Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Accused Ringleader of US Terror Cell Has Ties to Chicago
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=12C1592:3919ACA Batiste, 32, was
born in Chicago where he attended Catholic school





This undated photo provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office shows
Narseal BatisteThe alleged ringleader of a suspected domestic
terrorist cell in the United States has ties to Chicago, which
authorities say was the group's major target.

Narseal Batiste and six other men have been accused of plotting to
attack Chicago's Sears Tower, the country's tallest building, and
several other buildings, including FBI offices in five cities.  He
appeared Friday before a judge in Miami with four other suspects.

Another suspect was already in custody in Florida when the others were
detained there Thursday.  The seventh suspect is in custody in
Atlanta.

The Batiste, 32, was born in Chicago where he attended a Catholic
school. 

A friend of one of the defendants says the group was a religious sect
based on an early 19th century religion that combines Christianity,
Judaism and Islam.







The Sears TowerThe indictment says he asked an FBI informant posing as
a member of al-Qaida for guns, uniforms, radios and $50,000 in cash to
wage a holy war against the U.S. that would be "just as good or
greater" than the September 11, 2001 attacks. 

Five of the suspects are U.S. citizens.  The other two men are from
Haiti, one a permanent resident, the other an illegal immigrant.

Several al-Qaida terrorists who carried out the 9/11 attacks had lived
and trained in the South Florida area.


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