite the ABC News report pointing to Islamic terrorism, CNN’s live news reporters and yammering experts keep saying this may be “militia” related, because the FBI used the phrase “domestic terrorism.” They really want it to be “militia” related.

UPDATE at 6/22/06 5:42:15 pm:

FBI Director Robert Mueller’s first statement about the raids, from CNN:

20060621MuellerCNN.flv

UPDATE at 6/22/06 5:45:28 pm:

Allahpundit is listening to Fox News, where government officials have said:

…the men were plotting “to wage jihad in conjunction with Al Qaeda.”

You mean, the Al Qaeda “militia?”

UPDATE at 6/22/06 6:02:09 pm:

Here’s the video of Fox’s report: FOXNews.com - Free Video Player. (Hat tip: RadicalRon.)

UPDATE at 6/22/06 6:05:13 pm:

The Associated Press checks in: Official: 7 arrested in Sears Tower plot.

MIAMI - Seven people were arrested Thursday in connection with the early stages of a plot to attack Chicago’s Sears Tower and other buildings in the U.S., a federal law enforcement official said.

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.

Miami U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta said in a statement that the investigation was an ongoing operation and that more details would be released Friday. Local media reported that agents were raiding a warehouse in Miami’s Liberty City section.

“There is no imminent threat to Miami or any other area because of these operations,” said Richard Kolko, an FBI spokesman in Washington. He declined further comment.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was scheduled to hold a news conference Friday to discuss the raid. A simultaneous news conference was to be held in Miami.

Cedric Thomas, an owner of Thomas Produce Market, told The Miami Herald the area around his store was teeming with federal agents. “There is a ton of guys in uniforms moving around, blocking the streets,” Thomas said.

UPDATE at 6/22/06 6:15:52 pm:

It looks like this was a classic sting; according to Fox News, the suspects thought they were hooking up with Al Qaeda, but got a big surprise: undercover feds. (Hat tip: Allahpundit.)

UPDATE at 6/22/06 6:19:26 pm:

The Kos Kidz don’t know what to think yet: Daily Kos: Bullshit or Breaking News?: Miami Terror Plot. (Hat tip: Killgore Trout.)

I’ll bet the Townhouse mailing list (or its super secret successor) is buzzing.

UPDATE at 6/22/06 6:31:37 pm:

Here are the Kidz testing the racism angle: Daily Kos: MSNBC: Radical Black Muslims busted in terror plot. (Hat tip: Killgore.)

Shame… I don’t remember the headline being Radical White Christian bombs Oklahoma City Federal building.

Well, that’s not the headline, but who needs facts in a reality-based community? FBI arrests 7 in terrorism-related search.

UPDATE at 6/22/06 7:44:42 pm:

Baron Bodissey catches ABC erasing the phrase “African Americans” from their story: Gates of Vienna: Down the Memory Hole.