The New York Times reports on the mixed reaction in Portland to the arrest of three people there on terrorism charges.

"Some people scoffed at the accusation today by Attorney General John Ashcroft that the group is a "suspected terrorist cell within our borders." Instead, they say these suspects are followers of a militant brand of Islam, but have never conspired to help Al Qaeda."

"Mr. Ford went to Pakistan, but he went there for humanitarian reasons," said James Britt, a lawyer who is Mr. Ford's brother. He stood outside the small bungalow where Mr. Ford lived with his wife, son and mother, while the police searched the area."

"Mr. Britt said his brother had a master's degree in Chinese studies, is married to a Chinese woman, and was a convert to Islam who felt it a duty to render aid to other Muslims. "This is religious persecution," Mr. Britt said. "

Others in the Muslim community in Portland pointed out that the Government has made terrorist allegations about one of their own before it has later retracted:

"Other Muslims here said much the same thing, noting that the case against a Portland cleric arrested last month, Sheik Mohammed Abdirrahman Kariye, has not held up. The government originally said Mr. Kariye was caught trying to leave the country with traces of TNT on his bags. But they said other tests were inconclusive. Mr. Kariye, a popular religious leader at the Islamic Center of Portland, is being held without bond on charges of Social Security fraud."

The investigation into the suspects activities began about a year ago when a sheriff noticed men with turbans shooting rifles into a gravel pit and called the F.B.I.

"All three suspects are African-American, and Mr. Britt said the arrests showed a bias by federal officials against blacks who convert to Islam"

The Feds respond they were "just doing good police work."