Homes of 2 Iraqis Raided in Nashville; No Arrests Made

NASHVILLE — Agents with a terrorism task force raided the homes of at least two Iraqi immigrants Thursday, and authorities said other searches were being conducted in the city.

No immediate arrests were made, but FBI, Customs and IRS agents spent about three hours at the home of Fadhil Abbas Al-Sahaf, 34. They were seen leaving with boxes, plastic bags, papers, envelopes, FedEx packages and videotapes. A travel trailer in the backyard also was searched.

Agents also searched an apartment less than two miles away rented by Mahdi Al-Tamimi, his wife and young son. Bank documents, IRS forms and other papers were removed.

Douglas Riggin, an FBI agent in charge of the task force, said the moves were not connected to “any terrorist act which might pose a threat to the city.”

As for whether they were related to terrorist threats elsewhere, he said: “The task force investigated it. Draw your own conclusions.”

Al-Sahaf said he was not sure why the house was searched, but “I think it is because I sent money to my family.”

He said he is an Iraqi native who moved to the U.S. in 1994.

He said that he had not been questioned by any agency and that he was not home when agents came because he was undergoing knee surgery. His wife was home, but Al-Sahaf said she doesn’t speak much English.

Riggin would not say where the other searches took place.