The U.S. this week charged seven Miami men with plotting to blow up Chicago's Sears Tower and several federal buildings in Florida. The men'”five U.S. citizens, one legal immigrant, and one illegal immigrant'”were arrested after making contact with an FBI agent posing as an al Qaida operative. According to the indictment, ringleader Narseal Batiste told the agent he wanted to 'œwage a full ground war' against America, and asked him to provide needed equipment, including machine guns, radios, uniforms, and boots. The men had no weapons of their own, and no real contact with foreign terrorists.
'œThis group was more aspirational than operational,' said FBI Deputy Director John Pistole. Batiste and his followers are members of a fringe black nationalist religion called the Moorish Science Temple of America, which blends Islam with Christianity, Freemasonry, and other traditions. 'œToday, terrorist threats may come from smaller, more loosely defined cells who are not affiliated with al Qaida but who are inspired by a violent jihadist message,' said Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. 'œLeft unchecked, these homegrown terrorists may prove to be as dangerous as groups like al Qaida.'
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