FBI investigation has some feeling uneasy

Since Sept. 11, the FBI has been questioning international students at IU. \nAmr Sabry, president of the Islamic Center in Bloomington, said he is one of the many that have been contacted by the bureau recently. He said his case was rather bland and brief compared to those of others. \n"A few of them (students) came to me almost crying," he said. "Some people were outraged."\nBut with the recent addition of the FBI's Cessna 182 looking over the city, Sabry said people within the Islamic community are again becoming uneasy. \n"Some people have seen them flying around the mosque," he said. "They're like 'what are they looking for?'"\nFBI spokesman Doug Garrsion said there is not a specific or imminent terrorist threat in Bloomington that has caused concern. \n"The FBI has no information about any credible threat to the Bloomington area," Garrison said. \nThe plane was conducting surveillance of individuals, vehicles and gathering places. All the information gathered in the plane was non-electronic, by binoculars or by the eyes of the agent in the plane, Garrison said.\n"The use of surveillance aircraft is absolutely routine," Garrison said. "We conduct all sorts of surveillance; we follow people. We are looking at places that we are interested in that people are going. \n"This one just happened to make the light of day because a plane flew too low," he said. \nEven though the recent investigation could be related to terrorism, Interim President Gerald Bepko said he was not certain it was. \n"It may be the investigation is related to national security," he said. "They can't tell us what they're doing exactly."\nBepko also said these procedures were rather standard. \n"There are investigations going on everywhere."\nAlthough the FBI cannot say why it has been conducting interviews, officials did indicate that there is progress to be made. \n"I don't think we've narrowed down who we're looking for," Garrison said. \nSabry said in the interviews, people have been questioned about everything from knowing how to make certain chemicals to knowing certain people. After being questioned he said many people came to him asking for guidance.\n"It's hard for the younger foreign students," he said. "They don't know many people here."\nInvestigations have been going on before Sept. 11 and will continue.\n"The public ought to be assured that the FBI is out there doing its job," Garrison said. "This is conducted to prevent further acts of terrorism."\nGraduate student Misfer Al-Salouli, the Da'wah at the Islamic Center of Bloomington, said he is cautious about how the FBI treats those they question.\n"If they treat me well and ask me nice questions I will be OK with it," he said. "But if they are rude or do something mean to me, I can't do anything, but I will complain"