Miami, June 24, 2006 – US authorities have arrested seven people suspected of planning attacks on FBI offices and Chicago's Sears Tower, the nation's tallest building.

A law enforcement source said the suspects, mostly Americans and thought to be Muslims, were caught in a sting operation focused on a Miami warehouse. The suspects had thought they were dealing with al-Qaeda but had been infiltrated and tricked by a US Government informant.

"In the past couple of days the US Government has taken into custody seven people who were conspiring to conduct jihad in the United States," the source said.

The source also said the suspects had been trying to buy weapons and other equipment needed to carry out attacks.

The Government had an informant with whom the suspected conspirators had discussed their plans, the source said. "There was no immediate threat because we were in on the discussions."

CNN reported that the searches and arrests were made in a Miami district called Liberty City and that no weapons or bomb-making materials were found.

The FBI's director, Robert Mueller, said he could not discuss details because the operation was continuing.

A government official said the alleged plotters were mainly Americans with no apparent ties to al-Qaeda or other foreign terrorist organizations.

People living near the warehouse said the men had described themselves as Muslims and had tried to recruit young people to join their group, which seemed militaristic. They said the men had lived in the area about a year.

The men slept in the warehouse, said Tashawn Rose, 29. "They would come out late at night and exercise.

"It seemed like a military boot camp that they were working on there. They would come out and stand guard."

Source: Reuters, Associated Press