FBI Director James Comey said government and the tech industry need to sort out their differences over encryption before "something terrible happens" that would make productive conversations impossible.

Acknowledging that talks will probably have to wait until a new president takes office next year, Comey said that it's up to the American people - not the FBI or the tech companies- to decide how to resolve the issue. But before making that decision, people need to understand the cost of absolute privacy.

Comey made the comments Tuesday at the International Conference on Cyber Security in New York, an event jointly held by the FBI and Fordham University.

The encryption debate took center stage earlier this year after the FBI demanded that Apple Inc. help it access an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters.

Apple vowed a court fight, but the matter was ultimately dropped after a third-party provided the FBI with a way to access the phone's information.

The FBI and other law enforcement maintain that without a so-called "back door" through strong encryption, investigators can't get access to potentially crucial information. But much of the tech industry and privacy advocates counter that creating a back door would undermine security for everyone.

FBI Director James Comey said government and the tech industry need to sort out their differences over encryption before "something terrible happens" that would make productive conversations impossible.

Acknowledging that talks will probably have to wait until a new president takes office next year, Comey said that it's up to the American people - not the FBI or the tech companies- to decide how to resolve the issue. But before making that decision, people need to understand the cost of absolute privacy.

Comey made the comments Tuesday at the International Conference on Cyber Security in New York, an event jointly held by the FBI and Fordham University.

The encryption debate took center stage earlier this year after the FBI demanded that Apple Inc. help it access an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters.

Apple vowed a court fight, but the matter was ultimately dropped after a third-party provided the FBI with a way to access the phone's information.

The FBI and other law enforcement maintain that without a so-called "back door" through strong encryption, investigators can't get access to potentially crucial information. But much of the tech industry and privacy advocates counter that creating a back door would undermine security for everyone.

FBI Director James Comey said government and the tech industry need to sort out their differences over encryption before "something terrible happens" that would make productive conversations impossible.

Acknowledging that talks will probably have to wait until a new president takes office next year, Comey said that it's up to the American people - not the FBI or the tech companies- to decide how to resolve the issue. But before making that decision, people need to understand the cost of absolute privacy.

Comey made the comments Tuesday at the International Conference on Cyber Security in New York, an event jointly held by the FBI and Fordham University.

The encryption debate took center stage earlier this year after the FBI demanded that Apple Inc. help it access an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters.

Apple vowed a court fight, but the matter was ultimately dropped after a third-party provided the FBI with a way to access the phone's information.

The FBI and other law enforcement maintain that without a so-called "back door" through strong encryption, investigators can't get access to potentially crucial information. But much of the tech industry and privacy advocates counter that creating a back door would undermine security for everyone.

New York - July 27, 2016

1. James Comey, Director Federal Bureau of Investigation, walking to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, Director Federal Bureau of Investigation:

"At some point encryption is going to figure in a major event in this country. We have to have the conversation before that happens because after that happens, the time for thoughtful reflection will be significantly reduced. And this is a hard conversation. It's a conflict of two values that we all share."

3. Wide Comey speaking

4. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, Director Federal Bureau of Investigation:

"And I'm not here to tell you what the answer is to resolve this problem, but one thing we have to recognize, is that moving to a place where huge swaths of American life are by default out of reach of judicial authority is a different way to live. We've never lived that way before. And it destroys the balance that our founders struck, and maybe that's okay, or maybe that's terrible. That is not for the FBI to say. The FBI's job is to tell the American people when the tools you are counting on us to use to protect you aren't working so much anymore, we need to shout from the rooftops. But the FBI should not tell people what the answer is, nor should companies that make amazing equipment. They should not be telling the American people how to solve this problem. The American people should be figuring out how they want to be governed. But that conversation has to be informed by and understanding of the costs of absolute privacy."

5. Zoom in Comey speaking

6. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, Director Federal Bureau of Investigation:

"So I hope you'll join in that conversation which will probably be, we'll have to wait until after the election to have the space in American life to have that conversation, that's fine. But we will continue collecting data so we can have that informed conversation next year."

7. Wide pan press cameras as Comey closes speech

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus060173

FBI Director James Comey said government and the tech industry need to sort out their differences over encryption before "something terrible happens" that would make productive conversations impossible.

Acknowledging that talks will probably have to wait until a new president takes office next year, Comey said that it's up to the American people _ not the FBI or the tech companies _ to decide how to resolve the issue. But before making that decision, people need to understand the cost of absolute privacy.

"At some point encryption is going to figure into a major event in this country, "Comey said. "We've got to have this conversation before that happens, because after that, the time for thoughtful reflection will be significantly reduced."

Comey made the comments Tuesday at the International Conference on Cyber Security in New York, an event jointly held by the FBI and Fordham University.

The encryption debate took center stage earlier this year after the FBI demanded that Apple Inc. help it access an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters.

Apple vowed a court fight, but the matter was ultimately dropped after a third-party provided the FBI with a way to access the phone's information.

The FBI and other law enforcement maintain that without a so-called "back door" through strong encryption, investigators can't get access to potentially crucial information. But much of the tech industry and privacy advocates counter that creating a back door would undermine security for everyone.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus060173

FBI Director James Comey said government and the tech industry need to sort out their differences over encryption before "something terrible happens" that would make productive conversations impossible.

Acknowledging that talks will probably have to wait until a new president takes office next year, Comey said that it's up to the American people _ not the FBI or the tech companies _ to decide how to resolve the issue. But before making that decision, people need to understand the cost of absolute privacy.

"At some point encryption is going to figure into a major event in this country, "Comey said. "We've got to have this conversation before that happens, because after that, the time for thoughtful reflection will be significantly reduced."

Comey made the comments Tuesday at the International Conference on Cyber Security in New York, an event jointly held by the FBI and Fordham University.

The encryption debate took center stage earlier this year after the FBI demanded that Apple Inc. help it access an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters.

Apple vowed a court fight, but the matter was ultimately dropped after a third-party provided the FBI with a way to access the phone's information.

The FBI and other law enforcement maintain that without a so-called "back door" through strong encryption, investigators can't get access to potentially crucial information. But much of the tech industry and privacy advocates counter that creating a back door would undermine security for everyone.

New York - July 27, 2016

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES+

1. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, Director Federal Bureau of Investigation:

"At some point encryption is going to figure in a major event in this country. We have to have the conversation before that happens because after that happens, the time for thoughtful reflection will be significantly reduced. And this is a hard conversation. It's a conflict of two values we all share."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, Director Federal Bureau of Investigation:

"And I'm not here to tell you what the answer is to resolve this problem, but one thing we have to recognize, is that moving to a place where huge swaths of American life are by default out of reach of judicial authority is a different way to live. We've never lived that way before. And it destroys the balance that our founders struck, and maybe that's okay, or maybe that's terrible. That is not for the FBI to say. The FBI's job is to tell the American people when the tools you are counting on us to use to protect you aren't working so much anymore, we need to shout from the rooftops. But the FBI should not tell people what the answer is, nor should companies that make amazing equipment. They should not be telling the American people how to solve this problem. The American people should be figuring out how they want to be governed. But that conversation has to be informed by and understanding of the costs of absolute privacy."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, Director Federal Bureau of Investigation:

"So I hope you'll join in that conversation which will probably be, we'll have to wait until after the election to have the space in American life to have that conversation, that's fine. But we will continue collecting data so we can have that informed conversation next year."

FBI Director James Comey said government and the tech industry need to sort out their differences over encryption before "something terrible happens" that would make productive conversations impossible.

Acknowledging that talks will probably have to wait until a new president takes office next year, Comey said that it's up to the American people _ not the FBI or the tech companies _ to decide how to resolve the issue. But before making that decision, people need to understand the cost of absolute privacy.

"At some point encryption is going to figure into a major event in this country, "Comey said. "We've got to have this conversation before that happens, because after that, the time for thoughtful reflection will be significantly reduced."

Comey made the comments Tuesday at the International Conference on Cyber Security in New York, an event jointly held by the FBI and Fordham University.

The encryption debate took center stage earlier this year after the FBI demanded that Apple Inc. help it access an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters.

Apple vowed a court fight, but the matter was ultimately dropped after a third-party provided the FBI with a way to access the phone's information.

The FBI and other law enforcement maintain that without a so-called "back door" through strong encryption, investigators can't get access to potentially crucial information. But much of the tech industry and privacy advocates counter that creating a back door would undermine security for everyone.

FBI Director James Comey said government and the tech industry need to sort out their differences over encryption before "something terrible happens" that would make productive conversations impossible.

