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   Feds Unveil Suspects Tied To Terrorism Threat

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Topic: Feds Unveil Suspects Tied To Terrorism Threat (Read 156 times)

lakelady
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Feds Unveil Suspects Tied To Terrorism Threat
« on: May 26^th, 2004, 5:19pm »

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Feds Unveil Suspects Tied To Terrorism Threat
Major Attack Planned On U.S. Soil This Summer, Officials Say

UPDATED: 5:53 p.m. EDT May 26, 2004

Here's the link if you want to view the slide show. lake

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/3346122/detail.html?treets=det&tm l=det_natlbreak&ts=T&tmi=det_natlbreak_11434_01520105262004

Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller on Wednesday reissued images of seven al-Qaida suspects, saying they are connected to a new, "disturbing" terrorist threat to U.S. soil this summer.

At a news conference, Ashcroft said the warning to the American public is based on "credible intelligence from multiple sources that indicates al-Qaida intends to attack the United States in the next few months." He said the intelligence does not include a time, place or method of attack.

"This disturbing intelligence indicates al-Qaida's specific intention to hit the United States hard," Ashcroft said.

Ashcroft and Mueller are drawing new attention to photos of seven suspected al-Qaida operatives the FBI has been pursuing for months.

They are: Amer al-Mati, Aafia Siddiqui, Adnan G. El Shukrijumah, Fazul Abdul Mohammed, Adam Gadahn, Abderraouf Jdey and Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani. Shukrijumah is a Saudi native who once lived in Florida, and Siddiqui is Pakistani woman who studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Slideshow: Images Of Suspects

"They all pose a clear and present danger to the United States and should be considered armed and dangerous," Ashcroft said, adding that if Americans recognize any of them they should contact local authorities.

Mueller said two Canadian citizens and an American citizen are among the seven sought by the FBI.

Ashcroft said the intelligence -- along with recent public statements attributed to al-Qaida -- "suggest that it is almost ready to attack the United States." He said that after the March 11 train bombings in Madrid, Spain, an al-Qaida spokesman said the network had completed "90 percent of preparations" to attack the United States.

Ashcroft said al-Qaida may again be trying to put young extremists into the United States to carry out attacks. He said they may try to lower their profiles by traveling with families, or portraying themselves as Europeans.

Sources cited by The Associated Press say there's no new information to indicate Shukrijumah and Siddiqui are still in the United States. But they say keeping up publicity about them could lead investigators to some of their associates who may be in the country.

Mueller said intelligence suggests a threat to high-profile upcoming events such as the dedication of a new World War II monument, the G8 economic summit and both the Republican convention in New York and the Democratic convention in Boston.

Earlier, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said that as of now, the terrorism advisory scale will remain at its current level, yellow.

Ridge said the new information "talks about an attack" but added there's no consensus within the Bush administration that the terrorism advisory level should be increased.

The federal government is "ramping up" the country's terrorism defenses ahead of some upcoming events that could be al-Qaida targets but has seen no spike in terrorist "chatter," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

A senior level official who asked to remain anonymous told The Associated Press that "a steady drumbeat of information" indicates terrorist groups in the United States have plans to "hit us hard."

The official said al-Qaida or some other terrorists may possess and use a chemical, biological or radiological weapon that could cause much more damage and casualties than a conventional bomb.

Boston At 'High Awareness' Before Convention
In Boston, the new intelligence will not change any of the preparations for the Democratic National Convention in July. The FBI is dispatching a bulletin to some 18,000 state and local law enforcement agencies warning of a threat. There is nothing specific about a time, place or method of attack.

"All of us in law enforcement are at a very high awareness, if you will, of the possibility," Boston police Lt. Kevin Foley said.

Potential high-profile targets mentioned by federal officials include the national nominating conventions of both parties.

"Something will happen again," Massachusetts Rep. Michael Capuano said. "There is no question of where or how, and I hope that they are alert to it. These generic threat increases, I am afraid that at some point, it is going to be like Chicken Little and the average American is going to shut it down."

Intelligence suggests biological or chemical weapons could be used. Boston law enforcement officials are preparing the necessary technology.

"We are purchasing the equipment necessary, and we'll have it here very shortly, to deal with any of those scenarios," Foley said.

NYC, L.A. Authorities Weigh In
New York police Commissioner Ray Kelly said city officials have not been advised that terrorists are planning an attack.

New York has remained on a heightened state of alert since the beginning of the war in Iraq and will host the Republican National Convention this summer at Madison Square Garden.

Kelly said they're receiving highly sensitive intelligence information on a regular basis, and there is nothing in that reporting to indicate a specific threat or looming attack against New York City.

And the head of the counterterrorism unit in Los Angeles said it would be "foolhardy" to ignore the latest intelligence but "irresponsible to panic."

Report: Al-Qaida 18,000 Strong, Growing
A leading think-tank in Britain is warning that despite losses around the world, al-Qaida's ranks are growing.

The International Institute of Strategic Studies puts at 18,000 the number of potential terrorists in al-Qaida's network. The private study group says in a report the group is a mounting threat to the West, and terrorist attacks are likely to increase.

The institute's director said al-Qaida's plans for North America and Europe could involve weapons of mass destruction.

The think-tank said the terrorist network appears to have reconstituted itself in dispersed groups since being driven out of Afghanistan. It says the March train bombings in Madrid, Spain, could be proof of that.

The report also said Iraq has become the new magnet of al-Qaida's war against the United States.

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Acalithos
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Re: Feds Unveil Suspects Tied To Terrorism Threat
« Reply #1 on: May 26^th, 2004, 11:22pm »

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Terroism will never be wiped out will it? Cry

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kabi958
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Re: Feds Unveil Suspects Tied To Terrorism Threat
« Reply #2 on: May 27^th, 2004, 7:28am »

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This is very scary. I think they must have some good word on this to announce it. they said that in January they heard chatter saying they (the terrorists) were 90% ready for an attack and I guess now they are all set to murder as many of us as they can. I hope 50 miles away from Boston is enough distance for me. kabi

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MsWings
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Re: Feds Unveil Suspects Tied To Terrorism Threat
« Reply #3 on: May 27^th, 2004, 11:14am »

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Just a couple of thoughts.........

Remember the morning of 09/11? Of course we do - we'll never forget that kear.

Just a few minutes ago, I heard a hellacopter (sp....sorry) and felt a "flasback" accompanied by a racing heard as I dashed outside. The copter locked innocent enough, but I couldn't take my eyes off it.

Now....sitting here pecking away at my keycord, I feel a little silly. If that coper HAD been a terrorist, more than likely I might have never made it to the door.

Maybe I should go to daughter's and do laundry and babysit.............

MsWings

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seaglass
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Re: Feds Unveil Suspects Tied To Terrorism Threat
« Reply #4 on: May 27^th, 2004, 5:40pm »

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everytime I hear of new possible terror threats I get worried as my son lives in Washington DC right near the capitol building and walks past the White House each day plus rides the subway every day. He claims it is the safest city in the world but I still worry a lot. I had planned to attend MacWorld in Boston this summer but now I'm not sure I'll go. I feel pretty safe in the woods of Maine and then I remember two of the hijackers passed right through Maine on the way to Boston. They flew out of MY airport....stayed in a hotel 20 min from me, ate at the pizza place I visit, shoped at WalMart where I sometimes shop. Is anyplace not a potential terrorist location?

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