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CNN Live At Daybreak

Florida to Tighten Security Around Mosques

Aired August 28, 2002 - 05:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And Florida Governor Jeb Bush says there will be a security check of the state's mosques and Islamic schools. The move follows the arrest of a man accused of plotting to blow up Islamic buildings.
But as CNN's John Zarrella reports, the increased security is not comforting Muslims.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tasnim Uddin, chairman of the Masgid a-Nour Mosque (ph) in South Miami, went to evening prayers with a lot on his mind.

TASNIM UDDIN, MOSQUE CHAIRMAN: Hopefully they will provide some kind of surveillance, OK?

ZARRELLA: He had just spent time with law enforcement agents who went over with him new steps being taken to protect Islamic places of worship across the state. Uddin is still uneasy.

UDDIN: It has yet to be seen what the outcome of these visits are and what more, you know, the federal agencies will do to bring the Muslims and give them some level, a better level of comfort, OK?

ZARRELLA: The heightened sense of concern among Florida Islamic leaders stems from the arrest of this man, a podiatrist, Robert Goldstein, at his home outside Tampa, where police found a jaw dropping arsenal of weapons and bombs. Goldstein has been charged with planning to use those weapons to damage or destroy up to 50 mosques and Islamic centers in the Tampa area. Goldstein appeared in court Tuesday in shackles. He said nothing as the judge ordered him held for psychiatric testing, a request made by Goldstein's attorney.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What I told the judge on the record is that based on his current mental status that I can't adequately, at this time, communicate with him to properly defend him.

ZARRELLA: Authorities believe Goldstein was acting alone. But Islamic leaders are not convinced. One of the spokesmen for Tampa's Islamic community is Sami Al-Arian, who himself is being investigated for terrorist ties, although he denies it and he hasn't been charged. Al-Arian doesn't believe his community's security concerns are being taken seriously.

SAMI AL-ARIAN, MUSLIM CLERIC: If the shoe was on the other foot, if this was somebody with the name of Ahmed-stein (ph) and not Goldstein, there would be a national emergency in Florida today.

ZARRELLA: Florida's governor, Jeb Bush, has publicly tried to reassure them of their and their families' safety.

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: They should not have any fear that their children are going to be targeted at a Moslem or Islamic school or that if they go to pray that somehow that puts them in grave danger. That is outrageous. And in this state it won't be tolerated.

ZARRELLA (on camera): Islamic leaders say what they want more than words of support is a visible law enforcement presence at their mosques.

John Zarrella, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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