Threat Matrix: May 2007

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[nwctwx]

U.S. Seeks Closing of Visa Loophole for Britons
-Full Story-

Omar Khyam, the ringleader of the thwarted London bomb plot who was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday, showed the potential for disaffected young men to be lured as terrorists, a threat that British officials said they would have to contend with for a generation.

But the 25-year-old Mr. Khyam, a Briton of Pakistani descent, also personifies a larger and more immediate concern: as a British citizen, he could have entered the United States without a visa, like many of an estimated 800,000 other Britons of Pakistani origin.

American officials, citing the number of terror plots in Britain involving Britons with ties to Pakistan, expressed concern over the visa loophole. In recent months, the homeland security secretary, Michael Chertoff, has opened talks with the government here on how to curb the access of British citizens of Pakistani origin to the United States.

	How the Plot Came Together
	Briefing on Release of 2006 Country Reports on Terrorism
	Iran to Tell Coalition Forces to Leave Iraq at Summit in Egypt

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[Cindy]

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=25623_UK_Jihad_Cleric_Deported_to_Jamaica&only

~

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/05/25/uhate.jpg

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;?xml=/news/2007/05/25/npreach125.xml

“July 7 preacher Abdullah El-Faisal deported”

By Philip Johnston, Home Affairs Editor
Last Updated: 6:32pm BST 25/05/2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “An Islamic cleric believed to have influenced one of the July 7 bombers was deported to his native Jamaica today after serving four years in jail for inciting racial hatred.

On his way home: Abdullah El-Faisal
Abdullah El-Faisal was convicted in 2003 of soliciting murder and causing racial hatred.

Police at the time did not know how many young, impressionable Muslim men he might have turned towards terrorism.

But the Government’s official account of the July 7 suicide bombs identified El-Faisal as a mentor of Jermaine Lindsay, who detonated a bomb on a Tube train near King’s Cross, killing 25 passengers.

Lindsay, also from Jamaica and also a convert to Islam, attended at least one lecture by El-Faisal and listened to tapes of his sermons. During the preacher’s trial, he was heard telling audiences to kill Hindus, Jews and other non-Muslims like “cockroaches”.

John Reid, the Home Secretary, said: “We are committed to protecting the public and have made it clear that foreign nationals who abuse our hospitality and break our laws can expect to be deported after they have served a prison sentence.

“We will not tolerate those who seek to spread hate and fear in our communities.”

El-Faisal, 43, was sentenced to seven years after becoming the first person for a century to be prosecuted under the 1860 Public Order Act.

He was released just beyond the half-way point of his sentence with the agreement of the Parole Board.”

[Cindy]

EVENT:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1839812/posts

[Cindy]

http://houston.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel07/ho052407.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007

“JURY CONVICTS PAKISTANI STUDENT
FOR UNLAWFULLY POSSESSING FIREARM”

(HOUSTON)

###

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/016625.php
(DALLAS MORNING NEWS)

May 25, 2007
“Texas jihad suspect convicted on weapons charge”

#

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014267.php
(CBS11 NEWS)

December 02, 2006
“’Do you want to see the passport of a terrorist?’”

#

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014270.php
(HOUSTON CHRONICLE)

December 02, 2006
“Dallas: FBI agent describes group’s jihad plot”

#

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014222.php
(KHOU.com)

November 29, 2006
“Two in Houston charged with planning to fund, fight with Taliban”

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=nuclear
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=china

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1840007/posts

“Beijing upgrades nuclear arsenal”
Financial Times ^ | May 25 2007 20:21 | By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington

Posted on 05/25/2007 7:54:58 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin2

[Oorang]

Gunpowder Likely Cause Of Mission Explosion
Man Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries

May 25 - KGO - San Francisco police say they believe gunpowder is what caused an early morning explosion in an apartment in the outer Mission. The blast damaged the building, including a dry cleaner that faced onto Mission Street. One man in the apartment was critically injured. A woman and another man were both treated. On Friday afternoon, agents hauled out rifles, computers and boxes of papers. The FBI, the ATF and San Francisco police are all investigating.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=local&id=5338265

Small explosion reported in Edmond (Oklahoma)
May 25, 2007

EDMOND — Shortly before 5 p.m. today, a homeowner reported hearing a small explosion and smelling a chemical odor in the 2600 block of Windmill Road, northwest of Coltrane Road and 33rd Street, authorities said.

