Denver Man Focus of NYC Terror Raid

Officials Questioned Man about Visiting Friend; FBI, DHS Warn Local Agencies to Look Out for Explosive Materials

(CBS/AP)  A Colorado man who's the target of a terrorism probe that led to several police raids in New York City denies he did anything wrong.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press Tuesday that the FBI had put Najibullah Zazi under surveillance in connection with a suspected plot to make homemade bombs.

The official wasn't authorized to speak publicly and insisted on anonymity.

Zazi told The Associated Press in a Denver suburb that he had recently visited New York and knows he's under investigation. But he says he's innocent.

New York officials say the FBI and New York City police raided three homes early Monday searching for explosives and possible links to al Qaeda after tailing Zazi. There were no arrests.

In New York, FBI investigators questioned a childhood friend of Zazi who had hosted him in his apartment prior to the raid.

Naiz Khan said he didn't know of any connections his friend had to terrorism. He said Zazi - who he referred to only as Najibullah - asked to stay at his house last Thursday, saying he was having trouble with his permit for a coffee truck he had operated in New York.

Earlier Tuesday, the FBI and Homeland Security officials are warned local police departments to be on the lookout for materials that could be used to make explosives.

The warning came as officials investigate a suspected al Qaeda associate and raided three New York City apartments.

Investigators issued warrants to search the residences for explosives material but did not find any, according to a person briefed on the matter who was not authorized to discuss the case and requested anonymity.

The joint intelligence warning, issued Monday, lists indicators that could tip off police to homemade hydrogen peroxide-based explosives, such as people with burn marks on their hands, face or arms. The warning was obtained by The Associated Press.

The joint FBI and Homeland Security intelligence warning, issued Monday, lists indicators that could tip off police to homemade hydrogen peroxide-based explosives, such as people with burn marks on their hands, face or arms; foul odors coming from a room or building; and large industrial fans or multiple window fans.

The warning, obtained by The Associated Press, also said that these homemade explosive materials can be hidden in backpacks, suitcases or plastic containers.

The investigation of a suspected al Qaeda associate prompted the "preventive" raid of the apartments - but authorities said the target of any terror attack plan remained unclear.

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

New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne confirmed that searches were conducted in the borough of Queens by agents of a joint terrorism task force.

The searches early Monday came after the man, who was under surveillance for possible links to the terrorism network, visited New York City over the weekend and then left the area, said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.

Sen. Charles Schumer said the law enforcement action was unrelated to President Barack Obama's visit to the city Monday.

"There was nothing imminent, and they are very good now at tracking potentially dangerous actions, and this was preventive," said Schumer, D-N.Y.

Both lawmakers were briefed Monday by law enforcement officials.

Residents in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens on Monday described officers armed with search warrants swarming their immigrant neighborhood at about 2:30 a.m.

Akbari Amanullah, a cab driver who lived in an apartment with four other natives of Afghanistan, said when he arrived home from work afterward, he was told that one of his roommates had been taken away.

No arrests were announced. Neither the FBI nor the NYPD would discuss the whereabouts of the al Qaeda suspect or whether anyone was being held for questioning in New York.

(Left: One of the Queens, N.Y. buildings raided early Monday morning by a joint terrorism task force in what authorities called "preventive raids.")

A White House spokesman said President Obama, who spoke on Wall Street on Monday, had been briefed on the investigation.

The person familiar with the case said the raids were the result of previous law enforcement surveillance of people.

The investigation was continuing.

One man at a three-story brick apartment building in the neighborhood confirmed Monday that authorities had been at his apartment, but he wouldn't identify himself or comment further. Nearby resident Kabir Islam said he saw FBI agents and police officers surrounding the apartment when he arrived home after 3 a.m.

Amanullah said about a dozen FBI agents went to his nearby fifth-floor apartment at about 2:30 a.m.

[dallasgirl01]

How can you be so obtuse? They are protecting the lives of citizens of the United States. This is not a joke. My son serves his country to protect idiots like you. I would rather keep these terrorists in their backyard than have them in ours and blow up things in our back yards. Would you be out there to protect your neighbor? Or are you the type to sit back and let someone else do it? My husband also served this great nation for over 23 years and spent 10 mos in Iraq. My son served 15 mos in Iraq and will be leaving soon for Afghanistan and you joke about something like this. It is important to catch these people before they actually do something and if that means they have to search everyone then so be it. I would rather we give up some of our liberties to be safe.

[ToolMangler1]

Why doesn't Homeland Security and The FBI just search every home and business in the Nation till they find something??????
I am sure that everybody is guilty of "SOMETHING"!!!!!!
Big Brother, lives!!!!