Acknowledging that talks will probably have to wait until a new president takes office next year, Comey said that it's up to the American people _ not the FBI or the tech companies _ to decide how to resolve the issue. But before making that decision, people need to understand the cost of absolute privacy.

"At some point encryption is going to figure into a major event in this country, "Comey said. "We've got to have this conversation before that happens, because after that, the time for thoughtful reflection will be significantly reduced."

Comey made the comments Tuesday at the International Conference on Cyber Security in New York, an event jointly held by the FBI and Fordham University.

The encryption debate took center stage earlier this year after the FBI demanded that Apple Inc. help it access an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters.

Apple vowed a court fight, but the matter was ultimately dropped after a third-party provided the FBI with a way to access the phone's information.

The FBI and other law enforcement maintain that without a so-called "back door" through strong encryption, investigators can't get access to potentially crucial information. But much of the tech industry and privacy advocates counter that creating a back door would undermine security for everyone.

New York - July 27, 2016

1. James Comey walking to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, Director Federal Bureau of Investigation:

"At some point encryption is going to figure in a major event in this country. We have to have the conversation before that happens because after that happens, the time for thoughtful reflection will be significantly reduced. And this is a hard conversation. It's a conflict of two values that we all share."

3. Wide Comey speaking

4. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, Director Federal Bureau of Investigation:

"And I'm not here to tell you what the answer is to resolve this problem, but one thing we have to recognize, is that moving to a place where huge swaths of American life are by default out of reach of judicial authority is a different way to live. We've never lived that way before. And it destroys the balance that our founders struck, and maybe that's okay, or maybe that's terrible. That is not for the FBI to say. The FBI's job is to tell the American people when the tools you are counting on us to use to protect you aren't working so much anymore, we need to shout from the rooftops. But the FBI should not tell people what the answer is, nor should companies that make amazing equipment. They should not be telling the American people how to solve this problem. The American people should be figuring out how they want to be governed. But that conversation has to be informed by and understanding of the costs of absolute privacy."

5. Zoom in Comey speaking

6. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, Director Federal Bureau of Investigation:

"So I hope you'll join in that conversation which will probably be, we'll have to wait until after the election to have the space in American life to have that conversation, that's fine. But we will continue collecting data so we can have that informed conversation next year."

7. Wide pan press cameras as Comey closes speech

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot of exterior of Makki Mosque

2. Wide shot of exterior, tilt up of Mosque

3. Wide shot of pan of interior mosque

4. Special FBI Agent in charge of counter terrorism for New York, Chuck Frahm, walking in the mosque

5. Close up of child in mosque

6. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Suhail Muzaffar, Pakistani community leader :

"They come to police, which is their job, and they come by invitation. Today and previously when they have come here by invitation we have engaged not only the leaders but the community in order to build confidence and two-way relationship."

7. Wide shot of interior mosque

8. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Chuck Frahm, Special Agent in charge of counter terrorism for New York:

"You have spoken to me many a time on how this is important to you. I thank your community support for the things that you do every day to make sure that our streets and communities are safe. And you have my commitment, from the FBI, the joint terrorism task force, that we will do all we can to ensure the safety of all of our family and friends. It doesn't matter what society, it doesn't matter which religion, and it doesn't matter which community, we will do everything we can to ensure that we continue our safe journey."

9. Wide shot of interior mosque with worshippers

10. Community leaders with FBI Agent Chuck Frahm, walking away

11. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Chuck Frahm, Special agent in charge of Counter terrorism for New York:

"The Federal Government doesn't conduct profiling and I think that's a very important cornerstone. The way we do business is a lead of criminal activity. And that criminal activity doesn't matter who does it from what cornerstone."

12. FBI Agent Chuck Frahm shaking hands with mosque's Imam, Hazif Mohammad Sabir

13. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Hazif Mohammad Sabir, Imam of Makki Mosque:

"Islam doesn't allow for anybody to kill any innocent people in any way. The suicide bombings and those kinds of evil acts we condemn strongly they are not permitted in Islam and any kind of this action, there is not any room for this kind of action. We strongly condemn."

14. Muslims praying inside mosque

STORYLINE:

In the wake of the London bombings, law enforcement officers in New York are seeking to enhance relations with local Muslim communities.

On Friday, an FBI official addressed the Pakistani Muslim community in a Brooklyn mosque.

Chuck Frahm, the New York Field Office's Special Agent in charge of Counter Terrorism, insisted on the importance of dialogue between the Federal Bureau and the Muslim community.

He told the 150 Muslims gathered in the mosque, that the FBI would do all it can to ensure their safety and that one's religion or ethnic background "does not matter."

Frahm also stressed that the FBI doesn't use profiling.

"The way we do business is a lead of criminal activity," he said, "and that criminal activity doesn't matter who does it from what cornerstone."

Pakistani community leader Suhail Muzaffar told his fellow Muslims that Agent Frahm had been invited in order to build confidence and a two-way relationship.

The mosque's Imam Hazif Mohammad Sabir echoed the edict issued on Thursday by the Muslim Organisation Council of North America, condemning religious extremism.

Sabir said that "there is no room for suicide bombings and those kind of evil acts in Islam."

In New York and other cities, mosque leaders have joined advisory committees created by the FBI to build relations between law enforcement and their local communities.

A handful of Apple's supporters protested the FBI's demands on Tuesday evening outside Apple's flagship store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Around ten protesters carrying signs came out to express their concerns over privacy.

The case has sparked a national debate over digital privacy rights and national security interests. Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym ordered Apple last week to assist investigators by creating specialized software that would let the FBI rapidly test random passcode combinations to try to unlock the iPhone and view data stored on it.

The county-issued iPhone 5C was used by Syed Farook, who with his wife, Tashfeen Malik, killed 14 people at an office holiday party in December before they died in a gun battle with police. The government said they had been at least partly inspired by the Islamic State.

The couple physically destroyed two personal phones so completely that the FBI has been unable to recover information from them.

Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook has said that creating such software is a dangerous precedent that would threaten data security for millions by making essentially a master key that could later be duplicated and used against other phones.

A handful of Apple's supporters protested the FBI's demands on Tuesday evening outside Apple's flagship store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Around ten protesters carrying signs came out to express their concerns over privacy.

The case has sparked a national debate over digital privacy rights and national security interests. Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym ordered Apple last week to assist investigators by creating specialized software that would let the FBI rapidly test random passcode combinations to try to unlock the iPhone and view data stored on it.

The county-issued iPhone 5C was used by Syed Farook, who with his wife, Tashfeen Malik, killed 14 people at an office holiday party in December before they died in a gun battle with police. The government said they had been at least partly inspired by the Islamic State.

The couple physically destroyed two personal phones so completely that the FBI has been unable to recover information from them.

Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook has said that creating such software is a dangerous precedent that would threaten data security for millions by making essentially a master key that could later be duplicated and used against other phones.

AP TELEVISION

New York - 23 February 2016

1. Wide pan small group of protestors in front of Apple store

2. Tight protest signage

3. Mid pan small group of protestors

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Justine Vasquez, protester:

"We're just out here to support Apple. We want to show Apple we're supportive of not giving our data, and giving it away to the FBI."

5. Zoom in protest signage

6. SOUNDBITE (English) James Ferguson, protester:

"I'm worried about my privacy, I'm worried about the consequences because once you open the door like this, all future phones might be a weakened in a much similar way. The thing is in the past we've learned that every time the government tries tapping into phones it always gets abused every single time. I'm very worried about this."

7. Mid Apple store

8. Tight Apple signage

9. SOUNDBITE (English) James Ferguson, protester:

"I'm definitely in support of the families and I understand, I want the bad guys caught just as badly as they do, more so. I'm just concerned this is not the right way to do it. The way that this would go about doing it would actually harm America far more. There has to be another way of investigating that can reveal what they need."

10. Wide tilt down protestors in front of Apple store

Jewish community leaders have met with the FBI director after a man was arrested in threats against at least eight Jewish institutions nationwide and the Anti-Defamation League's headquarters in New York City.

The JCC Association of North America says Friday's meeting included discussion of threats directed against Jewish institutions in the past two months.

The association says the Jewish community is deeply grateful for the FBI's "extraordinary effort." It says representatives left the meeting "with the highest confidence" that the agency will work to resolve the matter soon.

Authorities say 31-year-old Juan Thompson made the threats in an effort to harass and vilify his former girlfriend.

They say some of the threats were made in the woman's name.

Thompson is due to appear in court in Missouri later Friday.

