Miami Herald Link

Posted at 8:47 a.m. EDT Wednesday, September 12, 2001

Feds investigating possible terrorist-attack links in Florida

By ALEX VEIGA, Associated Press Writer

Federal agents investigating terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania focused some of their efforts on Florida, looking for possible supporters of wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden.

Law enforcement officials said Tuesday they identified a person listed on the passenger manifest of one of the four jet liners downed in the attacks Tuesday as a suspected hijacker and a possible associate of bin Laden, who federal authorities identified as the prime suspect for the attack.

The FBI executed search warrants in Davie in Broward County north of the Miami area, according to two news reports.

The FBI was also seeking search warrants in Daytona Beach, where a car was towed by authorities.

As of early Wednesday, only one victim from Florida had been confirmed: Cee Cee Lyles of Fort Myers was a flight attendant aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed outside Pittsburgh.

Lyles, 33, called her husband on a cell phone from the air just before the plane crashed, according to Fort Myers Police Department spokeswoman Kara Winton.

Meanwhile, members of the Miami-Dade Fire Department's urban search and rescue team were sent to Washington. In the past, the team has responded to bombings, earthquakes, flooding, landslides and other tragedies around the world.

As Floridans awoke Wednesday, they could expect to find flags flying at half staff but many of the state's government offices and institutions reopened after having shut down following the attacks.

Government officials from Gov. Jeb Bush on down emphasized returning to normal.

"The best way to defeat terrorism is to get back to work serving our people and our state," Bush said. "Barring any developments to the contrary, the state of Florida will be open for business (Wednesday.)"

Bush declared a state of emergency Tuesday that increased the security around Florida.

State officials said they had no evidence that specific government buildings in Florida had been targeted.

Military bases were placed on heightened alert, flights into the state's busiest airports were canceled or diverted, and schools, public universities, malls and courthouses were closed. Major sports events were canceled, including Florida Marlins and Devil Rays baseball games.

Kennedy Space Center closed except for a skeleton crew. All federal buildings in the state also closed for the day.

Universal Studios, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens in Tampa also closed, as did all Disney theme parks in central Florida, though they planned to open for business Wednesday, the company said.

Public colleges and universities were also to reopen Wednesday.

The attacks were the topic of discussion among Floridians, many of whom stayed glued to their television sets watching developments unfold. Thousands across the state lined up to give blood at local blood banks.

"This is the only thing I know I can do to help," said Heather Jackson, 22, of Tampa.

In Miami, Cuban-Americans gathered outside Little Havana's Versailles restaurant and called for U.S. retaliation.

"It's a wake-up call to the nation," said Pepe Campos, a mortgage broker. "Somebody has to pay for this."

Jorge Acosta agreed.

"Terrorism is a disease that we need to go after," Acosta said. "I think if we have to bomb and it's the right place, the right people, we should."

But Archbishop John Favalora of Miami urged some 250 community members who attended a prayer vigil at St. Mary Cathedral in Miami's Little Haiti for the victims to seek justice, not revenge.

"In a time of tragedy we see our worst selves and our best selves," Favalora said. "We have to bring (people) to justice ... to wreak vengeance on other people is not the answer."

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

Answers

local news station [NBC] is showing apts in broward where the FBI is searching for clues.

Something about some suspects taking flight lessons in Florida. I guess they had to learn somewhere, but why here???

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001

I imagine the terrorists choose cities where they will best blend in. That would include any port city, for instance, and of course Miami and Boston are both port cities. In addition, Miami has large Hispanic and Haitian populations so men with Arabic coloring wouldn't stand out so much.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001