Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Minnesota--a terrorist magnet?

Either that, or they're following my wife (who just happens to be in Bozeman, MT right now)

First it was Moussaoui, then this:

1 of 11 missing Egypt students found in Minn.

Exchange students failed to show up for Montana State University program

One of the 11 missing Egyptian students has been picked up in Minneapolis, Minn., NBC News’ Pete Williams reported Wednesday.

The student was being interviewed by federal investigators, who were trying to find the remaining 10.

The students arrived in the United States on student visas last month, and are being sought by authorities after failing to turn up for an exchange program at Montana State University.

The Egyptian men were among a group of 17 students who arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York from Cairo on July 29 with valid visas, according to U.S. authorities and university officials.

The other six arrived at the Bozeman, Mont., campus for a monthlong program on English language instruction and U.S. history and culture, university spokeswoman Cathy Conover said.

When the 11 didn't turn up by the end of the last week, the FBI issued a lookout to state and local law enforcement, said FBI Special Agent Richard Kolko.

"At this point all they have done is not show up for a scheduled academic program," Kolko said. "There is no threat associated with these men."

They are between 18 and 22 years old, said a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the search for the men is continuing.

U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement declined to make their names public.

The government probably will seek to send the students home once they are located because they have violated the terms of their visas, the official said. (Read the whole thing)