New York - March 3, 2017

1. Wide of presser

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Evan Bernstein, New York Regional Director, Anti-defamation league

"We're here to thank law enforcement -- especially the FBI, US Attorney's Office, NYPD, New York State Police with their efforts around the arrest of Juan Thompson who allegedly made multiple threats against JCCs and our New York office. The diligence of law enforcement at such a critical time in the Jewish community is very reassuring. We heard early this morning from New York law enforcement before the arrest was even announced, in large part, to our strong working relationship here in the empire state. Later this morning, leadership in the Jewish community, including the ADL, met with FBI director Comey and his senior leadership team at the FBI to discuss a range of threats that have been directed against Jewish institutions in the last few months. The conversation encompassed the current situation and potential strategies for future collaboration."

3. Wide of presser

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Oren Segal, Director of the Center on Extremism, the Anti-Defamation League

"31-year-old Juan Thompson was arrested in St. Louis and is believed to be responsible for at least eight of the recent bomb threats made to Jewish institutions, and the threat to ADL's national office here in New York. This suggests that there are additional perpetrator still at large responsible for the over 100 threats targeting Jewish institutions just this year. Thompson made a number of threats against Jewish institutions using his ex-girlfriend's name. As well as other threats in his won name. Even as Thompson was allegedly calling in his own bomb threats, he was making pro-JCC statements on his own social media accounts."

5. Wide of presser

SOUNDBITE (English) Oren Segal, Director of the Center on Extremism, the Anti-Defamation League

"While the motive is unclear, the impact is crystal clear. While I cannot speak about what is in Thompson's mind or what is in his heart, threatening Jewish institutions is an anti-Semitic act."

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Oren Segal, Director of the Center on Extremism, the Anti-Defamation League

"We're in unprecedented times. We've never seen -- ever -- the volume of bomb threats that we've seen. When you add the anti-Semitic vandalism that Evan described at cemeteries, at synagogues, the public arena around the country. When you multiply that by the anti-Semitism we're seeing online, where people are more likely to engage and see anti-Semitism on their phone than they are in their neighborhood. And when white supremacists feel more emboldened than they ever have before because of the public discussion and the divisive rhetoric that includes within the presidential campaign, I would say you can't separate an incident like this from the broader context."

7. Wide of presser

Jewish community leaders have met with the FBI director after a man was arrested in threats against at least eight Jewish institutions nationwide and the Anti-Defamation League's headquarters in New York City.

The JCC Association of North America says Friday's meeting included discussion of threats directed against Jewish institutions in the past two months.

The association says the Jewish community is deeply grateful for the FBI's "extraordinary effort." It says representatives left the meeting "with the highest confidence" that the agency will work to resolve the matter soon.

Authorities say 31-year-old Juan Thompson made the threats in an effort to harass and vilify his former girlfriend.

They say some of the threats were made in the woman's name.

Thompson is due to appear in court in Missouri later Friday.

New York - March 3, 2017

1. Wide of presser

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Evan Bernstein, New York Regional Director, Anti-defamation league

"We're here to thank law enforcement -- especially the FBI, US Attorney's Office, NYPD, New York State Police with their efforts around the arrest of Juan Thompson who allegedly made multiple threats against JCCs and our New York office. The diligence of law enforcement at such a critical time in the Jewish community is very reassuring. We heard early this morning from New York law enforcement before the arrest was even announced, in large part, to our strong working relationship here in the empire state. Later this morning, leadership in the Jewish community, including the ADL, met with FBI director Comey and his senior leadership team at the FBI to discuss a range of threats that have been directed against Jewish institutions in the last few months. The conversation encompassed the current situation and potential strategies for future collaboration."

3. Wide of presser

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Oren Segal, Director of the Center on Extremism, the Anti-Defamation League

"31-year-old Juan Thompson was arrested in St. Louis and is believed to be responsible for at least eight of the recent bomb threats made to Jewish institutions, and the threat to ADL's national office here in New York. This suggests that there are additional perpetrator still at large responsible for the over 100 threats targeting Jewish institutions just this year. Thompson made a number of threats against Jewish institutions using his ex-girlfriend's name. As well as other threats in his won name. Even as Thompson was allegedly calling in his own bomb threats, he was making pro-JCC statements on his own social media accounts."

5. Wide of presser

SOUNDBITE (English) Oren Segal, Director of the Center on Extremism, the Anti-Defamation League

"While the motive is unclear, the impact is crystal clear. While I cannot speak about what is in Thompson's mind or what is in his heart, threatening Jewish institutions is an anti-Semitic act."

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Oren Segal, Director of the Center on Extremism, the Anti-Defamation League

"We're in unprecedented times. We've never seen -- ever -- the volume of bomb threats that we've seen. When you add the anti-Semitic vandalism that Evan described at cemeteries, at synagogues, the public arena around the country. When you multiply that by the anti-Semitism we're seeing online, where people are more likely to engage and see anti-Semitism on their phone than they are in their neighborhood. And when white supremacists feel more emboldened than they ever have before because of the public discussion and the divisive rhetoric that includes within the presidential campaign, I would say you can't separate an incident like this from the broader context."

7. Wide of presser

Michael Grimm, a former New York congressman and FBI agent who once investigated white-collar crime, was sentenced Friday to 8 months in prison for tax evasion by a judge who said his "moral compass" needed adjustment.

Grimm, 45, pleaded guilty late last year to aiding in filing a false tax return _ a charge that stemmed from an investigation into the Staten Island Republican's campaign financing.

U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen said the crime included exploiting immigrant laborers, including some who were paid as little as $4.60 an hour.

Prosecutors said the tax fraud began in 2007 after Grimm retired from the FBI and began investing in a Manhattan eatery called Healthalicious. An indictment accused him of underreporting more than $1 million in wages and receipts to evade payroll, income and sales taxes.

Michael Grimm, a former New York congressman and FBI agent who once investigated white-collar crime, was sentenced Friday to 8 months in prison for tax evasion by a judge who said his "moral compass" needed adjustment.

Grimm, 45, pleaded guilty late last year to aiding in filing a false tax return _ a charge that stemmed from an investigation into the Staten Island Republican's campaign financing.

U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen said the crime included exploiting immigrant laborers, including some who were paid as little as $4.60 an hour.

Prosecutors said the tax fraud began in 2007 after Grimm retired from the FBI and began investing in a Manhattan eatery called Healthalicious. An indictment accused him of underreporting more than $1 million in wages and receipts to evade payroll, income and sales taxes.

AP TELEVISION

New York - July 17, 2015

1. Michael Grimm exits courthouse

SHOTLIST:

1. Pan down of federal courthouse, reporters outside federal courthouse

2. Wide shot protestors holding banner, reading: "The Bush regime engineered 9-11"

3. Tilt up protestor holding sign, reading: "Release Dr. Siddiqui"

4. Close up protestor chanting: "Free, free, Aafia free"

5. Medium shot protestors chanting and holding signs

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaine Sharp, co-counsel for Aafia Siddiqui:

(Reporter's question:) "Did you expect her to show up today or were you surprised?"

"Um, yes and no. I expected her to show up today and, no, I'm not surprised because she just hates the strip-search and she also stitches in her body which makes it painful to bend down."

7. Close up of hands holding flyers reading: "We are all Aafia Siddiqui"

8. Medium shot man handing out flyers

9. Wide shot man handing flyers to people on sidewalk

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Elizabeth Fink, lead counsel for Aafia Siddiqui:

"This is an extremely traumatised human being who needs human rights and needs help. She needs to be taken out of a prison setting and put in a therapeutic medical centre. She needs her mother, among other things. She needs help, and she's not getting it."

11. Medium shot of media

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Elizabeth Fink, lead counsel for Aafia Siddiqui:

"They were interrogating all the time because the only person who went near her were FBI agents. You know, they don't have FBI agents in Bagram, right? You know they brought them in."

(Reporter's question: "How do you know there won't be a superseding indictment?")

"I don't but it's off the top of my head. Everybody asks me about this indictment and I told them I thought it was going to be very tight and it's very tight... No, I don't know what the government is going to do. I can never know what the government is going to do."

(Reporter's question: "So you don't actually know if there's going to be terrorism charges.")

"No, I don't, but I don't imagine that there will be. I can never think what the government is gonna do. What they do and what they think is so beyond me, I can't begin to tell you. It should be beyond all of us. It's time to stop this, everybody. People need human rights. People need to be treated right. And the United States government in 2003, the Pakistanis loved us. Now they hate us and everybody hates us and it's time to repair it."

13. Low shot of people walking by protest sign

14. Sign by lamp post, reading: "We are all Aafia Siddiqui"

STORYLINE:

A Pakistani woman labelled an al-Qaeda supporter by the US government refused to appear in court on Thursday to respond to charges that she tried to kill US soldiers and FBI agents after they detained her this summer in Afghanistan.

