Federal authorities have arrested 94 workers at two Washington-area airports in a continuing post-September 11 crackdown by U.S. law enforcement on airport security lapses. 

Attorney General John Ashcroft said the 94 detainees were picked up Tuesday on charges of fraudulently obtaining airport security badges. He said there will be zero tolerance of security breaches at U.S. airports. 

Mr. Ashcroft said the arrests at Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport are part of an ongoing investigation to ensure that people who have access to secure airport areas are trustworthy. 

The Attorney General said federal prosecutors last year began an investigation of security clearance procedures at Dulles and Reagan National airports following the September 11th attacks. The hijacked plane that crashed into the Pentagon had taken off from Dulles, Washington's main international airport located outside the capital in the state of Virginia. But U.S. officials say there was no evidence that those arrested Tuesday were connected to the September 11th attacks or any other terrorist activity. They said the detainees have immigration violations. 

In a separate sweep, law enforcement officials said arrests also had been made Tuesday at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, a 30-minute drive northeast of Washington. As of last week, Justice Department officials say more than 250 people have been arrested at airports around the United States on charges they fraudulently obtained credentials for access to high-security airport areas. 

Officials say those arrested lied about past arrests, falsely claimed U.S. citizenship or submitted phony Social Security numbers. 

Some information for this report provided by AP.

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