By Associated Press
Collinsville, AL – Federal and state agents arrested five men and seized firearms and explosives during a series of raids in northeast Alabama Thursday morning, including one at a camper strewn with military gear where authorities said the owner was recruiting for a militia.
Eric Kehn, a spokesman with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive, said both firearms and explosives were seized in the raids, but he declined further comment.
The five arrested will appear before a federal magistrate in Birmingham today.
The five were arrested on federal warrants and the sweep included a site near Collinsville School in DeKalb County. The school was closed ahead of the raid.
At Collinsville, neighbors and friends identified one of the men arrested as Jeff Osborne, described as a former Marine in his 40s. He lives in a camper painted with green camouflage design that is full of military items, including canteens, first aid kits, canvas or nylon sacks and military garb.
Another raid was at a house off U-S 11 about a quarter-mile from Collinsville School. Officials at the school said they decided to cancel classes for about 650 students from grades kindergarten through 12 because of the swarm of police vehicles.
DeKalb Sheriff Jimmy Harris said the A-T-F recommended dismissing classes for safety reasons.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)