Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - Thread Seven

The Washington Times ^ | 4-26-04 | Bill Gertz

[JustPiper]

"I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat"

Two Chinese diplomats, away from their Los Angeles consulate improperly, recently sped their vehicle past a Los Alamos National Laboratory guard post near classified facilities in what U.S. officials think was an intelligence mission, The Washington Times has learned.

[WestCoastGal]

Aha so what you heard was correct. I'm glad they took no chances and scambled the jets anyway. Was that one of those Singapore Airlines planes than can go the 18 hours straight without stopping for fuel?

[MamaDearest]

Thank you all4one. It is the work of ALL FReepers who contribute to the Threat Matrix thread who make this thread an educational and interesting site. In particular today your post on truck incidents and StillProud2BeFree's post on train wrecks help us to see any patterns or locations of note.

The rants, the questions, the weaving in of inter-related topics, even the off-topic subjects help to give us hope there are like-minded people (just like us) with the same concerns, irritations, suggestions and desire to learn what we're not being told. Thank all of you!

[nw_arizona_granny]

"Mall Threat"

Thank you, from the facts, it would appear that the man was not a simple nutcase.

Fake I.D.'s take it to a different level, than the nutty teen with a phone.

Wonder what the "rest of the story" is.

I can no longer do a rain dance, but can still pray for rain. those fires don't sound controlled as yet.

More than likely 4 terrorists sitting in one of our jails.

[WestCoastGal]

Yes he is not your normal run of the mill whacko hoax caller. They mentioned something about the person he was mad at was his girlfriend who works at a bank in Canada and a loan of money etc. But the fake id's and how he came and went from here is troubling. He spent time at the UCLA library for gosh sake. Probably on the computer making theats.

[BurbankKarl]

it said it was a long range Airbus...so I guess yes...



The Cerritos fire is starting to hit Perris.

Evacs on the west side, off Ellis Ave,
south to Hwy 74 and Theda, with more
areas threatened near there.

[WestCoastGal]

That means it jumped the I-15?? Is it heading east now rather than south. Highway 74 goes towards Hemet.

[BurbankKarl]

Sinking of Ferry
In Philippines
Tied to Terrorism

Muslim Convert Working
With Militant Organization
Confesses to Planting Bomb

By JAMES HOOKWAY
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
May 4, 2004; Page A17

MANILA, the Philippines -- Philippine security officials now think the February sinking of a passenger ferry here was the result of a terrorist bomb planted by a Philippine Muslim convert working with Abu Sayyaf, a militant group with historic links to al Qaeda.

That has led officials to conclude that the once loosely run kidnap-for-ransom gang operating largely in the southern Philippines is evolving into what al Qaeda intended it to be: an effective terrorist organization. The ferry bombing left 116 people dead or missing, making it Asia's worst terrorist attack since the bombings that killed 202 people in Bali in 2002.

Abu Sayyaf had immediately claimed credit for the Feb. 26 attack in Manila Bay, saying that one of its operatives had planted a bomb on the ship. But Philippine police initially dismissed the claim, in part because Abu Sayyaf leaders had a history of boasting about violent exploits in which the group wasn't, in fact, involved.

Now, however, security officials have concluded that the fire that destroyed the ferry really was the work of Abu Sayyaf. In late March, police captured six Abu Sayyaf members who were allegedly plotting to attack a shopping mall. Under interrogation, one of them -- a Muslim convert named Redendo Cain Dellosa -- confessed to being the ferry bomber, investigators say.

According to police, Mr. Dellosa described in detail how he smuggled a TV set packed with explosives on to the ferry and slipped away before it set sail. Two other captives confirmed his account, police say.

Forensics investigators have reported to intelligence officials that damage to the twisted metal inside the hulk of the ferry was consistent with that caused by a bomb.

The ferry bombing shows that two decade-long al Qaeda initiatives are bearing fruit in the Philippines: the creation of Abu Sayyaf in the country's south and a plan to recruit Filipino Muslim converts in the Manila area. "Foreign terrorists find it difficult to enter the Philippines now, and the Abu Sayyaf finds it difficult to operate in Manila," says an intelligence official here. "So the Muslim converts have been activated."

The Philippines has long attracted Islamist militants. For example, al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's early mentor, Palestinian cleric Abdullah Azzam, frequently spoke of the predominantly Christian Philippines as a country that should be returned to Islam, which was brought to the country in the 15th century by Arab traders.

