FBI acknowledges plane circling Indiana town, looking for signs of terrorist connections

NJ.com | 2/28/03 11:21 am | The Associated Press

[freeperfromnj]

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) -- An airplane that raised questions in this college town is being used by the FBI to monitor people who might have terrorist connections, agency officials acknowledged.

The FBI denied knowledge of the plane earlier this week after aviation officials disclosed that the aircraft was conducting law enforcement surveillance.

Agent Thomas V. Fuentes said the FBI issued the denial because a reporter asked if the airplane is doing electronic surveillance, which it is not.

Fuentes and agent James H. Davis said the FBI is not aware of any threat to Bloomington or the state, but is watching many foreign nationals.

Besides individuals, they said, the aircraft is monitoring vehicles and businesses -- particularly those open late at night from which faxes or e-mails can be sent.

Residents in this city of 69,000 have seen the white, single-engine Cessna 182 at least since Feb. 19 making passes overhead about noon, in the late evening and after midnight.

Fuentes said the aircraft is conducting surveillance flights over several communities near Indianapolis.

Bloomington is about 40 miles south of Indianapolis and home to the flagship campus of Indiana University, where more than 3,300 foreign students attend.

Several of the university's students have been questioned by FBI agents, university and agency officials confirmed. Agency spokesman Doug Garrison, however, would not say if those interviews were related to national security or the airplane's flights.

[bruin66]

Hasn't anybody noticed the black helicopter?

[appalachian_dweller]

they did lower the alert level, but in many places, the security activity has remained the same.

I'm thinking they lowered the alert level as disinformation. Just my paranoid thinking...

[demnomo]

Wondering if this is connected to the Arab flight student who was arrested earlier this week......

Do you have a link to that story? I was wondering the same thing myself.

[El Gato]

Good grief. There's a VOR beacon across the river from my house, and if I got wound up over every small plane I saw, I would be a nervous wreck.

OF course, becuase for you, it's nothing out the ordinary. Some places don't see much air traffic, not even little white Cessnas.

[Siobhan]

My father had a very vivid dream a couple of months before his death - it was of everyone in Indianapolis being killed by something no one could see. He recorded this dream in his journal, and reading this article gives me the chills. I will definitely be praying for divine protection for Indianapolis, Bloomington and the surrounding area.

[archy]

LOTS of Arab students and Iranians at IU. Also some Palistinians.

And very convenient to the US headquarters for HAMAS/ MAYA at nearby Plainfield, Indiana, within an hour's drive of IU/Bloomington.

[Samwise]

Too close for comfort. Hubby says I'm paranoid, but they make me nervous. When I drive even close to it, I get a weird feeling. Plainfield is a Quaker settlement, by the way.

[aculeus]

Bump.

[Salvation]

Keep safe. Thanks for the info.

[starfish]

I have noticed the black helicopter.Actually,I have seen it at least 3 times.

[starfish]

There is a municipal airport in Greenwood.I see planes all the time here(beautiful in a summer sky).I did notice one a day or so ago that went further north(toward Indy),than I usually notice them flying.The day before the local news was reporting about Camp Atterbury,I seen 4 or 5 choppers heading that way.Some are worried that it could be a terrorist target.I believe anywhere is a target,I feel safer knowing they are here watching and protecting.Actually,I seen a few soldiers tonight while I was out shopping.I had a lump in my throat.

[arasina]

I live on the southside of Indianapolis and I have noticed the sounds of quite a bit of non-commercial air traffic late at night. I figured it was the Camp Atterbury choppers. Haven't heard any for the past few nights though. I've also wondered about the Islamic Center in Plainfield and if it is being "monitored" or anything.

[starfish]

I am just wondering.Does anyone remember a Dunkin Doughnuts(just east of plainfield in INDY).Why did it close?Ever been there?It closed rather quickly around 9/11.There is something else there now.I pulled in there to turn around after it closed,and drove around to the backside,there was clothes and stuff laying around.There was also a big dog laying near the entrance,cardboard signs on the window(which I couldn't read because of the dog).I remember thinking it was strange,that a car with tented windows pulled in after I got to the back of the building.I know the mosque is very near that area,and I have always wondered if there was a connection.

[archy]

Plainfield is a Quaker settlement, by the way.

As well as being the location of the Indiana State Police Academy after it was moved from Bloomington, back around 1972.

-archy-/-

[mommadooo3]

Seems Athens, Ohio has a nest of 'em. Anything of 'interest' for that area?

We live about 50-60 miles away from there, SE Oh, but air traffic has certainly picked up lately. About the only time there's 'real a.t.', is summer, when the cops are flyin' their choppers looking for the hillbilly 'crops'.

There are small planes, mostly flying at night. And yes, there are many 'black' choppers. Hubby says they look to be military, so the kids have taken to waving at them and giving 'thumbs up'. They're flying low enough that they can probably see the kids. LOL.

[archy]

Seems Athens, Ohio has a nest of 'em. Anything of 'interest' for that area?

On Highway 50, a few miles south of Armitage? Oh yes. But not *terrorists*, or at least not the foreign/Jihadist sort.

-archy-/-