Firefighters responded and also reported a strong chemical smell in the area said Tim Wheeler, Edmond's fire prevention chief. Firefighters couldn't find the cause of the odor, but found several unidentified objects that may have caused the explosion, Wheeler said. It's unclear whether they were explosive devices. Firefighters have retreated from the area and Edmond's bomb squad was called, Wheeler said. No homes have been evacuated.

Excerpted

http://newsok.com/article/3058725

Liquid bomb is new terror device
26 May, 2007

NEW DELHI: Terrorists striking in India have found yet another locally available explosive — picric acid — a shock-sensitive liquid explosive capable of creating a huge impact like the explosion at Hyderabad last week.

Security agencies came across the lethal acid for the first time when they recovered two IEDs from Trall in Jammu and Kashmir early this month. The laboratory report on the IEDs, which was shared with the Centre on Friday, revealed its use in the Valley by jehadi outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM).

Excerpted

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Liquid_bomb_is_new_terror_device/rssarticleshow/2075197.cms

Kurd Guerrillas Derail Freight Train in Turkey
25 May 2007, Friday

Suspected Kurdish guerrillas derailed Friday seven cars of a freight train in the latest attack in southeastern Turkey, Turkish media reported.

The guerrillas set off a remote controlled bomb on Friday, derailing seven cars of a freight train in the latest attack in the country's southeast, authorities said. No immediate casualties were reported. The attack occurred near the town Genc in southeastern Bingol province, the governor's office said.

On Thursday, the rebels killed six Turkish soldiers in a roadside bomb attack. A deadly suicide bombing occurred two days earlier that intensified debate in Turkey about whether to attack Kurdish rebels operating across the border in northern Iraq.

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=81108

[Cindy]

THANK YOU Oorang.

Re SF: I wonder what is on the computers.

Re Edmond, I wonder what the chemical smell smelled like — sweet, dirty socks, etc?

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=nigeria

#

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/05/25/nigeria.kidnappings/

“Foreigners seized in Nigeria”
POSTED: 0441 GMT (1241 HKT), May 26, 2007ARTICLE SNIPPET: “(CNN) — The U.S. State Department confirmed that seven people were kidnapped in Nigeria, three of them U.S. citizens, but offered few details.

“Our consulate general in Lagos reports that three American citizens were kidnapped in Bayelsa state,” State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said in a written statement.

“We are in the process of notifying their families, and will maintain contact with Nigerian authorities to monitor this incident.”

Four other foreigners were kidnapped in the same incident, he said.

Reuters cited oil industry sources as saying nine foreign oil workers and a Nigerian colleague were kidnapped Friday.

In addition to the three Americans, the workers included four Britons, a South African and a Filipino, industry sources told Reuters.”

#

http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2373428
TERRORISM MONITOR

“Weapons of War in the Niger Delta”
By Bestman Wellington

#

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_928.html

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Fri May 25 2007 23:48:28 GMT-0700.

NIGERIA

January 19, 2007

[Cindy]

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3241.html

“PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Fri May 25 2007 23:52:48 GMT-0700.
Germany
May 25, 2007”

SNIPPET: “This Public Announcement is being issued to alert U.S. citizens to the potential for large-scale anti-globalization protests throughout Germany before and during the G8 Summit scheduled for June 6-8, 2007, in Heiligendamm. This Public Announcement expires on June 15, 2007.”

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=venezuela
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=hugochavez
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=chavez

###

Note: The following text is a quote:

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=68799

you are here: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
Warden Message: Upcoming Venezuela Demonstrations
Consular Affairs Bulletins
Americas - Venezuela
25 May 2007

Printer Friendly Email Article
Related Reports
12 Apr 2007
Venezuela Laptop Theft
10 Apr 2007
Worldwide Caution Public Announcement
8 Mar 2007
Venezuela Law May Impact Property Rights
7 Mar 2007
Warden Message: Caracas Demonstrations March 8
22 Jan 2007
Warden Message: Caracas Protest January 23
U.S. Embassy Caracas issued the following Warden Message on May 25:

This warden message is being issued to alert American citizens traveling to and residing in Venezuela of the strong probability of marches associated with the Venezuelan government’s decision not to renew the broadcasting license of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV). Demonstrations by both supporters and opponents of the decision are expected on or around May 27, the date the license expires, but may occur at any time. Recent media coverage shows large numbers of military and police vehicles moving along the main thoroughfares of Caracas. The likelihood for demonstrations is especially high in Caracas.

