4 years ago
The FBI says it's all part of an ongoing investigation into a group of Sri Lankans with terrorist plans. The FBI says there were no plans to attack Americans, but that the group, known as the "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam" was targeting their home country of Sri Lanka. Officials say that terror group is responsible for assassinating a former prime minister of India.
The Joint Terrorism Task Force raided the Amherst home. Neighbors say three men were taken out in handcuffs. They say the task force also removed files, a computer and suitcases.
While it's not clear what role the three men arrested in Amherst allegedly played, the FBI says they've been watching the entire group, the Tamil Tigers, for years. The FBI's Leslie Wiser Jr. says the group was trying to purchase ten shoulder-fired surface to air missiles that can be used to bring down airplanes, and at least 500 A-K 47 assault weapons. According to Wiser, the terror group also asked for other sophisticated devises used in military operations.
Again, the FBI emphasizes there's no indication the weapons were to be used on U-S soil and it's still not clear what role the three men arrested in Amherst allegedly played.
