MIAMI -- Seven people were arrested in Miami's Liberty City Thursday night as part of an alleged terror plot to attack Chicago's Sears Tower and the FBI office and several other buildings in Miami, according to federal law enforcement officials.

Narseal Batiste, Patrick Abraham, Stanley Grant Phanor, Naudimar Herrera, Burson Augustin and Lyglenson Lemorin were named in the indictment. Lemorin was arrested in Atlanta, the others were all arrested in Miami.

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Friday at a news conference in Washingtont hat the men accused of conspiring with al-Qaida to commit acts of violence in the U.S.

Officials said the terrorism suspects had promised a "ground war" against the United States and were quoted as saying that they wanted to "kill as many devils as possible."

Gonzales said, "We have a situation where we have individuals here in America who made plans to hurt Americans. They did (commit) overt acts. They did request materials. They did request equipment. They did request funding. They swore an allegiance to al-Qaida. We clearly believe there is sufficient information and there are sufficient facts to support this prosecution. That's why we took action when we did. We believe that we have an obligation to prevent America from another attack here."

Federal and local officials have stressed that there is no immediate threat posed to Miami -- and nothing that would in any way effect Friday's downtown festivities.

FBI agents swarmed over a warehouse in the Liberty City area, using a blowtorch to take off the metal door. Neighbors said the suspects said they were Muslim and had tried to recruit young people to join their group, which seemed militaristic.

A source told Local 10's Rad Berky that the Miami-Dade police initiated the investigation, but it was federal agents who infiltrated the group.

Gonzales said the seven were part of a group of "homegrown terrorists" who sought to work with al-Qaida. Instead, they ended up consorting with a law enforcement informant.

Gonzales said the men viewed "their home country as the enemy."

U.S. Attorney for South Florida Alex Acosta said that the terrorist planned to commit acts "as good or greater than the acts of 9/11."

"There is no imminent threat to Miami or any other area because of these operations," said Richard Kolko, spokesman for FBI headquarters in Washington. He declined further comment.

No explosives were found in the raided building, according to sources. Federal investigators sealed documents taken in the raid, but sources say they include evidence of surveillance of the targeted buildings.

According to sources, the investigation has gone on for at least four months.

Pierre Thomas, ABC Washington correspondent, said that, according to his sources, the arrests were made at this point in time because the suspects were "discussing purchasing materials" and officials said in the post-9/11 world, they want to be proactive.

Liberty City Residents Share Suspicions About Suspects

Residents near the warehouse said FBI agents spent several hours in the neighborhood showing photos of the suspects and seeking information. They said the men, who appeared to be in their teens or 20s, had lived in the area about a year.

Tashawn Rose, 29, said they slept in the warehouse. "They would come out late at night and exercise. It seemed like a military boot camp that they were working on there. They would come out and stand guard."

She talked to one of them about a month ago.

"They seemed brainwashed. They said they had given their lives to Allah," Rose said.

She said they tried to recruit her younger brother and nephew for a karate class but it never happened.

"It was weird," Rose said.

Benjamin Williams, 17, said the group had young children with them sometimes.

"We were under the assumption that they were opening up a garage business," he said.

He said they wore everyday-style clothing "but sometimes they would cover their faces. Sometimes they would wear things on their heads, like turbans."

Xavier Smith, who attends the nearby United Christian Outreach, said the men would often come by the church and ask for water.

"They were very private," said Smith, 33. "They spoke with like an accent, sort of a Jamaican accent."

Gov. Jeb Bush was briefed on the situation Thursday, according to his spokeswoman, Alia Faraj.

"We have great confidence in the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies who are committed to keeping our country safe," Faraj said.

She added that there has been greater communication between state and federal agencies since the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The 110-floor Sears Tower is the nation's tallest building. Its sky deck was closed for about a month and a half after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Miami's FBI office is in its own building bordering a residential neighborhood just east of Interstate 95 in Miami Beach, several miles north of downtown.

The raids will have no effect on Friday's parade honoring the Miami Heat, city officials said. At least 250,000 people are expected downtown. Security measures consistent with such a huge event are already in place, officials said.

Miami Mayor Carlos Alvarez encouraged everyone to get out and attend the parade saying, "Arrests have been made and it will be safe."