Senior U.S. Official: Intercepted Al Qaeda Communications Indicate Planned Attack ‘Big,’ ‘Strategically Significant’ I am still conflicted about whether or not officials should be talking this much or this candidly about an attack plan against the United States. Via ABC News: On the day that almost two dozen U.S. embassies and consulates across North Africa and the Middle East are closed following the identification of a significant threat from an al-Qaeda affiliate, a senior U.S. official is providing new details about the communications intercepted from the terrorists, telling ABC News that al-Qaeda operatives could be heard talking about an upcoming attack. The official described the terrorists as saying the planned attack is “going to be big” and “strategically significant.” “The part that is alarming is the confidence they showed while communicating and the air of certainty,” the official said, adding that the group — Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula — appeared to have a media plan for after the attack. Authorities do not know the exact target of the planned attack, according to the official. “We do not know whether they mean an embassy, an airbase, an aircraft, trains,” the official said. Today on “This Week,” Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-MD — the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee — said the intercepted communications called for a “major attack.” “We received information that high level people from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula are talking about a major attack,” Ruppersberger said. “And these are people at a high level.” “It’s a very credible threat and it’s based on intelligence,” Ruppersberger continued. “What we have to do now is the most important issue, is protect Americans throughout the world.” Ruppersberger also commented on the threat’s al-Qaeda connection, saying “We know that al-Qaeda and other people out there want to attack us and kill us and our allies.” http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/08/senior-u-s-official-intercepted-al-qaeda-communications-indicate-planned-attack-big-strategically-significant/
Breaking: San Francisco On High-Alert After Terrorist Threat Via ABCNews: SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) – The Department of Homeland Security is beefing up its presence at airports, train stations and other travel hubs in the United States in the wake of global travel warning imposed on all U.S. citizens. Local authorities are not going into specifics but the San Francisco Police Department does acknowledge receiving a bulletin by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and DHS. The SFPD says their officers are monitoring various areas of the city and will determine if additional resources are necessary. They say they have the ability to rapidly deploy and redeploy resources as the department deems necessary. No specific location has been mentioned, but authorities are keeping a close eye on airports, train stations and other transportation hubs. There is also increased scrutiny of visitors coming into the United States. These latest measures have been implemented out of an abundance of caution. “al Qaida and the Arabian Peninsula is probably the biggest threat to the homeland. They’re the al Qaida faction that still talks about hitting the west and hitting the homeland. And their expertise is chemical explosives. Hitting the aviation sector as we saw with the underwear bomber, so we are on a high state of alert,” said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas. The bulletin sent by the FBI and DHS urging local law enforcement to be vigilant was classified, which reflects the sensitivity and seriousness of the situation.
U.S. Officials: Ayman Al-Zawahiri Ordered Al-Qaeda In The Arabian Peninsula To Attack American Targets… This would be one of those leaks the Obama administration will not prosecute. Via Daily Mail: The global terror alert that brought the closure of 19 U.S. embassies across the Muslim world was the result of a secret message the head of al Qaeda in Pakistan sent to his counterpart in Yemen ordering him to launch a strike, two security officials revealed today. A U.S. intelligence official and a Mideast diplomat said electronic communications were picked up several weeks ago between Ayman al-Zawahri – the head of the global terror network who succeeded Osama bin Laden – and Nasser al-Wuhayshi, head of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Officials had previously called the communication ‘strategically significant’ and likened the intelligence ‘chatter’ to that intercepted in the days leading up to 9/11. ‘This was significant because it was the big guys talking, and talking about very specific timing for an attack or attacks,’ one American official briefed on the intelligence reports told the New York Times. The news comes as the State Department extended the closure of 19 embassies and consulates across North Africa and the Middle East for the rest of the week amid fears of a ‘big’ and ‘strategically significant’ terrorist attack. The two officials said the target has not been revealed but was significant in that it is extremely rare for senior al Qaeda leaders in Pakistan to discuss operational matters with the group’s affiliates. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive issue publicly. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2384436/Osama-Bin-Ladens-successor-ordered-al-Qaeda-leader-Yemen-launch-strike-closed-19-US-embassies.html