Posted on 10/25/2003 3:25:21 PM PDT by blam
Al-Qa'ida may be poised to attack, US warns
By Andrew Buncombe in Washington
26 October 2003
Concern about a terror attack occurring in Saudi Arabia, possibly imminently, was growing yesterday as the United States issued a warning that it could happen as early as today.
"The embassy continues to receive information that terrorist groups within the kingdom are still active and planning operations," the US embassy in Riyadh said. "It is [our] assessment that terrorist groups may place special operational significance on Ramadan, and American citizens are therefore urged to be particularly vigilant."
The US warning follows similar announcements by Britain and Australia that attacks against Western targets in Saudi Arabia are imminent. Ramadan, which involves a month of fasting, is due to begin today.
Britain's warning on Friday, that "terrorists may be in the final phases of planning attacks", echoed one issued by the UK authorities in May, just days before suicide bombers attacked Western compounds in Riyadh, killing 26 people.
"It doesn't mean we knew then something was going to happen," said one British diplomat in Saudi Arabia. "It meant the planning was in the last stages. The [advice] reflects the assessment that the threat from terror is serious."
While Britain has not advised its citizens to leave Saudi Arabia, it has warned against all non-essential travel to the country. The British defence giant BAe Systems, which employs 5,500 people throughout Saudi Arabia, said it had no plans to evacuate staff, however, and the Saudi ambassador in London, Prince Turki al-Faisal, complained that Britain should have consulted the kingdom before issuing its warning.
In the US, intelligence officials said there had been a recent steady stream of information suggesting plans for fresh attacks against Western targets, but no specific intelligence. Any British knowledge of an imminent or specific attack would be shared with the US and Australian authorities.
Since the attacks in May, the Saudi authorities claim to have been involved in a crackdown against Islamic militants, partly to counter criticism that the country had not done enough in the "war on terror".
Fifteen of the 19 hijackers behind the attacks in the US in September 2001 were Saudi citizens. Riyadh has been urged by many in the US to do more to counter terrorists.
A Saudi official said yesterday: "Saudi security forces are working hard to foil any terrorist organisation and have uncovered several cells in past weeks and thwarted all their plans to destabilise security."
Prince Turki said last week that two-thirds of the 600 people arrested on suspicion of having links to al-Qa'ida were still in custody.
US intelligence claims Osama bin Laden's son, Sa'ad, said to be in Iran, was involved in planning the attacks on Riyadh's Western compounds.
Right on! We'll just make war on 1.2 billion people across a full quarter of the planet's surface! Wipe dem goddamn' bassards all out!
Just damn.
If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
War was declared, but not by us.
Like Osama needs more help in framing the war on terrorism as crusade against all Muslims.
Good point. If Al-Qaeda attacks in SA and kills Saudi nationals, they will be killing their own.
You obviously haven't been paying attention.
There have been repeated statements by Osama and terrorist leaders that attempt to define President Bush's war on terror as a general war on Islam.
They want to stir up the entire Muslim world against the west.
So far it hasn't worked.
Nonsense.
Most devout, observant Muslims have rejected the idea that terrorism is "just following the Quran".
Just as most Christian have rejected the idea that shooting abortion Doctors is a valid Christian pro-life activity.
BS Jorge! Killing non-muslims is a major tenent of islam.
Funny, most Muslims disagree with you and reject the sort insanity the Osamas preach.
Perhaps you could help convince them that killing us is what their religion demands.
That would really benefit the world.
Total B.S.
There are 1.3 BILLION muslims. List 13 (one ONE-HUNDRED MILLIONTH) of them that actively oppose terrorism.
What US based muslim groups fight muslim terror? What have they done? What division of islam do they follow? Who are their religious leaders? How many muslims do they speak for?
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