Two US mosque members held over ‘plot to purchase missile’

WO people were arrested in a raid on an Albany, New York mosque late on Wednesday, following a sting operation involving the attempted purchase of a shoulder-fired missile, US media reported yesterday.

Law enforcement officials laid out a trap for the pair, who agreed to launder money to help a presumed terrorist, who was actually an undercover FBI agent, buy a shoulder-fired missile, US networks reported, citing unnamed officials.

Authorities also raided homes in Albany and arrests may follow, sources said.

The two men could be charged with material support of terrorist activities and money laundering. The arrests of 34-year-old Yassin Aref, the mosque’s imam, and mosque member, 49-year-old Mohammed Hoosain, were the result of a lengthy investigation.

The FBI declined to comment on the reports.

The Justice Department was to hold a press conference in Washington later yesterday.

The raid was not linked to the recent decision to raise the terror alert level in New York and Washington, the reports noted.

US officials raised the alert from ‘elevated’ to ‘high’ after announcing that al-Qaida was targeting financial institutions in New York, Washington and Newark, New Jersey.

Security was also boosted around the targeted areas.