The files say limousines regularly enter the building but lorries would find it harder to get in.
Posted on 08/08/2004 7:13:00 PM PDT by Pikamax
Brown's photo 'on al-Qaida disks'
Seized computers included chancellor's image among information on potential US attacks
David Teather in New York and Patrick Barkham Monday August 9, 2004 The Guardian
Details emerged yesterday of potential terrorist targets found on captured al-Qaida computers, including a downloaded picture of Gordon Brown, and possible plans to use helicopters to attack New York. Information gleaned from the three laptops and 51 computer disks seized in Pakistan led to the specific warnings issued last week about possible attacks on five financial institutions in the US.
US officials have hailed as a breakthrough the arrests and the find, but the information has also given rise to greater anxiety that al-Qaida is preparing another attack on the scale of September 11 before November's presidential poll.
Mr Brown's image was found in files related to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, Time magazine reports today.
Plans to attack the US include the use of limousines packed with explosives, and speedboats in New York harbour. The files also outline plans to recruit non-Arabs, particularly South Africans, who can move more freely.
More than 500 photos are said to have been stored on the disks, together with minutely detailed analyses of the vulnerabilities of specific targets and communications with some of the world's most wanted terrorists. There is a meticulous logging of pedestrian traffic, routines of security personnel, and details of buildings.
The main author of much of the surveillance is thought to be Eisam al-Hindi, one of the 13 men arrested in a sweep in Britain last week.
The computers were seized from Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan after his arrest in Lahore last month.
The US alleges that a man arrested separately in Britain, Babar Ahmad, may also have been in the surveillance team.
Last night British detectives were given until tomorrow to continue questioning nine of the 13 men arrested, and the home secretary, David Blunkett, insisted that the government was right not to disclose more details about potential terrorist threats.
Magistrates made the extension order to hold the nine in custody at Paddington Green police station, west London.
Scotland Yard said two of the men were no longer being questioned under the Terrorism Act but remained in custody, having been rearrested yesterday on suspicion of possessing forged identity documents.
Two of the 13 arrested in raids in London, Bushey in Hertfordshire, Luton in Bedfordshire and Blackburn in Lancashire were released last week.
According to Time, which quotes senior US intelligence officials, the disks had photos of the IMF and the World Bank chiefs, and Mr Brown, who attends the annual IMF meetings.
A book describing the layout of the World Bank in Washington was scanned into the computer in February 2003. The terrorists noted that the high levels of security would make an attack "tricky". The computers and disks also reportedly contain photos of heliports, and helicopter cockpits, controls and cockpit door locking mechanisms.
The terrorists had apparently scanned in brochures of New York city helicopter tours. In addition, the Time report said that the disks held details about he construction and layout of the New York Stock Exchange.
Time says the terrorists discussed using the "usual methods", possibly a lorry loaded with explosives, to attack Citigroup, the world's biggest banking company.
To attack the Prudential building in Newark, New Jersey, they proposed removing everything from a black limo except the front seats and driving it into the basement car park. The files say limousines regularly enter the building but lorries would find it harder to get in.
FMCDH(BITS)
Does anyone know who Brown is..other than he attends IMF meetings?
chacellor of the exchequer
Bump
Second most powerful man in the UK - some would say the most powerful. Longest-serving Chancellor of the Exchequer in modern times. Hugely influential in all areas of domestic policy, not just Treasury.
fyi
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.