FBI links Islamic men in Lodi to al-Qaeda

Denny Walsh:

Federal officials say they have broken up an al-Qaida terrorist cell in Lodi, arresting two men and detaining two others as part of a wide-ranging investigation, authorities said Tuesday.

One of the men arrested, 22-year-old Hamid Hayat, is accused in a federal criminal complaint of training in an al-Qaida camp in Pakistan to learn "how to kill Americans" and then lying to FBI agents about it.

His purported training included explosives and wea-pons instruction and using photographs of President Bush as targets, court documents indicate.

His father, 47-year-old Umer Hayat, a Lodi ice cream truck driver, is charged in the complaint with lying about his son's involvement and about his own financing of the terrorist camp.

The men are U.S. citizens who live in Lodi and both made a brief initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Sacramento on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter A. Nowinski. They are being held in the Sacramento County jail.

Hamid Hayat's attorney was not present for the court hearing and Nowinski set a bail hearing for Friday. An attorney representing Umer Hayat downplayed the charges against his client.

Two other Lodi men have been detained for questioning, residents said Tuesday. The men were identified by a source as Muhammed Adil Khan and Shabbir Ahmed, and they are being held on immigration violations at an undisclosed location.

The two are believed to be working to open a religious school in Lodi to teach young Muslims. They were detained after they met separately with Umer Hayat in the predawn hours Saturday.

Umer Hayat wore a concealed FBI listening device for the meetings, a source said. Umer Hayat's family members in Lodi confirmed the source's account.

Khan is well-known in the area and is an imam at the Lodi Muslim Mosque.

Islamic leaders, 2 others held in California terror probe

Father, son charged with lying about son's training with al-Qaeda

Islamic leaders, 2 others held in California terror probe

What do you give someone who has everything for Father's Day? How about some Jail Time!

American Jihadis