ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani official says five Americans suspected of terrorist ties will likely be deported.
The five young Muslims are in custody after being accused of traveling to Pakistan to take part in jihad. The men have allegedly said they intended to cross the border into Afghanistan and fight U.S. troops there.
The Washington, D.C.-area men apparently had been trying to contact al-Qaida-linked groups through Facebook and YouTube, then traveled to eastern Pakistan to try to see them in person.
The men have not been charged with a crime. One suspect's father is also being detained.
A Pakistan police official is declining to say how long authorities could keep the men in custody.
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Sound: Pursuing
<<CUT …225 (12/10/09)>> 00:05 "the five detainees"
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says U.S. officials in Pakistan have met with the Americans who are in custody there.
<<CUT …226 (12/10/09)>> 00:13 "at this time"
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will only say that the U.S. has had access to the five detainees.
<<CUT …228 (12/10/09)>> 00:13 "things like that"
Neil Livingston, terrorism analyst and CEO of ExecutiveAction
Terrorism analyst Neil Livingston says the five young American Muslims in custody in Pakistan had parents who had come to the U.S. for a better way of life.
<<CUT …229 (12/10/09)>> 00:14 "seen right now"
Neil Livingston, terrorism analyst and CEO of ExecutiveAction
Terrorism analyst Neil Livingston notes that the men used Facebook and YouTube to try to connect with extremist groups in Pakistan.
<<APPHOTO ISL101 (12/11/09)>>
: In this five-combo photo released by Sargodha Police Department on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, arrested American Muslims, from left, Waqir Hussain Khan, Ramys Zamzam, Umar Farooq, Ahmad Abdulminni, Aman Hasan Yamer are seen in Sargodha, Pakistan. Pakistani police say five young American Muslims detained over alleged terrorist links are most likely to be deported.
