Al Qaeda Promises US Death By A 'Thousand Cuts' - ABC News

Printer bombs planted on two cargo flights last month cost only a few thousand dollars and were intended to affect the American economy, according to a newly published Al Qaeda-affiliated magazine.

The attempt was called "Operation Hemorrhage," boasted the magazine, and the entire plot cost al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, only $4,200.

Yesterday, a special edition of Inspire magazine -- an English-language propaganda publication produced by AQAP -- gave a detailed description of how the attempted attack was conceived and produced.

"Two Nokia mobiles, $150 each, two HP printers, $300 each, plus shipping, transportation and other miscellaneous expenses add up to a total bill of $4,200," one article said.  "That is all that Operation Hemorrhage cost us. In terms of time, it took us three months to plan and execute the operation from beginning to end."

The magazine also revealed the attack was not meant to kill more than the plane's pilot and co-pilot, and was meant to force the U.S. government to spend billions of dollars on preventive security screening measures.

The strategy, the magazine said, was  "of attacking the enemy with smaller, but more frequent operations is what some may refer to as the strategy of a thousand cuts. The aim is to bleed the enemy to death."

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AQAP also took credit for the September crash of a UPS cargo flight in Dubai. However, U.S. and U.A.E. officials have concluded that the crash was not an act of terrorism.

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US issues travel alert for Europe amid threat of Al Qaeda attack - Los Angeles Times

Snipers of the German police stand guard on a roof during the celebration for the 20th anniversary of the German reunification in front of the town hall in Bremen. Germany's interior ministry said in a statement that the travel alert for Americans comes in light of recent threats and that Berlin was informed by the U.S. of the decision to issue the alert. (Ingo Wagner, AFP/Getty Images / October 3, 2010)

The State Department issued a travel alert Sunday for American citizens in Europe in light of increased U.S. and European intelligence that a large-scale Al Qaeda attack may be imminent.

Intelligence officials in the U.S. and Europe have said an increase in activity in recent weeks suggests that a small cell of potential terrorists hiding in North Waziristan, a Pakistani tribal region, are preparing an attack that could be as spectacular as the 2008 raids in Mumbai, India, that killed 166 people.

Plotters could be planning to use "a variety of means and target both official and private interests," the State Department said, adding that Americans abroad should be careful riding on railways, subways and other transportation systems, and visiting hotels, restaurants and tourist spots.

"U.S. citizens should take every precaution," the travel alert said.

It is thought that Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is behind the current plot, and if successful, it could become the largest terrorist action since the Sept. 11 attacks nine years ago.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are traveling in Europe at any given time — as tourists, college students and business professionals. But the State Department did not upgrade its alert to a warning, which could lead to widespread cancellations of airline and hotel bookings.

Nevertheless, many now in Europe found themselves quickly aware of the situation. With the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves in London preparing for a preseason game, the National Basketball Assn. promised to take "appropriate" measures to ensure their safety.

"The NBA is staying in contact with the U.S. Embassy, the CIA and Scotland Yard," said Lakers spokesman John Black. "They are keeping us informed of the situation."

European governments began warning of a possible attack last week.

In Britain, the threat of terrorism has been listed as "severe," meaning an attack is highly likely. Britain's Foreign Office also warned its citizens to be careful traveling in France.

French Defense Minister Hervé Morin told Le Parisien newspaper that "the terrorist threat exists and could hit us at any moment." But Morin said law-enforcement officials were continuing to pursue would-be terrorists.

"Networks organizing themselves to prepare attacks are constantly being dismantled around the world," he said. "It is good for the French to know this."

The U.S. military in recent weeks has stepped up drone missile attacks on suspected hideouts in regions of Pakistan, and the United States is passing its intelligence to its European counterparts.

According to intelligence sources, the current threat apparently arose after the arrest and interrogation of a German man of Pakistani origin who was being held at the U.S. air base in Bagram, Afghanistan. He reportedly has provided information about the activities of half a dozen other men from Germany and England who were linked through Al Qaeda and allegedly talking to other operatives in several European cities about upcoming strikes.

richard.serrano@latimes.com

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Tourists to be warned of Al Qaeda threat on Europe - ABC Online

Posted October 3, 2010 10:42:00

The United States Government is to issue a new travel alert for American tourists in Europe.

Travellers will be told to be vigilant while travelling because of what have been described as credible threats from Al Qaeda.

Security agencies have suggested that there are plans to mount attacks in European cities similar to those in Mumbai in November 2008.

Tourists are to be warned to stay away from crowded places.

There was no immediate indication when the alert might be issued.

News media in the last week reported that western intelligence agencies had uncovered an Al Qaeda plot to launch attacks in Britain, France, Germany and the United States.

The reports said well-armed, commando-style teams of jihadists planned to seize and murder Western hostages in a manner similar to the Mumbai attacks of 2008.

Two Indian hotels in Mumbai were besieged by 10 gunmen who killed 166 people and injured more than 300.

- BBC/AFP/Reuters

Tags: unrest-conflict-and-war, terrorism, france, germany, united-kingdom, united-states

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