5 arrested, link to Islamic terrorists probed

By Patrick Markey

U.S. federal investigators are examining evidence taken during the arrest of five North African immigrants who were questioned by Irish authorities in a sweep to search for suspected Islamic terrorists, according to published reports.

The New York Times reported this week that U.S. law-enforcement officials were examining documents and a computer taken after Garda arrested five men in Dublin in December last year.

But U.S. officials are reportedly disappointed that Irish authorities had released the men after 24 hours because they believe one of the men may have been linked to Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian arrested in Seattle last year after bomb-making materials were found in his car.

Quoting from U.S. law-enforcement sources, the New York Times reported that U.S. officials were disappointed they had not had a chance to question one suspect before he was released by Irish authorities.

Ireland’s Sunday Independent quoted a CIA source saying: "This was a major case of a big fish slipping through the net. We gather they went to Ireland because your authorities are not used to dealing with international terrorists."

A Garda spokesperson said the police would not comment on operational matters. But, one source said, the Garda had been working in cooperation with several U.S. law enforcement agencies.

Both the Garda and the U.S. agencies were satisfied with the investigation, although several matters were still being looked at, the source said.