News / National
Osama Bin Laden 'Plotted Attacks' to mark 10th anniversary of 911
06 May 2011 at 06:37hrs | Views
According to SkyNews on Friday, Al Qaeda was planning an attack on the US rail network to mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, US officials have said.
The plot was apparently uncovered as US agencies went through information seized from Osama bin Laden's compound after the terrorist leader was killed in a raid by Navy Seals.
"We have no information of any imminent terrorist threat to the US rail sector, but wanted to make our partners aware of the alleged plotting," Department of Homeland Security spokesman Matthew Chandler said.
The idea - outlined in handwritten notes from the compound - was to tamper with a the track so that a train would fall into a valley or from a bridge, according to a joint FBI and Homeland Security bulletin.
However, there was no indication from the intelligence whether further plans were drawn up for the scheme or if steps were taken to carry it out.
Fox News cited a source as saying the plan was more aspirational than concrete and mentioned services in New York, Washington DC and Chicago.
The source said the evidence taken during the raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan on Monday considered the possibility of targeting a train travelling at 500mph, a speed that no locomotive in the US is capable of reaching.
It is thought the details were uncovered by analysts sifting through reams of information held in computers, DVDs and documents that were confiscated during the compound raid.
Details of the alleged plot emerged as US President Barack Obama visited Ground Zero in New York to honour those killed in the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers.
Mr Obama will today travel to the Fort Campbell US army base in Kentucky to meet members of the Navy Seal team that killed bin Laden.
Since the raid, Homeland Security has reviewed security measures at potential terrorist targets, including transportation systems, adding more officers at airports and borders.
"We remain at a heightened state of vigilance," Mr Chandler said.
Officials have previously been concerned that al Qaeda or other groups might target the country's transport systems.
In 2008, US authorities warned of a possible al Qaeda threat to transit systems in and around New York City over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Last year, an Afghan immigrant pleaded guilty in New York to plotting a suicide bombing campaign on Manhattan's subway system in what US authorities described as one of the most serious threats since the 9/11 attacks.
The plot was apparently uncovered as US agencies went through information seized from Osama bin Laden's compound after the terrorist leader was killed in a raid by Navy Seals.
"We have no information of any imminent terrorist threat to the US rail sector, but wanted to make our partners aware of the alleged plotting," Department of Homeland Security spokesman Matthew Chandler said.
The idea - outlined in handwritten notes from the compound - was to tamper with a the track so that a train would fall into a valley or from a bridge, according to a joint FBI and Homeland Security bulletin.
However, there was no indication from the intelligence whether further plans were drawn up for the scheme or if steps were taken to carry it out.
Fox News cited a source as saying the plan was more aspirational than concrete and mentioned services in New York, Washington DC and Chicago.
The source said the evidence taken during the raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan on Monday considered the possibility of targeting a train travelling at 500mph, a speed that no locomotive in the US is capable of reaching.
It is thought the details were uncovered by analysts sifting through reams of information held in computers, DVDs and documents that were confiscated during the compound raid.
Details of the alleged plot emerged as US President Barack Obama visited Ground Zero in New York to honour those killed in the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers.
Mr Obama will today travel to the Fort Campbell US army base in Kentucky to meet members of the Navy Seal team that killed bin Laden.
Since the raid, Homeland Security has reviewed security measures at potential terrorist targets, including transportation systems, adding more officers at airports and borders.
"We remain at a heightened state of vigilance," Mr Chandler said.
Officials have previously been concerned that al Qaeda or other groups might target the country's transport systems.
In 2008, US authorities warned of a possible al Qaeda threat to transit systems in and around New York City over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Last year, an Afghan immigrant pleaded guilty in New York to plotting a suicide bombing campaign on Manhattan's subway system in what US authorities described as one of the most serious threats since the 9/11 attacks.
Source - SkyNews
