‘Klan plotted coup’

Press, 1 May 1981, Page 6

‘Klan plotted coup’

IVZPA New Orleans Ten well-armed adventurirs — including several aleged members of the Ku ilux Klan — planned a sea issault to take over the tiny Caribbean nation of Dominca, Federal authorities alege. Bail bonds totalling $5.1 niilion were set yesterday or the men, who were arested as they headed to port o launch a boat they alegedly planned to use for :he attack. “Today, we're trying to figure out why these people

are here, who they are and why they decided to do these things,” Edmund Pistey, F 81. agent in charge of the New Orleans office, said. Officials said the plan apparently was to use one boat to invade the .Windward Islands nation of 70,000 people. Several automatic weapons, hand-guns, 20 sticks of dynamite, and plastic explosives were confiscated. Two undercover agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms stayed with the men for three months, authorities said, putting up $17,000 to

buy and equip a vessel for the 3200 km trip from New Orleans. But when the agents drove the men to the spot where they were supposed to launch their voyage, they were met by local, state, and Federal law-enforcement officers. Mr Pistey said that Eugenia Charles, Dominica’s Prime Minister, had been notified of the alleged conspiracy against her island nation;' If convicted, each of the conspirators could face a prison term of 25 years and a $25,000 fine.