Aafia Siddiqui had been expected to plead not guilty in federal court in Manhattan to attempted murder and assault charges.

The indictment, unsealed earlier this week, alleged she was carrying handwritten notes referring to a "mass casualty attack" and listing the Empire State Building and other New York landmarks when taken into custody.

In court, Siddiqui's lawyers told a judge that she didn't show up because she did not want to be strip-searched - a precaution taken with all prisoners when moved between from federal lockups and courthouses.

The lawyers also claimed Siddiqui, before being arrested and brought to New York, had been kidnapped by US operatives and kept in secret captivity in Pakistan.

The ordeal, they said, left the US-educated defendant with severe physical and mental problems.

Outside, supporters chanted "Free, free, Aifia free" and held signs and banners in support of the suspect.

To them, Aafia Siddiqui is a devout Muslim and educated scholar who fled to Pakistan after 9/11 because of anti-Muslim sentiment.

To US authorities, she is the lunatic fringe of its terrorist enemies, willing to shoot at an Army officer or blow up the Statue of Liberty.

Prosecutors say she was shot by a US Army officer after she grabbed his Army M-4 rifle from the floor and pointed it at an Army captain, crying "Allah Akbar!"

One of her lawyers, Elaine Whitfield Sharp, said that Siddiqui remains in pain from bullet wounds sustained in a shoot-out last month in Afghanistan but said witnesses to the shoot-out have said Siddiqui never lunged for a weapon and that they never heard rifle shots.

On Thursday, Sharp said she was not surprised Siddiqui did not appear in court.

"I'm not surprised because she just hates the strip-search and she also stitches in her body which makes it painful to bend down," she said.

Another defence lawyer, Elizabeth Fink, said that Siddiqui needed treatment for her bad physical and mental state which they believed to be the result of torture.

"This is an extremely traumatised human being who needs human rights and needs help. She needs to be taken out of a prison setting and put in a therapeutic medical centre," Fink said.

Fink maintains that her client did not attempt to shoot at the US Soldiers and FBI agents and demanded that the human rights of her clients and others be respected.

"It's time to stop this, everybody. People need human rights. People need to be treated right. And the United States government in 2003, the Pakistanis loved us. Now they hate us and everybody hates us and it's time to repair it," she said.

US District Judge Richard Berman put off the arraignment to give Siddiqui's lawyers more time to either persuade her to come to court or to arrange for her to enter a plea from jail using closed-circuit cameras.

The judge also asked the defence to propose a plan to evaluate her competency to stand trial.

Another hearing was set for September 22.

The indictment contains no charges of terrorism.

A government official briefed on the case has told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that the landmarks were a "wish list" of potential targets but that there was no evidence of a credible plot.

Siddiqui was born into a middle-class Pakistani family, the daughter of a doctor and homemaker who had two other children.

Her brother, an architect, lives in Houston. Her sister, a Harvard-trained neurologist, lives in Karachi, Pakistan.

After moving to the United States in 1990, Siddiqui studied at the University of Houston and then the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she got a bachelor's degree in biology in 1995.

She later studied cognitive neuroscience as a graduate student at Brandeis University.

Fink said US authorities repeatedly cite her background in neuroscience to make it seem she might have expertise in mixing chemicals - knowledge necessary to construct bombs, for instance.

She said Siddiqui was actually studying cognitive science with a focus on teacher training and had hoped to return to Pakistan to teach.

Sharp, who was hired by Siddiqui's family several years ago when the FBI interviewed her brother and mother, said they left because of anti-Muslim sentiment in America.

Authorities say she vanished in Pakistan in 2003. She mysteriously resurfaced in July outside a government building in central Afghanistan's Ghazni province and was stopped by police.

Her disappearance came shortly after 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed mentioned her name during an interrogation.

Mohammed later claimed he had named some innocent people just to please his captors, and Siddiqui's lawyers believe he gave up her name under torture.

In 2004, Aafia Siddiqui was publicly identified by US authorities as being among seven suspected al-Qaida operatives the FBI wanted to question about their suspected ties to al-Qaida.

Her family has vehemently denied any link.

Did officials miss the warning signs about the man accused of shooting 17 people in a Florida high school?

That's the question that experts are asking following Wednesday's deadly attack, after learning the shooter, Nikolas Cruz, had recently been on the FBI's radar, and had been expelled from the same school for "disciplinary reasons."

"There are so many things that you could do to look at to stop these incidents, and this case is just a glaring example of how not to do it," says David Katz, the CEO of Global Security Group and a former special agent for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

Katz says from the start, school officials should have contacted authorities after Cruz' expulsion to make sure he couldn't get access to campus.

"That response was wholly inadequate, his behavior should have been very thoroughly investigated."

Katz also points to an FBI inquiry in September into Cruz after a a Mississippi man named Benjamin Bennight says he alerted authorities last September after someone using the screen name "Nikolas Cruz" posted a comment on his YouTube channel saying: "Im going to be a professional school shooter."

He says authorities should be given more power to investigate and intervene when people make such comments online.

Katz's company primarily gives active shooter training to businesses and other adult-focused institutions, but says all students, including those at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, could benefit from such training.

That includes advice on the best places to hide and run during an active shooter situation, and, if all else fails, when to confront a shooter.

"There's no reason that high school students cannot do the exact same things that adults can," he said.

New York - February 15, 2018

1. Walking shot, David Katz

2. SOUNDBITE (English) David Katz, Former DEA Special Agent, CEO Global Security Group

"First of all, in this particular case, the shooter clearly evidenced behavior that that raised raised not only get the attention of the school officials but law enforcement. The FBI was given, according to reports, six months ago they received information on this guy -- posted stuff online on the Internet, on YouTube, his Facebook page. If under these circumstances we can't figure out a way to take action and short circuit these incidents then we're a lot of trouble. A couple of things that come right off the bat: if someone's making a post on the Internet and it's threatening in nature, why is that not criminalized? I mean, I'm a staunch defender of our Bill of Rights but there's no protections no First Amendment protection to threaten somebody, threaten acts of violence -- that should be should be examined as far as criminalizing that. In addition, apparently the individual was on on the school grounds, had gotten into altercations, was banned from the school grounds, or at least they reported that he couldn't carry a backpack on school grounds. Well, think about that. Why would they banned him from carrying a backpack? Because they're worried about what? Him carrying a weapon. You can secrete a weapon in your waistband, you put under a jacket. That response was wholly inadequate. His behavior should have been very thoroughly investigated and if any criminality was found, he should have been charged. Perhaps the restraining order issued, which would have, by the way, prevented him from buying a firearm. So there are so many things that you could do to look at to stop these incidents. And this case is just a glaring example of how not to do it."

3. Wide of Katz

4. SOUNDBITE (English) David Katz, Former DEA Special Agent, CEO Global Security Group

"It's not dispositive -- the idea I have is if someone is a problematic person like clearly Cruz was, get that information into the database so if they try to buy a firearm, at least there's a secondary level of scrutiny. Not just 'OK you're good.' Because right now if you don't have a criminal record, you can buy a firearm. So you could be under a doctor's care, you could be taking all sorts of sorts of psychotic medications and you could still buy a firearm and there's no way to detect it at this point."

5. Wide of Katz

6. SOUNDBITE (English) David Katz, Former DEA Special Agent, CEO Global Security Group

"With respect to schools, there needs to be a way to make sure people don't don't get that close to the building. So screen them before they come in. He carried a rifle for God's sake. He didn't secrete a small handgun, he didn't have a weapon to backpack, he had a full length rifle. Now if we can't screen that out getting the onto school property we have a problem."

++SHOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) David Katz, Former DEA Special Agent, CEO Global Security Group

"So, for example, to look at the workspace here: is an open floor plan, you have glass walls glass, every office has a glass wall. You don't have the option of barricades. So in this particular setting you only have two options: multiple exits, quickly as possible move to the exit. And if you don't have the opportunity with the exits you have to confront the shooter."

++SHOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK++

8. SOUNDBITE (English) David Katz, Former DEA Special Agent, CEO Global Security Group

"Now we're talking about high school here, so there's no reason that high school students cannot do the exact same things that adults can."

9. Wide of Katz

10. SOUNDBITE (English) David Katz, Former DEA Special Agent, CEO Global Security Group

"So you have to understand what constitutes a barricade and how to do it, and then how to position yourself in the room so if someone shoots through the barricade or through the wall you're less likely to be harmed. If neither the first two options are available you have to confront the threat. You have to fight back, take action. And that's been successfully done in many many instances in active shooter situations that have already been studied by the FBI. So it's ABC: avoid, barricade, confront and we drill people, we explain what what bullets can and can't do."

