FBI: Boston terror plot 'a false alarm'
Revenge on Chinese immigrants cited as possible motive
Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Posted: 8:12 AM EST (1312 GMT)
BOSTON (AP) -- The FBI said Tuesday that the possible terrorist plot reported against Boston by a tipster last week was a false alarm.
"There were in fact no terrorist plans or activity under way," the FBI said in a statement. "Because the criminal investigation is ongoing, no further details can be provided at this time."
The man suspected of telling authorities about the possible terrorist threat was arrested Monday in a Mexican border town.
Jose Ernesto Beltran Quinones was taken into custody Monday in Mexicali by Mexican state judicial police, Dan Dzwilewski, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Diego division, told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Quinones, one of the 16 people sought for interrogation last week about the alleged terror plot, was being questioned on behalf of the FBI, special agent Kiffa Shirley told The Associated Press.
"The first area of concern for the FBI is to resolve any pending national security threat issues, and that issue being the statement that was made that nuclear material was being brought into the United States," Dzwilewski said. "We're working with Mexican authorities trying to resolve that question."
Shirley said late Monday he did not know Quinones' nationality, age or occupation, or where he was being questioned.
The FBI statement did not say whether he had provided the information that allowed the FBI to rule out the threat, but the bureau did thank Mexican law enforcement agencies for their help.
Officials have stressed since news of the tip first broke that they doubted the credibility of the terrorism claims.
