LODI, Calif., June 9 (UPI) -- A fifth man has been arrested in Lodi, Calif., on suspicion of being affiliated with an al-Qaida cell planning terror attacks in the United States. A father and son were first arrested Friday, then two Muslim religious leaders and a member of a local Pakistani community were arrested Wednesday, the Sacramento Bee reported.
FBI special agent Keith Slotter told reporters that some of those charged "have received terrorist training abroad, with the specific intent to initiate a terrorist attack in the United States," although there was no evidence found of specific plans, targets or timing of a possible attack. "We believe through our investigation that various individuals connected to al-Qaida have been operating in the Lodi area in various capacities," Slotter said.
The father and son have not been charged with terrorist involvement, but rather with lying to federal authorities. A criminal complaint alleges the son attended an al-Qaida training camp in Pakistan for six months ending in 2004. The other three men were charged with immigration offenses, CNN said. |