A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the two guys arrested for carrying explosives in Goose Creek. It's interesting to watch, because as the case progresses it just gets deeper.

The Post And Courier, which like everyone else, had reported the FBI's party line that Youssef Megahed, 21, and 26-year-old Ahmed Mohamed were probably not connected to any terrorist groups, referred to it as the "Lowcountry terror case" in the lead headline Saturday.

Just blame it on the cookies. A laptop found in their car was recovered. Federal Prosecutor Jay Hoffer said the computer had been used to check out websites on "rifles, weaponry, about the conflice in the Middle East, jihadists."

The computer also had video instructions on how to turn a radio-controlled car into a detonator. A remote-controlled detonator could "save one who wants to be a martyr for another battle, the video's narrator said.

Mohamed, held until earlier this week at Berkeley County Jail in Monck's Corner, said he narrated the video.

Both are students at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Megahed lives with his family and is a permanent resident, while Mohamed is in the country on a student visa. Both are natives of Egypt.

The two were stopped for speeding August 4 on Highway 176 near Goose Creek, and when one was seen closing and hiding a laptop police investigated further. Megahed and Mohamed gave deputies consent to search the trunk and said they were carrying fireworks. The bomb squad was then called in and the highway was closed for several hours.

But while prosecutors are sorting out the Internet searches, video, and items found in the trunk of the car (PVC pipe, potassium nitrate, kitty litter, corn syrup, safety fuse, and bullets), the FBI is still playing it close to the vest.

"The FBI would like to remind everyone that this is an ongoing investigation and there is the possibility that the publicly reported allegations involving the students may be proven to be false," a statement from the agency, released Wednesday, read.

While this could be chalked up as boilerplate language warning the media not to "convict" the two without participation from a judge and jury (a real concern, by the way), this disclaimer is kind of unusual. In my years of dealing with police agencies, I've never seen anything like that -- especially from the prosecuting side. "The investigation is continuing" is standard in nearly all police reports; so much so that it's a running joke in many a newsroom, but I've never seen it put that way before. It remains to be seen if the FBI is being overly cautious (not wanting this case to get blown out on appeal) or is underhandedly admitting its case is weak (which I don't see as likely).

Although intial reports suggest this just happens to be two idiots who got caught with explosives, it's looking more and more like a case of two well-connected idiots with an agenda.

This whole thing is going to be interesting. Stay tuned. I will.