11. Wide of Katz

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot of US Federal Courthouse in Manhattan where Ping was arraigned and pleaded not guilty on Tuesday

2. US Marshall keeping watch outside the Federal Courthouse

3. Mid shot, doors to court house

4. Wide shot, FBI, INS, and prosecutors filing into press conference

5. Cutaway news crews

6. SOUNDBITE (English) David Kelley, Prosecutor:

"Sister Ping was indicted in this district in 1994 and she's accused of running an alien smuggling operation that brought hundreds if not thousands of illegal immigrants into this country from China. But unfortunately those looking for freedom and a new way of life in this country instead found only misery as they were held hostages in safehouses and warehouses until their smuggling debt was paid."

7. Court artist's sketch of Ping in Federal Court

8. Wide press conference

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Fred Snellings, FBI Special Agent in Charge New York Field Office:

"Sister Ping's victims and their families paid an exorbitant amount of money for them to come into America so they could be free Americans and live good lives. For the crime charges against her, Sister Ping may pay too, but only after the American legal system plays out."

10. Wide pan of press conference

11. Close up mug shot of Ping

STORYLINE:

One of the alleged masterminds of a 1993 immigrant-smuggling voyage that ended in the deaths of 10 Chinese

in the waters off New York City pleaded innocent on Tuesday to federal conspiracy charges.

Cheng Chui Ping - a reputed immigrant-smuggling kingpin known in New York's Chinatown as "Big Sister Ping" - was arraigned in a US District Court in Manhattan after losing a three-year extradition fight in Hong Kong.

Ping, 53, arrived in court after being flown to New York in FBI custody.

She remained silent as her lawyer entered her plea and a judge ordered her held without bail for her alleged role in various alien trafficking schemes since the mid-1980s, including the voyage of the Golden Venture.

At a news conference, authorities accused Cheng and other "snakeheads" - the Chinese term for alien smugglers - of exploiting fellow countrymen desperate to pursue the American dream.

The Golden Venture, a rickety freighter packed with 300 illegal Chinese immigrants, completed the 16,000-mile (26,000 kilometre) trip to the United States before running aground off the city in 1993.

Ten passengers either drowned or died of hypothermia while trying to swim 200 yards (metres) to shore.

According to investigators at least two of the passengers on board the Golden Venture had paid Ping for their travel.

In another case, a boat landed in Massachusetts carrying 130 aliens in 1992.

The "human cargo" was herded at gunpoint into three rental trucks for a five-hour trip to a Brooklyn warehouse, prosecutors said.

Court papers allege Cheng employed members of the notorious Fuk Ching Gang in Chinatown to hold immigrants hostage in safehouses while collecting smuggling fees of up to 30,000 US dollars a head.

The gangsters sometimes threatened to dismember their captives unless they paid up, authorities said.

Cheng allegedly used a Chinatown variety store as a front for an illegal money transferring business used to finance the smuggling operation.

An indictment accuses her and unnamed conspirators of wiring 60,000 US dollars to Bangkok in late 1992 for the Golden Venture voyage.

The defendant was outside the United States when she was indicted in 1994 and remained a fugitive until 2000, when the FBI arrested her at a Hong Kong airport.

She faces a possible life sentence if convicted of conspiracy, extortion and other charges.

Lawyers for President Donald Trump and his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, returned to court Thursday to continue efforts to limit investigators' access to records the FBI seized from Cohen.

U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood, who presided over a noon conference to better define how to process electronic files and communications seized from Cohen's home and office April 9, appointed a former Manhattan federal judge to help determine what materials seized in FBI raids on Cohen are subject to attorney-client privilege.

During a phone interview early Thursday on "Fox & Friends," Trump acknowledged Cohen represented him with the "crazy Stormy Daniels deal," a reference to a $130,000 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump. He said he believes Cohen "did absolutely nothing wrong."

He has previously said he had no knowledge of the payment.

Daniels' attorney Michael Avenatti, praising judge Wood's selection, called Jones' appointment an "exceptional choice."

New York - 26 April 2018

1. Various of Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, walking out of court, into car

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, Attorney for Stormy Daniels:

"On behalf of Miss Clifford (referring to porn actress Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford), we applaud Judge (Kimba) Wood for the appointment of Barbara Jones as the special master. She has an incredible background from a number of different areas of the law and we think that she is nothing short of an exceptional choice. We're hopeful that the court is going to grant our motion to intervene in connection with this matter, so that Miss Clifford can take steps to protect her attorney-client privilege information; as well as, other critical documents in connection with the case that we are pursuing in Los Angeles."

3. Walking shot of President Donald Trump's lawyer Joanna Hendon walking past after exiting courthouse

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, Attorney for Stormy Daniels: ++VARIOUS ANGLES++

"Well, it would give us formal standing in connection with the case, and likely would also grant us access to various categories of documents but not all of the documents."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, Attorney for Stormy Daniels:

"Oh, I think that ultimately it will be shown that there's a number of things that are nefarious in the communications between Michael Cohen and others relating to the agreement and the $130,000 payment."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, Attorney for Stormy Daniels:

"I think the president should appear on 'Fox and Friends' every morning. That's what I think. I thought it was exceptional for our case and I thought it was disastrous for him."

7. Avenatti walking away

8. Avenatti being swarmed by media

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, Attorney for Stormy Daniels:

"I think there's no question it implicates him and I do not believe there is any way you can reconcile what the president said on 'Fox and Friends,' with his statements on Air Force One, with the prior statements of Michael Cohen. Those are all irreconcilable. And that is a significant serious problem for Michael Cohen and the president."

10. Various of Avenatti walking away

Lawyers for President Donald Trump and his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, returned to court Thursday to continue efforts to limit investigators' access to records the FBI seized from Cohen.

U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood, who presided over a noon conference to better define how to process electronic files and communications seized from Cohen's home and office April 9, appointed a former Manhattan federal judge to help determine what materials seized in FBI raids on Cohen are subject to attorney-client privilege.

During a phone interview early Thursday on "Fox & Friends," Trump acknowledged Cohen represented him with the "crazy Stormy Daniels deal," a reference to a $130,000 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump. He said he believes Cohen "did absolutely nothing wrong."

He has previously said he had no knowledge of the payment.

Daniels' attorney Michael Avenatti, praising judge Wood's selection, called Jones' appointment an "exceptional choice."

New York - 26 April 2018

1. Various of Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, walking out of court, into car

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, Attorney for Stormy Daniels:

"On behalf of Miss Clifford (referring to porn actress Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford), we applaud Judge (Kimba) Wood for the appointment of Barbara Jones as the special master. She has an incredible background from a number of different areas of the law and we think that she is nothing short of an exceptional choice. We're hopeful that the court is going to grant our motion to intervene in connection with this matter, so that Miss Clifford can take steps to protect her attorney-client privilege information; as well as, other critical documents in connection with the case that we are pursuing in Los Angeles."

3. Walking shot of President Donald Trump's lawyer Joanna Hendon walking past after exiting courthouse

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, Attorney for Stormy Daniels: ++VARIOUS ANGLES++

"Well, it would give us formal standing in connection with the case, and likely would also grant us access to various categories of documents but not all of the documents."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, Attorney for Stormy Daniels:

"Oh, I think that ultimately it will be shown that there's a number of things that are nefarious in the communications between Michael Cohen and others relating to the agreement and the $130,000 payment."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, Attorney for Stormy Daniels:

"I think the president should appear on 'Fox and Friends' every morning. That's what I think. I thought it was exceptional for our case and I thought it was disastrous for him."

7. Avenatti walking away

8. Avenatti being swarmed by media

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, Attorney for Stormy Daniels:

"I think there's no question it implicates him and I do not believe there is any way you can reconcile what the president said on 'Fox and Friends,' with his statements on Air Force One, with the prior statements of Michael Cohen. Those are all irreconcilable. And that is a significant serious problem for Michael Cohen and the president."

10. Various of Avenatti walking away

A former high school teacher and his brother were accused on Thursday of stockpiling explosive materials in their Bronx apartment and paying students to dismantle fireworks for gunpowder to make bombs.

Christian Toro, and his brother, Tyler Toro, were charged in a federal complaint with unlawfully manufacturing a destructive device. Christian Toro was also charged with distribution of explosive materials to a minor.

Both men pleaded not guilty and are being held pending their next court date. There was no immediate response to requests for comment from their attorneys.

"The brave men and women of the NYPD and of the FBI have done extraordinary work and, in this case, likely saved many, many lives," Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference Thursday evening.

Authorities said there was no indication of any continued threat and that all the suspects involved have been arrested.

