"Authorities search for weapons at warehouse near Oakland airport"

Saturday, April 17, 2004

Authorities search for weapons at warehouse near Oakland airport 


SAN LEANDRO, Calif. (AP) -- Dozens of federal, state and local law
enforcement agents continued to search a warehouse near Oakland
International Airport Saturday, looking for items that included devices
used to launch rockets from vehicles, officials said. 

The raid began around 6 a.m. Friday at the sprawling complex in San
Leandro. About 200 agents from a dozen different agencies participated
in the operation, which was a joint investigation by the FBI, Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Alameda County Sheriff's
Department drug task force. 

The exact nature of the investigation wasn't clear because the federal
search warrant used to conduct the raid was filed in U.S. District Court
under seal. 

But U.S. Magistrate Edward Chen, who signed the warrant earlier in the
week, told The San Francisco Chronicle: "The warrant was for a bunch of
devices for rockets that could be launched from military vehicles and
(for) some M-16s," semiautomatic assault rifles used by the U.S.
military. 

Federal agents denied rumors that the search was part of a federal
counterterrorism operation. 

During the raid Friday, authorities barred aircraft from flying over the
site for three and a half hours while they took over the warehouse
complex. Officials said the restriction was a precautionary move because
the airport was located such a short distance away. 

The raid started shortly before dawn Friday at the complex at 2040
Williams St., a mile and a half southeast of the Oakland airport. FBI
special weapons and tactics team members from Los Angeles, Sacramento,
Portland and San Francisco entered the 12-acre, five-building complex
and secured the structures inside. 

Five people who were in the warehouse complex were detained for
questioning. Three were released Friday, but the other two remained in
ATF custody Friday night. 

Authorities declined to identify any of the people held for questioning
but said no one had been arrested and no charges had been filed. 

Attached Photo:

Authorities search for weapons at warehouse near Oakland airport 
Agents from a dozen agencies surrounded a warehouse on Williams Street
in the industrial section of San Leandro.

ba_raid125fl.jpg