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Posted on Tue, Aug. 10, 2004
Pakistani arrested after allegedly videotaping Texas sites
PAUL NOWELL
Associated Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Federal officials charged a Pakistani citizen with immigration violations and said Tuesday the man was detained last month after being spotted taking videotapes of downtown skyscrapers.
A review of video tape in Kamran Akhtar's camera and others in his possession also showed tape of Austin, Houston and Dallas, according to a federal affidavit unsealed Tuesday.
Akhtar was arrested July 20 after being taken in for questioning by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Anthony Maglione. Charges were contained in indictments unsealed in federal court Tuesday.
Akhtar is charged with violating federal immigration and naturalization laws and making a false statement, according to a news release by U.S. Attorney Gretchen Shappert.
U.S. District Judge Carl Horn ordered Akhtar held in federal custody at a brief hearing Tuesday. He had been in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Darrell Stephens, Akhtar told Maglione at the time of his arrest that he was making videotapes for family members.
"This is one that will require more investigation, to determine just what he was doing with these tapes," Stephens said.
Authorities said the footage also contained images of the Texas state Capitol, the governor's mansion and downtown Austin businesses as well as structures in Houston and Dallas, the Austin-American Statesman reported in its Tuesday editions.
Kathy Walt, a spokeswoman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, said the office does not believe there is a credible threat against Texas.
Mayor Pat McCrory said Charlotte residents and workers in the city's busy financial district, which is home to two of the nation's top five bank headquarters, should not alter their routine.
"People working in the center city should continue to go to work and go on with their everyday actions," McCrory said.
The affidavit said the review of the tape in Akhtar's camera and others in his possession showed tape of the downtown Wachovia Bank and Bank of America headquarters buildings, as well as shots of other major U.S. cities, including Atlanta and New Orleans.
According to a federal affidavit, Akhtar's videotapes showed what appeared to be the Mansfield Dam in Austin and public transportation systems.
Maglione said Akhtar behaved suspiciously when the officer approached to ask him what he was doing as he taped with his video camera around noon on a weekday.
The officer described Akhtar's actions as "evasive" and said the suspect walked away when he tried to approach.
"His statements were all over the place, from taking these videos for his brother to visiting around town," Maglione said. "He said he had to hurry up and get back to the bus station" even though Akhtar was headed away from the downtown bus terminal.
Stephens said police did not publicize the arrest while they tried to determine whether Akhtar was simply a tourist.
Last week, federal officials issued urgent terror warnings, saying they had uncovered information in Pakistan that indicated five financial institutions in New York, Washington and Newark, N.J., were potential targets.
Bush administration officials have said a new stream of intelligence has indicated al-Qaida wants to strike financial institutions.
Pakistani arrested after allegedly videotaping Texas sites
PAUL NOWELL
Associated Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Federal officials charged a Pakistani citizen with immigration violations and said Tuesday the man was detained last month after being spotted taking videotapes of downtown skyscrapers.
A review of video tape in Kamran Akhtar's camera and others in his possession also showed tape of Austin, Houston and Dallas, according to a federal affidavit unsealed Tuesday.
Akhtar was arrested July 20 after being taken in for questioning by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Anthony Maglione. Charges were contained in indictments unsealed in federal court Tuesday.
Akhtar is charged with violating federal immigration and naturalization laws and making a false statement, according to a news release by U.S. Attorney Gretchen Shappert.
U.S. District Judge Carl Horn ordered Akhtar held in federal custody at a brief hearing Tuesday. He had been in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Darrell Stephens, Akhtar told Maglione at the time of his arrest that he was making videotapes for family members.
"This is one that will require more investigation, to determine just what he was doing with these tapes," Stephens said.
Authorities said the footage also contained images of the Texas state Capitol, the governor's mansion and downtown Austin businesses as well as structures in Houston and Dallas, the Austin-American Statesman reported in its Tuesday editions.
Kathy Walt, a spokeswoman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, said the office does not believe there is a credible threat against Texas.
Mayor Pat McCrory said Charlotte residents and workers in the city's busy financial district, which is home to two of the nation's top five bank headquarters, should not alter their routine.
"People working in the center city should continue to go to work and go on with their everyday actions," McCrory said.
The affidavit said the review of the tape in Akhtar's camera and others in his possession showed tape of the downtown Wachovia Bank and Bank of America headquarters buildings, as well as shots of other major U.S. cities, including Atlanta and New Orleans.
According to a federal affidavit, Akhtar's videotapes showed what appeared to be the Mansfield Dam in Austin and public transportation systems.
Maglione said Akhtar behaved suspiciously when the officer approached to ask him what he was doing as he taped with his video camera around noon on a weekday.
The officer described Akhtar's actions as "evasive" and said the suspect walked away when he tried to approach.
"His statements were all over the place, from taking these videos for his brother to visiting around town," Maglione said. "He said he had to hurry up and get back to the bus station" even though Akhtar was headed away from the downtown bus terminal.
Stephens said police did not publicize the arrest while they tried to determine whether Akhtar was simply a tourist.
Last week, federal officials issued urgent terror warnings, saying they had uncovered information in Pakistan that indicated five financial institutions in New York, Washington and Newark, N.J., were potential targets.
Bush administration officials have said a new stream of intelligence has indicated al-Qaida wants to strike financial institutions.
