In a word, nuts. Seven people have been arrested for allegedly selling pipe bombs in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, Fox News has learned.
How about raiding Homegrown Jihad: The Terrorist Camps Around the U.S.?
Was the armed camp in New York, Islamberg, raided? The Muslim Brotherhood (CAIR) is already crowing about it.
FBI “Small Army” Raids Michigan Militia…won’t tell press why America 20xy
ADRIAN, Mich. — The FBI confirmed to Local 4 that there were several law enforcement activities in the Lenawee/Washtenaw County area late Saturday night.
“The federal warrants are sealed and we can not comment at this time,” said Sandra Berchtold, media/applicant coordinator for the FBI in Detroit.
Local 4 crews could see FBI helicopters flying over the area.
Michigan State Police said the raids are not terror related, but would not comment further.
Police said one person driving up from Toledo, Ohio was arrested and then taken in for questioning.
Police also said they were looking for at least one person.
Massive Federal Raid in Lenawee County
3/28/10
ADRIAN, Mich. (WXYZ) – The FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force are all involved in raids around Adrian that may be connected to a militia group.
The FBI conducted multiple raids throughout Saturday and into Sunday, with one of them centered on a property where known members of a militia live. The land is owned by a man who lives in a house on the property. His sons live in two mobile homes that are also on the property. Saturday’s raids were concentrated on those mobile homes.
Helicopters were spotted in the sky for much of the night, and agents set up checkpoints throughout the area, including in Sand Creek and Clayton in Lenawee County. Witnesses tell Action News that it was like a small army had descended on the area.
A command center, including two satellite trucks and a radio tower, had been set up at the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department in Ann Arbor. It has since been dismantled.
Federal agents will not comment on the investigation, only saying that they are serving a number of search warrants and that the warrants are sealed. Action News has learned that an unknown number of arrests have also been made. An unconfirmed report indicated that at least six people were arrested coming into Michigan from Ohio.
Members of a number of militia groups say that the raids are connected to raids in Indiana and Ohio. However, the FBI has not confirmed that.
FBI raids in Washtenaw, Lenawee counties tied to Michigan militia group
3/28/10
By Lee Higgins
The FBI conducted raids Saturday night in Washtenaw County and Lenawee County in an investigation involving members of Hutaree, a Christian-oriented militia group based in Lenawee County, AnnArbor.com has learned.
The nature of those raids has not been made public. FBI Special Agent Jason Pack, who is based in Washington, D.C., said he did not know how many people were taken into custody. Gina Balaya, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit, could not be reached for comment today.
“I can confirm that there is ongoing law enforcement activity in the Ann Arbor general area,” Pack said in a written statement. “Since the federal warrants are under court ordered seal, legally we cannot provide further comment at this time.”
Local Michigan militia member Jimmy Schiel said he was told five people were arrested – including one known member of Hutaree. Schiel said the five were reportedly arrested during a raid at a service in the Ann Arbor area for a Hutaree member who died recently. Schiel was told about eight Hutaree members were present. Schiel, who said he was invited but did not attend, spoke to a Hutaree member who was at the service, he said.
Hutaree members couldn’t be reached for comment today. As AnnArbor.com reported last week, several Hutaree members were recently involved in searches in Bridgewater Township after two residents went missing in separate incidents. Schiel worked closely with Hutaree members during those searches.
The Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia has not been targeted in any of the raids, spokesman Mike Lackomar said.
The FBI set up a command post at the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department late last week. Sheriff’s spokesman Derrick Jackson could not be reached this morning.
Several other raids took place around the same time in Sandusky and Huron in Ohio, but it’s not clear whether those raids are related.
Videos compiled by Blacklisted News
As of Sunday morning, the operation was not reported by national media, although it was covered by local media in Michigan.
UPDATE: The Muslim Brotherhood is calling on its members to recommit to Islam:
One of the Hutaree members called a Michigan militia leader for assistance Saturday after federal agents had already began their raid, Lackomar said, but the militia member -- who is of Islamic decent and had heard about the threats -- declined to offer help. That Michigan militia leader is now working with federal officials to provide information on the Hutaree member for the investigation, Lackomar said Sunday.
"They are more of survivalist group and in an emergency they withdraw and stand their ground. They are actively training to be alongside Jesus," he said.
Sources from the Michigan militia community said one of the FBI raids took place Saturday during a wake for a Hutaree member who had died of natural causes. A Hutaree leader was arrested during the wake while at the same time agents were conducting raids at other locations.
The Associated Press is reporting that FBI spokesman Scott Wilson in Cleveland said agents arrested two people Saturday in northwest Ohio. A third arrest was made in Illinois on Sunday, a day after raids in northwest Indiana.
Dawud Walid, executive director of the Council on Islamic-American Relations of Michigan, made an announcement Sunday during the group's 10th anniversary banquet about receiving a call from a network journalist about the alleged threat against Muslims.
"Don't allow this news to scare you away from practicing your faith," said Walid.