We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations. Since the timing and routes of marches and demonstrations are always subject to change, American citizens should monitor local media sources for new developments.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found. Up to date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department’s travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov .

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070525-10.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 25, 2007

President Signs U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act

White House News

On Friday, May 25, 2007, the President signed into law:

H.R. 2206, the “U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007,” which provides $120 billion — in FY 2007 supplemental appropriations for the Global War on Terror (GWOT), hurricane disaster relief and recovery, and for other purposes.

[Cindy]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20070526-120206-3261r.htm

“Airports keep security tight over holiday”
By Audrey Hudson
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
May 26, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Forget bringing mom an apple pie and be sure to pack the suntan lotion into checked bags when traveling by air this Memorial Day weekend, say Department of Homeland Security officials.

With the terrorist threat level at orange, or “high” for all domestic and international flights, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials continue to crack down on what can, and cannot, be packed in carry-on bags.”

[Cindy]

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55884

“Christian arrested for visiting Mecca
Only Muslims are allowed to enter Islam’s holy city”
Posted: May 26, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “When Saudi authorities discovered a man working in Mecca was a Christian, they immediately arrested him, highlighting the desert kingdom’s law barring non-Muslims from the Islamic holy city.

The Saudi regime’s Expatriates Monitoring Committee used a new high-tech finger-print system to identify Nirosh Kamanda of Sri Lanka as a Christian, reported Arab News, the government-approved English-language paper.

“The Grand Mosque and the holy city are forbidden to non-Muslims,” said Col. Suhail Matrafi, head of the department in charge of Expatriates Affairs in Mecca. “The new fingerprints system is very helpful and will help us a lot to discover the identity of a lot of criminals and overstayers.””

[Cindy]

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55850

“’We must fine you because you’re a Christian’
Convert loses family, home, crops in Hindu crackdown”
Posted: May 25, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “In a nation where 75 percent of the population is Hindu, there was a congregation of four Christians in his small village when Rajan expressed a faith in Jesus Christ. But that’s back down to three after he lost his family and crops, and was forced to leave his home and village, because of his conversion, according to new documentation obtained by the Voice of the Martyrs.

Sources within Nepal, the mountainous nation sandwiched between India and China that holds Mt. Everest, have told the Voice of the Martyrs that the persecution campaign encompassed all parts of Rajan’s life when he became a Christian.”

[Cindy]

NOTE: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3404562,00.html

7 dead in market blast in India’s restive northeast

Published: 05.26.07, 10:36 / Israel News

A bomb went off in a crowded market in the main city of India’s restive northeast Saturday, killing seven people and injuring 18, an official said.

The explosives were packed in a three-wheeled auto-rickshaw, said C.K. Bhuyan, a district administrator in the state of Assam. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, said Bhuyan. (AP)

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=mrsa

#

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1150316

“Student Diagnosed With Resistant Staph”
May 25, 2007 - 12:58pm

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “ROANOKE, Va. (AP) - A middle school student who contracted an antibiotic-resistant staph infection will be allowed to return to class on Tuesday, school officials said.

Officials notified parents of students at Community School on Wednesday that the boy had been diagnosed with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA _ an infection that cannot be treated by penicillin.

The school remained open, and officials assured parents no other students were at risk.

MRSA is not airborne, but can be fatal.”

[Cindy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OagJn-QnWvI
“PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38nx3mjXJMk&mode=related&search=
“PATRIOTIC TRIBUTE TO OUR MILITARY”

[Cindy]

PERSECUTION.ORG
http://www.persecution.org

[Cindy]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1161.html

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Sat May 26 2007 03:29:31 GMT-0700.

Worldwide Caution

April 10, 2007

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=terroristfinancing

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1840239/posts

Terror, Crime Go Digital
The New Media Journal ^ | May 26, 2007 | Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld

Posted on 05/26/2007 11:09:13 AM PDT by NewMediaJournal

Emerging digital technologies to move money instantaneously and anonymously open up new possibilities for criminals and terrorists, while regulatory and law-enforcement agencies are limping far behind.