The case grew out of a bomb threat called into a school by a student in December. Authorities said Christian Toro then resigned, Tyler Toro returned the ex-teacher's school laptop and a technician found a document about explosives on it.

Authorities interviewed Christian Toro at his Bronx apartment earlier this month.

Christian Toro told law enforcement agents that he'd come across the document about explosives while researching the deadly 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, looked only at its contents and never meant to download it, the complaint said. He said he'd never built a bomb.

But on Wednesday, students at his former school told agents that he paid at least two students about $50 an hour between October and January to break up fireworks and store the powder from them, said the complaint, which didn't say what the purpose of the bomb was.

Agents got a warrant and searched the Toros' apartment on Thursday, finding more than 30 pounds (14 kilograms) of various chemicals used in explosives, a box of firecrackers, a bag of metal spheres that could be used to pack a bomb with damaging projectiles and a diary, the complaint said.

The diary, with Tyler Toro's name in it, said "Christian arrested" and "If you're registered as a sex offender, things will be difficult. But I am here 100 percent, living, buying weapons. Whatever we need," according to the complaint.

The diary also talked about having thrown away all the evidence of something code-named operation "Flash," proclaimed "we are the twin Toros" and threatened retribution if anyone would "strike us now," authorities said. It added, "I hope this doesn't turn into a scene from Goodfellas," they said.

"Goodfellas," a 1990 Martin Scorsese movie starring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci, chronicles a mobster-turned-informant.

The complaint said agents searching the apartment also found a yellow backpack, which contained a purple index card with handwriting that said "under the full moon the small ones will know terror."

John Miller, the NYPD's deputy commissioner for counterterrorism and intelligence, said the pair's motive still wasn't clear. He said they were not sure if the brothers were inspired by any terror groups.

The complaint said Christian Toro was arrested Jan. 31 on a charge of raping someone under age 17; it's a felony rape in New York for someone over age 20 to have sex with someone under age 17. No details of that case could be found Thursday night in online court records.

New York - February 15, 2018

1. Officials enter

2. SOUNDBITE (English) James O'Neill, New York City Police Commissioner

"As you will hear, this incident began with a December 4th, 2017 threat to a high school in Harlem. A 15-year-old student was arrested by the NYPD intelligence division on that bomb threat. In in January, A teacher at that school abruptly resigned and school authorities are reviewing his laptop noted some material that was questionable and they contacted our detectives. Based on a follow up investigation by the Joint Terrorist Task Force, that's what led to those arrests today."

3. John Miller enters

4. SOUNDBITE (English) John Miller, Deputy Commissioner, NYPD

"As part of that investigation, a development on January 10th was the resignation of Christian Toro, a schoolteacher from that school which caused investigators to follow up. Two days after that Christian Tauros brother, as outlined in the complaint, Turned in a Department of Education laptop that had been assigned to Christian Torah while he was a teacher to the Board of Education. A review of that laptop by Board of Education officials uncovered what appeared to be a document included, including bomb making instructions."

5. Wide of Miller

6. SOUNDBITE (English) John Miller, Deputy Commissioner, NYPD

"In the course of that search, which was conducted beginning this morning, and went on through much of the day, over 30 pounds of chemicals, which, taken together in certain combinations, constitute an explosive precursor materials, were recovered. Christian and Tyler Toro were taken to the 49 precinct where they were taken into custody by the FBI and charged, as you see in the complaint, with possession of explosive precursors and giving explosives to a minor."

7. Wide of Miller

8 . SOUNDBITE (English) John Miller, Deputy Commissioner, NYPD

"There was a diary appearing to belong to the Toro's brother that had notations in it about something called 'Operation Flash.' Statements contained in the diary about discarding and doing away with physical evidence and other documents that had statements such as 'the small ones.' Let me start with the quote: 'under the full moon, the small ones will know terror.' We don't know at this point in the investigation other than the criminal charges related to the explosives the full breadth of what these materials mean. So, as Assistant Director Sweeney said, we're going to continue that investigation. I would like to underscore and underline again with these two individuals in custody, with the people we've interviewed, with the evidence we've seen so far, there is no reason to believe at this point that there is any remaining threat to New York City or any school."

9. De Blasio enters

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mayor Bill de Blasio, (D) New York

"This is a moment to remind all New Yorkers, to remind everyone that the idea that if you see something you say something is more pertinent than ever. We get daily reminders of the threats arrayed against us. But what we're seeing here in this case already is some good people stepped forward with information and that information was crucial to law enforcement."

11. Officials exit

A former high school teacher and his brother were accused on Thursday of stockpiling explosive materials in their Bronx apartment and paying students to dismantle fireworks for gunpowder to make bombs.

Christian Toro, and his brother, Tyler Toro, were charged in a federal complaint with unlawfully manufacturing a destructive device. Christian Toro was also charged with distribution of explosive materials to a minor.

Both men pleaded not guilty and are being held pending their next court date. There was no immediate response to requests for comment from their attorneys.

"The brave men and women of the NYPD and of the FBI have done extraordinary work and, in this case, likely saved many, many lives," Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference Thursday evening.

Authorities said there was no indication of any continued threat and that all the suspects involved have been arrested.

The case grew out of a bomb threat called into a school by a student in December. Authorities said Christian Toro then resigned, Tyler Toro returned the ex-teacher's school laptop and a technician found a document about explosives on it.

Authorities interviewed Christian Toro at his Bronx apartment earlier this month.

Christian Toro told law enforcement agents that he'd come across the document about explosives while researching the deadly 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, looked only at its contents and never meant to download it, the complaint said. He said he'd never built a bomb.

But on Wednesday, students at his former school told agents that he paid at least two students about $50 an hour between October and January to break up fireworks and store the powder from them, said the complaint, which didn't say what the purpose of the bomb was.

Agents got a warrant and searched the Toros' apartment on Thursday, finding more than 30 pounds (14 kilograms) of various chemicals used in explosives, a box of firecrackers, a bag of metal spheres that could be used to pack a bomb with damaging projectiles and a diary, the complaint said.

The diary, with Tyler Toro's name in it, said "Christian arrested" and "If you're registered as a sex offender, things will be difficult. But I am here 100 percent, living, buying weapons. Whatever we need," according to the complaint.

The diary also talked about having thrown away all the evidence of something code-named operation "Flash," proclaimed "we are the twin Toros" and threatened retribution if anyone would "strike us now," authorities said. It added, "I hope this doesn't turn into a scene from Goodfellas," they said.

"Goodfellas," a 1990 Martin Scorsese movie starring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci, chronicles a mobster-turned-informant.

The complaint said agents searching the apartment also found a yellow backpack, which contained a purple index card with handwriting that said "under the full moon the small ones will know terror."

John Miller, the NYPD's deputy commissioner for counterterrorism and intelligence, said the pair's motive still wasn't clear. He said they were not sure if the brothers were inspired by any terror groups.

The complaint said Christian Toro was arrested Jan. 31 on a charge of raping someone under age 17; it's a felony rape in New York for someone over age 20 to have sex with someone under age 17. No details of that case could be found Thursday night in online court records.

New York - February 15, 2018

1. Officials enter

2. SOUNDBITE (English) James O'Neill, New York City Police Commissioner

"As you will hear, this incident began with a December 4th, 2017 threat to a high school in Harlem. A 15-year-old student was arrested by the NYPD intelligence division on that bomb threat. In in January, A teacher at that school abruptly resigned and school authorities are reviewing his laptop noted some material that was questionable and they contacted our detectives. Based on a follow up investigation by the Joint Terrorist Task Force, that's what led to those arrests today."

3. John Miller enters

4. SOUNDBITE (English) John Miller, Deputy Commissioner, NYPD

"As part of that investigation, a development on January 10th was the resignation of Christian Toro, a schoolteacher from that school which caused investigators to follow up. Two days after that Christian Tauros brother, as outlined in the complaint, Turned in a Department of Education laptop that had been assigned to Christian Torah while he was a teacher to the Board of Education. A review of that laptop by Board of Education officials uncovered what appeared to be a document included, including bomb making instructions."

5. Wide of Miller

6. SOUNDBITE (English) John Miller, Deputy Commissioner, NYPD

"In the course of that search, which was conducted beginning this morning, and went on through much of the day, over 30 pounds of chemicals, which, taken together in certain combinations, constitute an explosive precursor materials, were recovered. Christian and Tyler Toro were taken to the 49 precinct where they were taken into custody by the FBI and charged, as you see in the complaint, with possession of explosive precursors and giving explosives to a minor."

