Not a lot of details yet but the Associated Press is reporting that law enforcement agents have conducted raids related to a terrorism investigation in New York City:
Law enforcement agents raided residences in New York City on Monday as part of a terrorism investigation, and began briefing Congress about the probe.
New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne confirmed that searches were conducted in the borough of Queens by agents of a joint terrorism task force. He would not discuss the matter further.
Separately, federal authorities started briefing a series of senior lawmakers in Congress about the case.
CBSNews adds a few additional details but information is still sketch at this point.
WCBS TV’s John Slattery reports the federal search warrant spelled out all manner of possible bomb-making components, including powders, gels, TNT, and fuses.
Building resident Assad Niazi told WCBS, “I don’t know [the other residents]. They are roommates – they go to work in the morning, and at night they come back.”
Updates as new details emerge.
Update (8:45 p.m.): Reuters is reporting that the NYPD and FBI raided at least apartments in Queens early this morning one of which was shared by five Afghan men:
New York City police and the FBI raided homes in the borough of Queens early on Monday as part of an investigation into suspected terrorism, focusing on one man who has been under surveillance, officials said.
Authorities searched at least two apartments including one shared by five Afghan men, taking some of them in for questioning, said one man who was questioned.
Members of U.S. Congress briefed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation said there was no imminent danger.
“There was nothing imminent, and they are very good now at tracking potentially dangerous actions and this was preventive,” said Charles Schumer, a U.S. Senator from New York who was among those briefed by FBI officials.
A man who identified himself as Amanullah Akbar, a 30-year-old taxi driver, said the FBI raided the apartment he shares with four other Afghan men at 2:30 a.m. (1630 GMT)
He was brought in for questioning and released and said he had no idea why his home was targeted, adding that he believed one of his roommates was arrested.
According to news reports the focus appears to be on one man who was being watched, authorities grew concerned as he met with people in Queens over the weekend and applied for search warrants late yesterday… The agents were apparently searching for all manner of possible bomb-making components, including powders, gels, TNT, and fuses.
Update II (9:10 p.m.): The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the individual at the center of the investigation may have been trying to obtain materials that could have been used in making a chemical, biological or radiological device:
Authorities executed search warrants and seized evidence early Monday morning at locations in the Queens borough of New York City as part of a terrorism investigation, according to a senior official familiar with the case.
This person said some counterterrorism officials were concerned that the individual at the center of the investigation may have had access to, or an interest in acquiring, materials that could be used for a chemical, biological or radiological device. One aspect of the probe involves whether the person had some contact or connections with suspicious individuals overseas, the official said. He stressed that the investigation was still at its earliest stages.
No wonder they were briefing Congress.