Terrorism Raids In Queens

MYFOXNY.COM - NYPD officers and the FBI raided at least three homes early Monday in Queens as part of a terrorism investigation.

Fox 5 News reported Monday afternoon that there may be an al-Qaeda connection to the investigation and one person is under arrest.

Law enforcement agents briefed members of Congress about the investigation Monday afternoon.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) said, "The things I can tell you are these.  First, there was nothing imminent.  Second, there was nothing related to President Obama's visit.  Third, the FBI is very good at tracking down people who might cause some kind of problem and this was preventitive.  Iin other words, preventing something from happening instead of cutting off something quickly that might happen immediately."

Searches were conducted in the Flushing section of Queens.  Agents of a joint terrorism task force went into at least three properties.

Two U.S. intelligence officials, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly, told the Associated Press that the target of any purported attack — or who would carry it out — remained unclear.

Authorities have not found any weapons ready for use — such as a bomb — that would indicate an attack was imminent, they said. Nevertheless, one of the officials called the threat very real and emphasized the urgency of the threat.

Another person briefed on the matter, who was not authorized to discuss the case and requested anonymity, said the raids were the result of previous law enforcement surveillance of individuals.

The raids came a day before the 64th Session of the General Assembly was set to open in Manhattan.  The event brings government leaders from around the world to New York.

Monday night, ABC News reported that law enforecement agents had trailed an Afghani man, who had been in Pakistan, to New York before the raids.