Two men with suspected Al-Qaeda links arrested in California

LOS ANGELES - The FBI has arrested a father and son with suspected links to Al-Qaeda in Lodi, California, The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
Hamid Hayat, 23, admitted to having trained at an Al-Qaeda camp in Pakistan for six months in 2003 and 2004 to learn "how to kill Americans," authorities cited by the daily said.
His father, Umer, 47, who drives an ice cream truck, acknowledged having sent nearly 100 dollars a month to his son while he attended the terrorist training camp, the Times said.
Hamid Hayat was arrested upon returning to the United States from Pakistan on May 27.
According to an affidavit cited in the Times report, he admitted to having returned to carry out attacks against US installations, including "hospitals and large food stores."
The men`s family denied that the pair had any links to Al-Qaeda. A cousin told the Times that Hamid Hayat had made his most recent visit to Pakistan with his mother to arrange marriages and to visit relatives.
Sacramento FBI spokesman John Cauthen declined to comment, saying "this investigation is continuing."

06/08/2005 13:45 GMT