Large FBI, Homeland Security Operation Targets Militias in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio

Infowars.com
March 28, 2010

Update: Fox News reports this afternoon that seven people have been arrested for allegedly selling pipe bombs in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana in connection with the federal raids. “The arrests and raids in Michigan and Indianapolis are related to alleged militia activity in the region, but are not related to international terrorism. There is not a current threat to the public, according to a law enforcement source.” Fox does not mention FBI activity in Ohio.
An Ann Arbor, Michigan, website reports this afternoon that the people arrested in Michigan are from from a group named Hutaree, described as “a Christian-oriented militia group based in Lenawee County.”
“Local Michigan militia member Jimmy Schiel said he was told five people were arrested – including one known member of Hutaree. Schiel said the five were reportedly arrested during a raid at a service in the Ann Arbor area for a Hutaree member who died recently. Schiel was told about eight Hutaree members were present. Schiel, who said he was invited but did not attend, spoke to a Hutaree member who was at the service, he said,” AnnArbor.com reports.




On Saturday night the FBI and Homeland Security conducted what was described as a “major” operation against the Michigan militia.
As of Sunday morning, the operation was not reported by national media, although it was covered by local media in Michigan.


“The FBI was conducting raids Saturday night at multiple locations in southeast Michigan,” WXYZ News in Detroit reported last night. “Action News has learned Homeland Security and the Joint Anti-terrorism Task Force is also involved in a major operation.”
The feds would not tell WXYZ “who they were targeting or where, but the FBI has set up a command center at the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department in Ann Arbor, where they have brought in two satellite trucks and a radio tower.”
“Several media outlets report that the FBI conducted raids on Saturday night and Sunday morning at several locations in Washtenaw and Lenewee counties. In its Sunday morning broadcast, Channel 7 Action News reports that Homeland Security and the Joint Anti-terrorism Task Force are also involved in the raids, possibly connected to the Michigan Militia. A command center has been set up at the Washtenaw Sheriff’s department,” reported the Ann Arbor Chronicle.
“There is still a lot about this case we don’t know,” reported Action News reporter Kim Craig (see second video below), “and hope to find out later today, but there does seem to be a connection to the Michigan Militia.” The FBI and Homeland Security used “a small army” against a house in Adrian, Michigan.
It appears raids are being conducted in Hammond, Indiana, and Sandusky, Ohio, as well

“Hammond police assisted with an FBI raid Saturday evening in the Indiana city, but federal officials would not release any details,” Chicago Breaking News Center reported.
FBI, Homeland Security, and agents from the Sandusky Police, Erie County Sheriff’s deputies, agents from Toledo Police Bomb Squad and Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s K9 Unit conducted an operation in Ohio. “Some officers in green uniforms carried large automatic rifles,” the Sandusky Register reports this morning. An FBI spokesman said warrants were sealed in federal court and he could not release any information until after the suspects appear in court Monday.
The Michigan Militia website reports today that the group has not been raided. “We do nothing illegal, ” a headline on the website states. “Both The Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia and the staff of Michiganmilitia.com condemn attacks or threats of any sort directed against our elected representatives. We also condemn those who would use these attacks to further their agenda. If you don’t like your representatives, then recall them or elect someone else, or hell, run for office yourself. We also urge all representatives to obtain and read a copy of The Constitution,” the site explains.
The original Michigan Militia was formed in response to the federal government’s mass murder in Waco, Texas, and the murder of Randy Weaver’s family at Ruby Ridge in Idaho. The Michigan Militia came to national attention in1995 when the corporate media erroneously associated Timothy McVeigh to the group.
Last April, the Department of Homeland Security released a report on “rightwing extremism” that warned of militia violence. The DHS report followed similar reports issued by MIAC and the Virginia Terrorism Threat Assessment Center. The MIAC report claimed supporters of Ron Paul, Chuck Bladwin, and Bob Barr are domestic terrorists.

The corporate media has reported on the raids. “The FBI confirmed to Local 4 [in Adrian, Michigan] that there were several law enforcement activities in the Lenawee/Washtenaw County area late Saturday night,” reports MSNBC. “Michigan State Police said the raids are not terror related, but would not comment further.”
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