[Peace-discuss] FBI Surveillance flights in Bloomington IN

[Ken Urban]

From
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A16428-2003Feb28?language=printer

washingtonpost.com 
FBI Acknowledges Ind. Plane Is Monitoring 

The Associated Press
Friday, February 28, 2003; 11:24 AM 


An airplane that raised questions in this college town is being used by
the FBI to monitor people who might have terrorist connections, agency
officials acknowledged.

The FBI denied knowledge of the plane earlier this week after aviation
officials disclosed that the aircraft was conducting law enforcement
surveillance.

Agent Thomas V. Fuentes said the FBI issued the denial because a
reporter asked if the airplane is doing electronic surveillance, which
it is not.

Fuentes and agent James H. Davis said the FBI is not aware of any
threat to Bloomington or the state, but is watching many foreign
nationals.

Besides individuals, they said, the aircraft is monitoring vehicles and
businesses - particularly those open late at night from which faxes or
e-mails can be sent.

Residents in this city of 69,000 have seen the white, single-engine
Cessna 182 at least since Feb. 19 making passes overhead about noon, in
the late evening and after midnight.

Fuentes said the aircraft is conducting surveillance flights over
several communities near Indianapolis.

Bloomington is about 40 miles south of Indianapolis and home to the
flagship campus of Indiana University, where more than 3,300 foreign
students attend.

Several of the university's students have been questioned by FBI
agents, university and agency officials confirmed. Agency spokesman Doug
Garrison, however, would not say if those interviews were related to
national security or the airplane's flights.


© 2003 The Associated Press