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CNN Saturday Morning News

Five in New York Questioned on Terror Suspicions

Aired September 14, 2002 - 07:37   ET

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

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: In western New York, five men of Yemeni origin are being questioned by the FBI. They were taken into custody last night on suspicion that they were involved in terrorist activities.
George Richert of New York's WIVB has more on the arrests and reaction.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED YEMENI MALE: ...want this type of attention; we certainly don't need this type of attention.

GEORGE RICHERT, WIVB REPORTER (voice-over): In the center of this quiet Yemenite community in Lackawanna is an Islamic mosque where many go to pray five times every day. I'm told the five arrested came here to pray on a regular basis.

MOHAMMED ALBANNA, W. NY YEMENITE COMMUNITY: It's a very close- knit community. The vast majority are still first generation, and we take any of these matters seriously. And, we -- the entire community is in shock.

RICHERT: Four of the five were born here in the States and grew up going to schools right here in western New York. Could it also be that they graduated from Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda camp?

ALBANNA: I can say that all of them weren't anywhere; I know that some of them went overseas. And, whether -- you know -- they went into the camps or whatever. You know, that's something that I really don't know. I guess it's a question that the FBI will have to answer.

RICHERT: The president of the western New York Muslim community is relieved to hear who tipped off federal agents to these five.

KHALID QUAZI, PRES., W. NY MUSLIM COMM.: This information has been brought to FBI by Muslim community. So I'm pleased to hear that the Muslim community is doing what they need to do, turn the information to the law enforcement parties, as we should all do.

RICHERT: Just days ago, the general public was invited into the mosque for a 9/11 service of remembrance.

ALBANNA: We are a law-abiding citizens. Our community has been here for years. I'm sure that the law enforcement agency would testify that -- you know -- this community is not involved in any support or condone -- you know -- condone any violence.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: That was George Richert New York's WIVB reporting.

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