Mfr Nara- T1a- Fbi- Dickson Edward- 1-6-03- 00354

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MEMORANDUM

FOR THE RECORD

Event: Interview of Edward Dickson Date: November 6, 2003 Special Access Issues: none Prepared by: Quinn John Tamm, Jr. Team Number:

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Location: FBI Newark Field Division Participants-Commission:

Dietrich Snell, Raj De, Michael Jacobson, Hyon Kim,

Quinn John Tamm, Jr.

FBI Representative:

Robert Stuart Sinton

OOEdward Dickson, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Newark Field Division, previous assignment with the FBI was as the unit chief of the Gang Unit in the Criminal Investigative Division. Mr. Dickson manages the counter-terrorism and counter-intelligence section of the Newark Field Division. Presently the Newark Division has three counter-terrorism squads. Two of the squads handle international terrorism and one squad handles domestic terrorism. Additionally the Newark Division has a Joint Terrorism Task Force and additional agents assigned to the counter-terrorism program in the resident agencies at Garrett Mountain (passaic County), Trenton, Franklin Township (New Brunswick), Red Bank and Atlantic City. The Newark Division emphasizes criminal investigations against terrorism targets. The Division also focuses on community outreach in the Muslim and Arab communities as a way to develop sources of information. Unfortunately, to date, the Division is not developing the expected sources. (S) Mr. Dickson said that the Newark Division continues to "look back" at the activities of the 9-11 hijackers in Paterson, New Jersey. Immediately after the terrorist .attacks on 09111/2001, the Newark Division investigated between 25,000 to 30,000 leads. By the end of November 2001, Newark had four investigative "specials" in operation; PENTTBOM, the Anthrax investigation, a kidnapping in Spring Lake, New Jersey, and the abduction and murder of Daniel Pearl in Pakistan. Most agent personnel were taken from the organized crime and drug investigations programs and transferred to counterterrorism. Mr. Dickson commented that the 9-11 hijackers kept to themselves while in Paterson, New Jersey and "remained below the radar." ~ Mr. Dickson stated that he has an on-going concern that the FBI in New Jersey may not know what needs to be known about the "right" people. Mr. Dickson has encouraged the use of technical surveillance acquire more information about terrorism

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targets. He continues to be concerned that terrorist mav be evadinz detection. The 9/11 Classified

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__ ~~~ ~ __ ~_~_~J He also encourages the various Supervisory Special Agents overseeing terrorism investigations to be aware of other investigations in the Division, so that patterns may be discerned, and no potential cases not addressed. Mr. Dickson provided no additional information at this time .

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