7. Wide of Miller

8 . SOUNDBITE (English) John Miller, Deputy Commissioner, NYPD

"There was a diary appearing to belong to the Toro's brother that had notations in it about something called 'Operation Flash.' Statements contained in the diary about discarding and doing away with physical evidence and other documents that had statements such as 'the small ones.' Let me start with the quote: 'under the full moon, the small ones will know terror.' We don't know at this point in the investigation other than the criminal charges related to the explosives the full breadth of what these materials mean. So, as Assistant Director Sweeney said, we're going to continue that investigation. I would like to underscore and underline again with these two individuals in custody, with the people we've interviewed, with the evidence we've seen so far, there is no reason to believe at this point that there is any remaining threat to New York City or any school."

9. De Blasio enters

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mayor Bill de Blasio, (D) New York

"This is a moment to remind all New Yorkers, to remind everyone that the idea that if you see something you say something is more pertinent than ever. We get daily reminders of the threats arrayed against us. But what we're seeing here in this case already is some good people stepped forward with information and that information was crucial to law enforcement."

11. Officials exit

A former high school teacher and his brother were accused on Thursday of stockpiling explosive materials in their Bronx apartment and paying students to dismantle fireworks for gunpowder to make bombs.

Christian Toro, and his brother, Tyler Toro, were charged in a federal complaint with unlawfully manufacturing a destructive device. Christian Toro was also charged with distribution of explosive materials to a minor.

Both men pleaded not guilty and are being held pending their next court date. There was no immediate response to requests for comment from their attorneys.

"The brave men and women of the NYPD and of the FBI have done extraordinary work and, in this case, likely saved many, many lives," Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference Thursday evening.

Authorities said there was no indication of any continued threat and that all the suspects involved have been arrested.

The case grew out of a bomb threat called into a school by a student in December. Authorities said Christian Toro then resigned, Tyler Toro returned the ex-teacher's school laptop and a technician found a document about explosives on it.

Authorities interviewed Christian Toro at his Bronx apartment earlier this month.

Christian Toro told law enforcement agents that he'd come across the document about explosives while researching the deadly 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, looked only at its contents and never meant to download it, the complaint said. He said he'd never built a bomb.

But on Wednesday, students at his former school told agents that he paid at least two students about $50 an hour between October and January to break up fireworks and store the powder from them, said the complaint, which didn't say what the purpose of the bomb was.

Agents got a warrant and searched the Toros' apartment on Thursday, finding more than 30 pounds (14 kilograms) of various chemicals used in explosives, a box of firecrackers, a bag of metal spheres that could be used to pack a bomb with damaging projectiles and a diary, the complaint said.

The diary, with Tyler Toro's name in it, said "Christian arrested" and "If you're registered as a sex offender, things will be difficult. But I am here 100 percent, living, buying weapons. Whatever we need," according to the complaint.

The diary also talked about having thrown away all the evidence of something code-named operation "Flash," proclaimed "we are the twin Toros" and threatened retribution if anyone would "strike us now," authorities said. It added, "I hope this doesn't turn into a scene from Goodfellas," they said.

"Goodfellas," a 1990 Martin Scorsese movie starring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci, chronicles a mobster-turned-informant.

The complaint said agents searching the apartment also found a yellow backpack, which contained a purple index card with handwriting that said "under the full moon the small ones will know terror."

John Miller, the NYPD's deputy commissioner for counterterrorism and intelligence, said the pair's motive still wasn't clear. He said they were not sure if the brothers were inspired by any terror groups.

The complaint said Christian Toro was arrested Jan. 31 on a charge of raping someone under age 17; it's a felony rape in New York for someone over age 20 to have sex with someone under age 17. No details of that case could be found Thursday night in online court records.

New York - February 15, 2018

1. Officials enter

2. SOUNDBITE (English) James O'Neill, New York City Police Commissioner

"As you will hear, this incident began with a December 4th, 2017 threat to a high school in Harlem. A 15-year-old student was arrested by the NYPD intelligence division on that bomb threat. In in January, A teacher at that school abruptly resigned and school authorities are reviewing his laptop noted some material that was questionable and they contacted our detectives. Based on a follow up investigation by the Joint Terrorist Task Force, that's what led to those arrests today."

3. John Miller enters

4. SOUNDBITE (English) John Miller, Deputy Commissioner, NYPD

"As part of that investigation, a development on January 10th was the resignation of Christian Toro, a schoolteacher from that school which caused investigators to follow up. Two days after that Christian Tauros brother, as outlined in the complaint, Turned in a Department of Education laptop that had been assigned to Christian Torah while he was a teacher to the Board of Education. A review of that laptop by Board of Education officials uncovered what appeared to be a document included, including bomb making instructions."

5. Wide of Miller

6. SOUNDBITE (English) John Miller, Deputy Commissioner, NYPD

"In the course of that search, which was conducted beginning this morning, and went on through much of the day, over 30 pounds of chemicals, which, taken together in certain combinations, constitute an explosive precursor materials, were recovered. Christian and Tyler Toro were taken to the 49 precinct where they were taken into custody by the FBI and charged, as you see in the complaint, with possession of explosive precursors and giving explosives to a minor."

7. Wide of Miller

8 . SOUNDBITE (English) John Miller, Deputy Commissioner, NYPD

"There was a diary appearing to belong to the Toro's brother that had notations in it about something called 'Operation Flash.' Statements contained in the diary about discarding and doing away with physical evidence and other documents that had statements such as 'the small ones.' Let me start with the quote: 'under the full moon, the small ones will know terror.' We don't know at this point in the investigation other than the criminal charges related to the explosives the full breadth of what these materials mean. So, as Assistant Director Sweeney said, we're going to continue that investigation. I would like to underscore and underline again with these two individuals in custody, with the people we've interviewed, with the evidence we've seen so far, there is no reason to believe at this point that there is any remaining threat to New York City or any school."

9. De Blasio enters

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mayor Bill de Blasio, (D) New York

"This is a moment to remind all New Yorkers, to remind everyone that the idea that if you see something you say something is more pertinent than ever. We get daily reminders of the threats arrayed against us. But what we're seeing here in this case already is some good people stepped forward with information and that information was crucial to law enforcement."

11. Officials exit

SHOTLIST

1. Exterior of courthouse; tilt up

2. Close-up on courthouse street number

3. Lawyer for Aafia Siddiqui, Elizabeth Fink walking out of the courthouse

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Elizabeth Fink, Lawyer for Aafia Siddiqui:

"Clearly she was in custody but she wasn't arrested. Just like rendition isn't confinement and water-boarding isn't torture."

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Elaine Whitefield-Sharp, Family Lawyer for Aafia Siddiqui:

"Picture this woman who is very tiny and ask yourself how she engaged in armed conflict with five ... six military men, you know. How did that happen? And how did she get shot? I think you can answer that, can't you?"

6. Wide of Fink and Whitefield-Sharp before microphones

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Elaine Whitefield-Sharp, Family Lawyer for Aafia Siddiqui:

"Why was an alleged terrorist put behind a curtain and not behind bars? She was taken to the counter-terrorism questioning room, why wasn't she secure? Why would these officers just walk in there? There are too many questions here for anyone to assume guilt, you must presume innocence."

++CLIENTS PLEASE NOTE++

++MANDATORY ON SCREEN COURTESY: Andrea Shepard++

8. Courtroom sketch showing Siddiqui, her lawyers, and Judge Ronald Ellis

9. Close-up of Siddiqui's face

10. Close-up of Siddiqui's eyes

11. Sketch of courtroom, no name given for prosecutor

STORYLINE

A Pakistani woman once identified as a possible al-Qaida associate has been arraigned in New York on charges that she tried to kill US agents and military officers.

Aafia Siddiqui didn't enter a plea at her Tuesday arraignment in Manhattan federal court.

Prosecutors say she was stopped last month for questioning by Afghan police who found in her handbag documents including recipes for explosives and chemical weapons and descriptions of New York landmarks.

Prosecutors say she pointed a rifle at an Army captain and fired two shots, which missed.

Siddiqui's lawyer Elizabeth Fink argued that alleging a "90-pound woman" could incite the violence claimed in the complaint was "patently absurd."

"Clearly she was in custody but she wasn't arrested. Just like rendition isn't confinement and water-boarding isn't torture," Fink said.

Outside the court, Elaine Whitefield-Sharp, the family lawyer for Aafia Siddiqui was asking how it all happened.

"Picture this woman who is very tiny and ask yourself how she engaged in armed conflict with 6 military men, you know. How did that happen? And how did she get shot?" she said.

"There are too many questions here for anyone to assume guilt, you must presume innocence," she added.

At a 2004 news conference, then-Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller III identified Siddiqui as one of seven people the FBI wanted to question about their suspected ties to al-Qaida - an allegation her family has vehemently denied.

