Islamist dies in FBI Detroit raid

The area was sealed off after the raid in Dearborn

The leader of an Islamist group has been shot dead in an FBI raid near the US city of Detroit, officials say.

Luqman Ameen Abdullah, 53, died in a firefight with agents in Dearborn after refusing to surrender, the FBI says.

The agency said it was trying to arrest Mr Abdullah and 10 followers on charges including conspiracy to sell stolen goods and illegal arms possession.

The FBI says the group's aim was to set up a Sunni Islamic state in the US.

Mr Abdullah, who was also known as Christopher Thomas, had regularly preached anti-government rhetoric, the agency says.

He had also reportedly urged his followers to engage in jihad, or holy war.

Officials said an FBI dog was also fatally wounded during Wednesday's raid in the US state of Michigan.

16 November, 2009: A reference to Luqman Ameen Abdullah as leader of a "radical Islamic fundamentalist" group was changed to leader of an "Islamist group".