Manila was also once home to Khalid Sheikh Mohamed, the alleged architect of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the U.S. and suspected murderer of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan. Together with his nephew, Ramzi Yousef, Mr. Mohamed plotted in 1994 to kill Pope John Paul II in Manila and to bomb 11 U.S. airliners over the Pacific, according to Abdul Hakim Murad, an accomplice arrested by Philippine police. In addition, the Philippines was the primary base of Mr. bin Laden's brother-in-law, Mohammed Jamal Khalifa, who planted the seeds of Abu Sayyaf in 1989 by recruiting militants from existing Philippine Muslim guerrilla movements and sending them for military training in Afghanistan.

Less well known was Mr. Khalifa's longer-term plan to establish a network of Islamic missionary groups in Southeast Asia. These proselytizers, intelligence officials say, sought out disaffected Christians to convert them to Islam. Not all Muslim converts become terrorists, of course. But those who were attracted to militant Islam made ideal terrorist agents, says Norberto Gonzales, the Philippines's national security adviser.

Unlike regular Abu Sayyaf members, who mainly come from the jungles of the southern Philippines, many of the militant Muslim converts are from the Manila area, speak the local dialect and raise little suspicion. "They just blend in," Mr. Gonzales says.

Elsewhere in the world, al Qaeda has tried to use converts to evade racial and religious profiling at airports and borders. Richard Reid, accused of attempting to destroy a British airliner with a shoe bomb, was a British Muslim convert. Another convert, Jose Padilla, a gang member from Chicago, allegedly tried to acquire low-grade nuclear material for a terrorist bomb.

[jerseygirl]

Re: "something that I think we are all noticing lately, NOT hearing anymore info about specific incidents that are reported, then just seem to disappear."

Yes- into the media black hole, it seems.

[Cindy]

Combination of HOT Chili Peppers (a little Habanero too maybe), black pepper, garlic, and onions in a base of vinegar.

[Cindy]

Thank you all4one....

We do it with a lot of input from FReepers and a lot of personal research.

[jerseygirl]

Have a safe night, all.

[Cindy]

A good evening to you too Jersey Girl.

[WestCoastGal]

Appears that the wind has shifted, blowing SE here. The sun going down now is red with smoke along the mountain top and most of the west end of the valley. I can smell smoke here and the news issued a health alert for the pass area.

Not too much new reported from LA stations. Won't be anything until KCAL comes on and that will be late tonight as there is a baseball game on. So about 10pm for any updates.

The weather has cooled off which is a big help and may give them a chance to catch up to the fires. We have many FF who have gone to the fires, all days off canceled so there is still coverage here at home.

[LayoutGuru2]

Has this been posted yet? Suspect in L.A. mall threat

Tanzanian Charged With Making L.A. Threat
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040504_1999.html

[tmp02]

Heads up...BOMBING IN ATHENS...Just saw on BBC news...I'll try to get more...

[WestCoastGal]

Yes I saw that, they said downtown Athens 3 explosions.

Also there is a heck of a fight going on in Karbala (al sadr's territory) Go USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Prayers for our troops.

[LayoutGuru2]

BREAKING NEWS: 3 BOMB BLASTS IN CENTRAL ATHENS
			Posted by Eurotwit On 05/04/2004 6:46:56 PM PDT with 72 comments Sky News ^ | May 4th, 2004 | Sky News Just on Sky News. Nothing more yet.

[tmp02]

Bombs rock Athens police station

ATHENS (Reuters) - Three bomb blasts have hit a central Athens police station, a police official says.

It was not clear whether there were any casualties or damage to the building. The police official said on Wednesday authorities had received an anonymous warning that the three explosive devices would go off at the police station in Kalithea.

In August Greece hosts the Olympics, amid fears the games could be a target for political violence.


http://uk.news.yahoo.com/040505/325/ess5r.html

[tmp02]

I wonder if they will call of Olympics

[tmp02]

Three bomb blasts have hit a central Athens police station, Reuters news agency has quoted a Greek police official as saying.

It is not clear if there are any casualties or damage to the building.
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1133976,00.html

The police official said authorities had received an anonymous warning that the three explosive devices would go off at the police station in Kalithea.

Greece is due to host the Olympics in August, amid fears the games could be a target for political violence.