US authorities said at the time that Siddiqui had received a biology degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and had written a doctoral thesis on neurological sciences at Brandeis University, outside Boston.

They said they believed she returned to Pakistan shortly after the September 11 attacks and later vanished for several years.

Though they never alleged Siddiqui was a full-fledged member of al-Qaida, they said they believed she could be a "fixer," someone with knowledge of the United States who supported other operatives trying to slip into the country and plot attacks.

If convicted, Siddiqui faces up to 20 years in prison on each charge.

A bail hearing is set for Monday.

SHOTLIST:

1. Medium shot group of customers push through police barricades and rush forward to get ahead in line at Abacus Federal Savings Bank in Manhattan's Chinatown

2. Medium shot official from New York State Banking Department hands out leaflets saying that bank deposits are insured by the government

5. Medium shot police official speaking to crowd in Chinese, pan over to crowd, many of whom hide their faces from the camera

6. Medium shot people waiting in line

7. Tilt down from building with Chinese-style tiled roof to show crowd in line outside bank

8. SOUNDBITE: (English): Vera Sung, Abacus Federal Savings Bank:

"I tell them there is definitely nothing to worry about. And if they choose to do whatever they want to do, I of course want to help them out and do that."

9. Medium shot People waiting in line at entrance to the bank

10. Medium shot people inside bank at teller window

11. Medium shot woman inside bank

12. Medium shot people at teller windows inside bank

13. Wide shot pan across crowd outside bank

14. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) Catherine Chen, immigrant to US from Fujian Province:

"I believe they have some money, but about this situation, there are so many people in line that I think they will not have enough money to give to these people, I don't believe they have enough money. I know federal insurance should pay, but we don't know when. So I think it's just better to take my money out."

15. Medium shot police officer moves people along the line

16. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin): Eddie Chiu, immigrant to US from Hong Kong, (speaking after he checked his account balance but did not withdraw any money):

"I know that about fifty percent of the depositors of this bank are immigrants from Fujian province (in China). Some of them have visa problems, and they also don't know that banks here have government insurance up to 100-thousand dollars, so they are worried. Many are new immigrants, they work very hard for their money, so we can understand why they act this way."

17. Medium shot people at teller windows inside bank

18. Close up old Chinese man holding handkerchief over his mouth as he stands in line, zoom out to medium shot

STORYLINE:

Hundreds of nervous customers lined up outside branches of a Chinatown bank in New York on Thursday to withdraw their money or to make sure their assets were safe.

For the third successive day customers lined up outside a branch of Abacus Federal Savings Bank, which caters mainly for the Chinese community, after it tried to quell rumours that its former manager was being investigated for involvement in "account irregularity."

The employee in question was fired, but has not been arrested.

Vera Sung, the head of the bank's legal department, said the case had been turned over to the FBI.

The FBI has not commented on the case.

Sung said her main task now was to reassure customers - who have withdrawn more than 2 (m) million dollars (US) - that their holdings were secure and to make sure that people could withdraw their money safely.

Some customers said on Thursday that they were not concerned initially, but added that long delays at the bank were making them nervous.

Catherine Chen, an immigrant from the Fujian province, said she had been coming to the bank since on Tuesday because she needed to get her passport from a safety deposit box.

The institution is federally insured, meaning that every depositor would be insured up to 100,000 dollars (US) if the bank failed.

The panic started on Tuesday after a Chinese-language newspaper and radio station reported that the former manager of the Canal Street branch allegedly embezzled as much as 1 (m) million dollars (US).

The U.S. attorney for eastern New York says an exhaustive investigation has found there is "insufficient evidence" to prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" that the officer who arrested Eric Garner violated his civil rights.

U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue announced Tuesday that the government's investigation into Garner's 2014 death "has been closed."

The announcement of the decision not to bring charges against Officer Daniel Pantaleo comes a day before the statute of limitations was set to expire in the case that produced the words "I can't breathe" — among Garner's final words — as a rallying cry among protesters of the police treatment of black suspects.

Officers were attempting to arrest Garner in 2014 on charges he sold loose, untaxed cigarettes outside a convenience store. Garner refused to be handcuffed, and officers took him down.

Chokeholds are banned under police policy. Pantaleo maintained he used a legal takedown maneuver called the "seatbelt." But the medical examiner's office said a chokehold contributed to Garner's death.

New York - 16 July 2019

1. US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Richard Donoghue and FBI special agent in charge of the New York criminal division Michael Driscoll walking up to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Donoghue, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York:

"We are here to announce that after an exhaustive investigation, the Department of Justice has reached the conclusion that insufficient evidence exists to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the police officers who arrested Eric Garner in Staten Island on July 17th of 2014, acted in violation of the federal criminal civil rights act. Consequently, the investigation into this incident has been closed."

3. Mid of Donoghue at podium

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Donoghue, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York:

"When we evaluate Officer Pantaleo's actions in light of his training and experience, Mr. Gardner's size, weight and actions to resist arrest, and the duration and escalating nature of the interaction, we determined there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Pantaleo acted in willful violation of federal law. As a result, we conclude that there is insufficient evidence to bring a federal criminal charge against officer Pantaleo for his role in the untimely death of Mr. Garner."

5. Mid of Donoghue

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Donoghue, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York:

"Officer Pantaleo was not engaged in a chokehold on Mr. Garner when he said he could not breathe. And neither Officer Pantaleo nor any other officer applied a chokehold to Mr. Garner after he first said he could not breathe. It's also important understand that there is a disagreement among medical experts regarding the cause of Mr. Garner's death."

7. Zoom in of Donoghue and Driscoll

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Donoghue, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York:

"We met with Mr. Garner's family earlier this morning and shared our findings and decision with them. I offered my sincere condolences, as well as the condolences of Attorney General Barr and the entire department to the family for this tragic loss."

9. Zoom in of Donoghue and Driscoll

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Donoghue, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York:

"That Mr. Garner's death was a tragedy. For anyone to die under circumstances like these is a tremendous loss. For the family to suffer as this family has for too long has only compounded the loss."

11. Wide of Donoghue and Driscoll

The U.S. attorney for eastern New York says an exhaustive investigation has found there is "insufficient evidence" to prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" that the officer who arrested Eric Garner violated his civil rights.

U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue announced Tuesday that the government's investigation into Garner's 2014 death "has been closed."

The announcement of the decision not to bring charges against Officer Daniel Pantaleo comes a day before the statute of limitations was set to expire in the case that produced the words "I can't breathe" — among Garner's final words — as a rallying cry among protesters of the police treatment of black suspects.

Officers were attempting to arrest Garner in 2014 on charges he sold loose, untaxed cigarettes outside a convenience store. Garner refused to be handcuffed, and officers took him down.

Chokeholds are banned under police policy. Pantaleo maintained he used a legal takedown maneuver called the "seatbelt." But the medical examiner's office said a chokehold contributed to Garner's death.

New York - 16 July 2019

1. US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Richard Donoghue and FBI special agent in charge of the New York criminal division Michael Driscoll walking up to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Donoghue, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York:

"We are here to announce that after an exhaustive investigation, the Department of Justice has reached the conclusion that insufficient evidence exists to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the police officers who arrested Eric Garner in Staten Island on July 17th of 2014, acted in violation of the federal criminal civil rights act. Consequently, the investigation into this incident has been closed."

3. Mid of Donoghue at podium

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Donoghue, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York:

"When we evaluate Officer Pantaleo's actions in light of his training and experience, Mr. Gardner's size, weight and actions to resist arrest, and the duration and escalating nature of the interaction, we determined there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Pantaleo acted in willful violation of federal law. As a result, we conclude that there is insufficient evidence to bring a federal criminal charge against officer Pantaleo for his role in the untimely death of Mr. Garner."

5. Mid of Donoghue

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Donoghue, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York:

"Officer Pantaleo was not engaged in a chokehold on Mr. Garner when he said he could not breathe. And neither Officer Pantaleo nor any other officer applied a chokehold to Mr. Garner after he first said he could not breathe. It's also important understand that there is a disagreement among medical experts regarding the cause of Mr. Garner's death."

7. Zoom in of Donoghue and Driscoll

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Donoghue, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York:

"We met with Mr. Garner's family earlier this morning and shared our findings and decision with them. I offered my sincere condolences, as well as the condolences of Attorney General Barr and the entire department to the family for this tragic loss."

9. Zoom in of Donoghue and Driscoll

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Donoghue, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York:

"That Mr. Garner's death was a tragedy. For anyone to die under circumstances like these is a tremendous loss. For the family to suffer as this family has for too long has only compounded the loss."

11. Wide of Donoghue and Driscoll