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Missouri offices of Muslim charity raided
The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday froze the assets of a Columbia-based Muslim charity, alleging that it has supported terrorists, including Osama bin Laden. The Treasury Department's designation of the Islamic American Relief Agency-USA and its overseas network as supporters of terrorism freezes the charity's accounts, funds and assets and makes it a crime to contribute to the group. About the same time the designation was announced, two dozen agents and officers of the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force raided the agency's offices in Columbia and began hauling away evidence. Despite the timing, FBI spokesman Jeff Lanza said the two federal actions were not closely linked. "Our search is not a result of that designation," Lanza said. "We have a long-term criminal investigation underway." The U.S. attorney's office in Kansas City also confirmed that a separate investigation was ongoing, though no charges had been filed.The raid's focus was a white brick, split-level office building at 201 Cherry Street. The charity occupies the lower level; a bridal-wear shop and sewing center uses the upper portion. Officers cordoned off the street around the building and blocked access to an adjacent parking lot. The search began about 2:30 p.m., when task force officers began hauling out boxes and computers, loading them into a moving truck and a minivan. Agents also towed away two vehicles. No employees were arrested during the raid. A recent business report lists 14 employees working at the Columbia office. The charity's president, Abdl Mouhaymen Asibai, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. IARA officials also have not responded to two requests for interviews from The Kansas City Star in recent weeks. But in interviews since 2001 IARA officials have said the agency's intentions are benevolent and that it has no political agenda. Posted by: Dan Darling 2004-10-14 |
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