LACKAWANNA, New York, September 21 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Some Muslims in this faded steel mill town feel the eye of the storm is upon them following the arrest of six Yemeni men from their community, just as many Arab-Americans felt after last year's September 11 terrorist attacks.

“I think now with all this publicity we have to fear more. ... We have to now watch our backs more," said Sherry, a woman of Yemeni descent standing in her driveway across the street from the Lackawanna Islamic Mosque where the men had prayed.

"I'm still trying to take it all in," said the mother of seven, who like many in this Buffalo, New York suburb of 19,000, refused to give her last name.

The six men - all U.S. citizens of Yemeni descent and from this community - were arrested last weekend and stand accused of providing support or resources to foreign terrorist groups and could face jail terms of up to 15 years if convicted.

Sherry, who wears a hijab (Islamic modest covering for the hair), said she fears "ignorant people" blaming her Muslim community just like Arab-Americans were targeted after the September 11 attacks on the United States, whose solemn one-year anniversary was remembered last week.

"Everybody [in our community] is a suspect now," she said as her two-year-old daughter played on the driveway, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

Except for a small school incident in which one of her children was labeled a terrorist, she said she was not aware of any violence or hateful incident against her community.

But she's thankful that police have promised to beef up patrolling around the mosque and the Yemeni neighborhoods.

"We're just as American as anyone else, even though we cover ourselves. If you don't know Islam, don't knock it," said Sherry, whose hijab barely covers her patriotic yellow T-shirt reading "Let freedom ring."

"We believe as a community that life does go on even if we are looked upon," she said, adding their community is cooperating with authorities.

She like others approached on Wilkesbarre Avenue where the Islamic center is located and two of the accused had lived knew some of the six men and believe they are innocent despite seeking Islamic studies abroad.

Three of the men were said to have visited an al-Qae’da training camp in Afghanistan in the spring or summer of 2001, ahead of the September 11 attacks on the United States.

"Right now, it's a waiting game," said Jasmine, another woman of Yemeni descent wearing a hijab while picking up her daughter from the school bus stop on the tree-lined street.

"I believe in the judicial system," she said. "If they did commit any crime, they should be punished." But, she stressed: "I don't believe none [eds: sic)] of this at all," referring to the U.S. government's accusations.

Among others, Ahmed stressed that he's been in the community for 35 years and like many of the people around him is peaceful and law-abiding.

"We work for our kids to give them education," he said, before heading into the white brick mosque for afternoon prayer.

Outside of the Yemeni community, views were mixed about the arrest of the Yemeni men: Mukhtar Al-Bakri, Sahim Alwan, Faysal Galab, Yahya Goba, Shafal Mosed, yasein Taher.

Holding an American flag steps away from the courthouse where the six were seeking bail, Tony, 31, said he wanted to show his support for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"I'm siding with the FBI in this case. I believe the evidence will show they were up to no good," he said, saying he was countering a "ridiculous" protest Wednesday in which the FBI was labeled as being the "true terrorist."

Kathleen Pantano, 46, on the other hand, believes in the U.S. legal system's presumption of innocence.

"They should get a fair chance to be proved innocent," she said, hoping things would quickly return to normal in Buffalo, where media satellites crowd a downtown square.

"I feel sorry for some of these people of foreign descent and them being accused of doing something with terrorism" just for their religion or the way they look, she added.

Meanwhile, the six men accused of attending an al-Qae’da training camp in Afghanistan were back behind bars in New York State Saturday, as a judge deliberated bail on charges of lending material support to terrorist groups.

After three days of argument, Judge Kenneth Schroeder asked the defense and prosecution lawyers on Friday to submit final written briefs, with a decision expected on October 3.

Schroeder acknowledged to the court in Buffalo the sensitivities involved in deciding whether to grant bail to defendants accused of belonging to a sleeper al-Qae’da cell.

"To be perfectly blunt, I know there are people who will say if the judge lets these people out and we have another September 11, God forbid," Schroeder said.

"But I'm not concerned with what other people think. I have to balance rights."

The six defendants - all U.S. citizens of Yemeni descent - are accused of providing support or resources to foreign terrorist groups and could face jail terms of up to 15 years if convicted.

Five were picked up a week ago from their homes in Lackawanna, a gritty industrial town just south of here, while a sixth was arrested in Bahrain and flown back to Buffalo.

Defense lawyers argued during the bail hearing that state prosecutors had failed to offer any evidence of actual criminal activity or plotting to commit a terrorist act.

"The strongest argument [for bail] is the total absence of any proof on the part of the government that there was any danger," said defense attorney William Clauss.

According to court papers filed by prosecutors, the defendants took part in a training program at an al-Qae’da camp outside Kandahar, Afghanistan, in the spring and summer of 2001.

They were allegedly trained in the use of Russian AK-47 rifles, handguns, heavy artillery, anti-aircraft guns and mountaineering by the group.