Tuscaloosa Terror Suspects Released

Wednesday 11:30 a.m.
Dutch prosecutors say two terror suspects, including one with ties to Alabama, have been released after investigators found no evidence to link them to a terror plot.

The Office of Prosecution announced their release in a statement on its website.

Wednesday's statement said because of the lack of evidence "there is no reason to hold the men any longer."

The men were arrested Monday in Amsterdam on a United Airlines flight from Chicago. Dutch officials said they arrested the men on a request from U.S. law enforcement officials. following a request from U.S. law enforcement officials.

Tuesday 12:15 p.m.
Investigators are looking into whether two men arrested in Amsterdam, including one with ties to Alabama, were conducting a dry run for a potential terrorist attack.

The two men, identified as Ahmed Mohamed Nasser al Soofi and Hexem al Murisi, flew from Chicago to Amsterdam Sunday night, according to an ABC News report. One of the men, al Soofi, first flew from Birmingham to Chicago.

Al Soofi, who had been living in Tuscaloosa and working at a convenience store, caught the attention of airport screeners in Birmingham because of his “bulky clothing.” In his luggage, officials discovered three cell phones taped together, a cell phone taped to a Pepto-Bismol bottle, several watches taped together, a box cutter and three large knives. Because there was no indication of explosives, al Soofi and his luggage were cleared for the flight, according to ABC News.

Al Soofi and Al Murisi, who officials say are not on a U.S. terror watch list, checked their luggage on a flight to Washington, while the men flew to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The men, both Yemini citizens, were on the way to Yemen.

One law enforcement officer, who asked the Associated Press not to be named, says the FBI is pursuing leads in Birmingham, Memphis and Detroit.

Prosecutors said Tuesday the men were being held on “suspicion of a conspiracy to a terrorist criminal act.” Prosecutors are expected to announce in a few days whether the men will be charged.