Report: Feds Fear 5,000 In U.S. Tied To Al-Qaida
U.S. Intelligence Probes Suspected Small Cells In 4 Cities
POSTED: 11:54 a.m. EDT July 11, 2002
UPDATED: 12:40 p.m. EDT July 11, 2002
WASHINGTON -- Some members of the U.S. intelligence community believe there are about 5,000 people in the United States with either al-Qaida links or sympathies toward the terrorist network, The Associated Press reported, citing unidentified U.S. officials.
The officials say most of the people are Middle Eastern or South Asian men, adding that the figure is higher than what was previously reported.
As for hard-core al-Qaida agents in the United States, another U.S. official told the AP that it is believed the number is in the low hundreds, or even less.
That official said it depends on how you define a link to al-Qaida, adding that when it comes to those with direct links, the 5,000 figure is way too high.
The Washington Times first reported the 5,000 figure.
Small groups of about a half-dozen men in Seattle, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta are under surveillance, according to the newspaper report. Federal authorities believe those groups are part of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network, according to the report. |
