Pakistan police: 5 Americans have al-Qaida link

[unhappycamper]

Pakistan police: 5 Americans have al-Qaida link
By Asif Shahzad - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Dec 10, 2009 18:43:42 EST

SARGODHA, Pakistan — Five young American Muslims detained in Pakistan wanted to join militants in the country’s Taliban-ruled tribal region, battle U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan and die as martyrs, police officials said Thursday.

The men initially tried to contact jihadist groups in Pakistan via YouTube and other Web sites, then traveled to Pakistan to attempt personal meetings, said the police chief in this eastern Pakistani city, Usman Anwar.

One of their fathers was also detained when police raided two locations this week in Sargodha, a city on the main road to the Afghan border region that is home to a major air force base and is known as a hotbed of militant activity.

The young men, aged 19 to 25, were reported missing from the Washington, D.C., area more than a week ago after their families found a farewell video showing scenes of war and casualties and saying Muslims must be defended.

The detentions are another worrisome sign that Americans may be susceptible to recruitment to terrorist networks from within the United States. It comes on the heels of charges against a Chicago man of Pakistani origin who is accused of plotting the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/12/ap_americans_arrested_pakistan_121009/