On May 3, at the release of the 2007 Money Laundering Strategy, the U.S. Treasury spokesperson was pleased to note: “Focusing on well-established money laundering methods and emerging trends identified in the Assessment, we have created a robust strategy for combating money laundering, deterring criminals, and addressing areas vulnerable to exploitation.”

Yet the latest digital advances open to criminals and terrorists — mobile phones or other mobile devices to secretly transfer money globally, or M-payments; gambling; and transfer of virtual money through online role-playing games, or RPGs — are missing from this long-awaited government strategy.

The fast-growing pace and value of the virtual economy led the Congressional Joint Economic Committee to study the possibility of taxing virtual assets generated by online role-playing games, thus raising a myriad of issues: What method of valuation will apply? How will fair market value be determined? Where does the tax instance arise in cyberspace? What part of the goods and services are subject to state tax? How does one levy and enforce the tax in cyberspace? What tax provisions will apply for international transactions?

(Excerpt) Read more at newmediajournal.us ...

[Cindy]

http://www.internet-haganah.com/haganah/internet.html
http://internet-haganah.org/hmedia/27apr07/27apr07-salafy_forums.html

#

www.muslm.net/vb/showthread.php?t=233062

~

NOTE: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1839854/posts

Jund al-Sham (Zarqawi’s Original Gang) Heading to Tripoli to Join in Fight
Muslm.net ^

Posted on 05/25/2007 12:49:41 PM PDT by harwood

..”this group declares hostility to Syria, and accuses the other Palestinian factions, headed by the Islamic Resistance Movement «Hamas» as a tool of the Syrians.”

(Excerpt) Read more at 64.233.179.104 ...

TOPICS: War on Terror; Click to Add Topic
KEYWORDS: lebanon; terror; Click to Add Keyword
[ Report Abuse | Bookmark ]
Statement by glorious leader of Fatah Islam here:
http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&langpair=ar%7Cen&u=http://www.muslm.net/vb/showthread.php%3Ft%3D233048&prev=/language_tools

Threats to activate sleeper cells, blah, blah, blah

1 posted on 05/25/2007 12:49:43 PM PDT by harwood

#

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1839823/posts

Qaeda vows “seas of blood” over Lebanon Palestinians
Reuters ^ | May 25, 2007

Posted on 05/25/2007 12:05:44 PM PDT by NYer

DUBAI (Reuters) - A group calling itself al Qaeda’s wing in the Levant vowed to carry out bombings in Lebanon and attacks on Christians unless Beirut pulled its army away from Palestinian refugee camps.

“We warn you for the last time, after which there will be nothing apart from seas of blood,” said a speaker identified as the military leader of the group in a video posted on Friday by a media arm used by Islamist groups including Qaeda in Iraq.

“What we want is that you order the Christian Lebanese army to pull its men from around all Palestinian camps and the Nahr al-Bared Camp in particular,” he said addressing Maronite Christian Partiarch Cadrinal Nasrallah Sfeir.

“If you do not stop we will wrench out your hearts with ... bombs,” said the speaker whose face was covered with a chequered head dress and who had rifle magazines around his torso.

There have been three bomb attacks in Lebanon this week since clashes between the army and the al Qaeda-inspired Fatah al-Islam militant group erupted this week at Nahr al-Bared camp.

At least 33 soldiers and 25 militants have been killed in what is the worst internal violence since the 1975-1990 civil war. Thousands have fled the Nahr al-Bared camp, where sources say at least 11 civilians have been killed and 100 wounded.

The speaker described the army’s campaign as a “brutal ... crusade under the pretext of fighting terrorism” and argued that Palestinians in Lebanon have always suffered discrimination.

The Qaeda campaign would target businesses “starting with tourism and ending with other means of making your rotten living”, said the militant who did not sound Lebanese.

Addressing Sfeir, the militant said: “Leash your dogs away from our kin and stop the fire of your canons, or else... No crusader will be safe in Lebanon after today. As you hit you will be hit.”

A fragile truce held between the army and Fatah al-Islam militants on Friday despite sporadic overnight clashes.

The United States and Arab allies sent military aid to Lebanon on Friday and the Lebanese army deployed extra troops to the refugee camp.

“We welcome a battle, and do not be fooled by the support of apostate Arabs to you,” the militant said.