BOSTON -- Local officials are again reacting to news Thursday that stowaways on LNG tankers that docked in Boston several years ago may have had terrorist connections.

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NewsCenter 5's Lynn Jolicouer reported that federal documents recently released by the Department of Homeland Security show the illegal Algerian immigrants, who were involved with drug smuggling, may have had ties to terrorists indicted in a 1999 plot to blow up Los Angeles International Airport.

Wednesday Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey publicized the memo, which said, "In early 2001 there was some suspicion of possible associations between stowaways on Algerian flagged LNG tankers arriving in Boston and persons connected with the so-called 'Millennium Plot.'

The government still isn't sure, however, what the connections may have been, according to the memo.

"This information is largely derived from what these individuals told law enforcement," the DHS memo said. "The Department has not been able to verify what the associations, intentions, or operational activities of these individuals were when they entered the United States."

Boston officials want more details.

"I was a little angry because we've been saying that for nine years and when a congressman has to ask for the information, and the information comes back exactly what we said eight years ago, there's a problem there," said Boston Mayor Tom Menino.

News of the possible connections was first revealed by former government terrorism czar Richard Clarke while publicizing his new book. Clarke suggested that the government did not take terrorist threats seriously enough at the time -- a claim that White House National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice dismissed.

Menino wants more information on what federal agencies knew about a possible terrorist threat in Boston related to the LNG tankers.

"Why do we have mixed messages? Who's hiding what? That's a question that has to be answered and it must be answered soon," said Menino.

Last month the FBI said their investigation concluded that the Algerian stowaways did not have any terrorist connections when they first arrived here. Sen. Edward Kennedy said the confusion shows an "appalling lack of communication between federal agencies and Boston officials."

Boston FBI spokeswoman Gail Marcinkiewicz said the agency knew stowaways were coming in on tankers and that's why they initiated an investigation.

Algerian tankers have not been allowed to dock in Boston since May of 2001.