Posted on 09/13/2001 5:11:44 PM PDT by Bowana
LEADS IN NH: FBI investigates Arabs video at Dunkin’ Donuts
An FBI agent yesterday took video surveillance tapes from a Manchester Dunkin’ Donuts where clerks said five Arabic-looking men ate early Saturday or Sunday morning.
Five men came into the Second Street shop about 6:30 to 7 a.m., ordered coffee and pastries, and sat at a back corner table, clerk Cheryl Duller of Manchester said.
They were noticed by a regular customer, who told Duller they spoke little English, had long beards and one wore a turban on his head, she said.
The men were driving a white Mercury rental car with Pennsylvania plates, she said.
An FBI agent spoke to the store manager yesterday afternoon and later arrived to take three days’ worth of videos.
The FBI’s Boston office would not confirm or comment on any aspect of the terrorist investigation.
Law enforcement is on a heightened state of awareness as are members of the public, who are passing on tips to authorities.
There also were several conflicting reports regarding a blue-green Toyota with possible Virginia plates being driven by two Middle Eastern-looking people that was spotted in Portsmouth shortly after Tuesday’s attacks.
Portsmouth police said they put out an advisory around noon Tuesday to stop and hold the vehicle and identify the occupants after they asked an auxiliary Portsmouth police officer for directions to Pease International Tradeport.
The vehicle had possible registration of 71161BAY.
The office of special investigations at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Mass., put out an advisory shortly after saying the occupants of the car “were asking for directions to a couple of military bases in New England,” spokesman Chuck Paone said. He believed one of the bases they inquired about was in Portsmouth.
New Hampshire Public Safety Commissioner Richard Flynn said authorities found the car and don’t believe the man and woman in it are connected to the terrorist attacks.
But Portsmouth police last night said they still have not found the car or identified its occupants.
Portsmouth police continue to investigate the Ryder rental truck found at New Hampshire Port Authority at about 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The Sara Long Bridge and Interstate 95 bridge were closed for several hours while the New Hampshire and Massachusetts bomb squads checked the truck and found it empty.
Police have identified the person who rented it and are trying to locate the driver, Capt. Adam Price said. Their investigation so far has revealed that the truck poses no public safety risk, he said.
The FBI also has issued a nationwide alert to look out for two cars with Florida plates, police confirmed. They are a 1989 red, 2-door Pontiac with registration D79DOV and a 2001 tan, 4-door Oldsmobile with registration VEP54N.
An FBI agent yesterday took video surveillance tapes from a Manchester Dunkin’ Donuts where clerks said five Arabic-looking men ate early Saturday or Sunday morning.
Five men came into the Second Street shop about 6:30 to 7 a.m., ordered coffee and pastries, and sat at a back corner table, clerk Cheryl Duller of Manchester said.
They were noticed by a regular customer, who told Duller they spoke little English, had long beards and one wore a turban on his head, she said.
My God, this is strange. Anyone who doesn't eat at Krispy Kreme has to be an anti-American terrorist.
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