Threat Matrix: June 2007

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[nwctwx]

British Intelligence: Al-Qaida Expanding
-Full Story-

British intelligence officials said they believe that al-Qaida has a secure base in Pakistan's Waziristan region and is planning terrorist operations.

The group is reaching out to Muslims in North Africa, The Telegraph reported. Last year, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, an Algerian terrorist group, merged itself into al-Qaida, a move announced by Osama bin Laden's chief lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in a tape promising action against the "apostates" in the Algerian government and "the treacherous sons of France."

Al-Qaida is also believed to be planning expansion into Lebanon and Syria, the newspaper report said.

	U.S. Battles al-Qaida in Baghdad
	U.S. Terror Expert Says Nuclear Risk Low
	Is North African Militant New Face of al-Qaida?

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[Oorang]

Indonesian police capture suspected terrorist
Jun 10, 2007

Jakarta - Indonesian police have captured a suspected terrorist of a South-East Asian group allegedly allied with the al-Qaeda terrorist network, a national police spokesman said Sunday. The man identified as Mahfud, alias Yusron, was arrested on Saturday in Kemranjen village in Central Java district of Banyumas, after being shot in the leg during a police raid.

National police spokesman Inspector General Sisno Adiwinoto said the suspect was believed to be a close aide of Abu Dujana, who is accused of heading a new military arm of South-East Asian terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). Indonesian authorities said Abu Dujana has replaced Malaysian explosives' expert Noordin M Top as the nation's most-wanted fugitive. He narrowly escaped a police raid in March.

Excerpted

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/asiapacific/news/article_1315659.php/Indonesian_police_capture_suspected_terrorist

MI6 probes UK link to nuclear trade with Iran
Sunday June 10, 2007

A British company has been closed down after being caught in an apparent attempt to sell black-market weapons-grade uranium to Iran and Sudan, The Observer can reveal. Anti-terrorist officers and MI6 are now investigating a wider British-based plot allegedly to supply Iran with material for use in a nuclear weapons programme. One person has already been charged with attempting to proliferate 'weapons of mass destruction'.

During the 20-month investigation, which also involved MI5 and Customs and Excise, a group of Britons was tracked as they obtained weapons-grade uranium from the black market in Russia. Investigators believe it was intended for export to Sudan and on to Iran.

Excerpted

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2099634,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=11

Syrian arms dealer held in Spain
June 08, 2007

Spanish police have arrested a Syrian arms dealer suspected of supplying weapons to leftist Colombian fighters. Monzer al-Kassar was arrested at Madrid airport on Thursday evening, the Spanish interior ministry said. US authorities are seeking the extradition of al-Kassar and two other men arrested in Romania.

The arrest of al-Kassar has "finally brought one of the world's most prolific arms traffickers to justice", Michael Garcia, US attorney, said on Friday. Al-Kassar is accused of selling millions of dollars worth of weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a group classified in the US as a terrorist organisation. The two other men, Tareq Mousa al Ghazi and Luis Filipe Moreno Godoy, were arrested as part of the same investigation.

Excerpted

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1B3D37AB-2313-49B3-92FB-07F8297B0870.htm

[Cindy]

THANK YOU Oorang.
All very interesting.

[Oorang]

Suspected Qaeda men held in raid
Sunday, 10 June, 2007

CHTOURA, Lebanon: Lebanese security forces arrested yesterday three suspected Al Qaeda members, including a Belgian, in the eastern Bekaa Valley, security sources said.

The sources said a Belgian and a Lebanese man were arrested in a raid in the village of Ba’labaya. In Brussels, a foreign ministry spokesman said the Belgian embassy in Lebanon was aware that a man who “had Belgian papers on him” was arrested.

Another Lebanese man, found with weapons, was arrested in the nearby village of Bar Elias, where earlier this week security forces dismantled what they described as an Al Qaeda cell preparing for car bomb attacks in Lebanon. They also seized weapons and explosives and at least nine people have now been arrested in connection with the cell, security sources said.

In the Bekaa village of Al-Khiyara, security forces confiscated “important documents” from three houses, they said. The threat of Sunni Muslim militancy is on the rise in Lebanon.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=154268&version=1&template_id=37&parent_id=17

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=globaljihad
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=jihad
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=jihadpropaganda
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=jihadvideos
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=jihadmedia

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=internet
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=internetcafes
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=internetcafe
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=cybercafes
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=cybercafe

#

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

#

http://www.memritv.org/
http://www.memri.org/jihad.html

#

http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP161507

Special Dispatch Series - No. 1615
June 8, 2007 No.1615

“How Islamist Internet Forums Are Used to Inform Mujahideen of News from Western Media”

[Cindy]

http://www.memri.org/jihad.html

http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=jihad&ID=SP161607

Special Dispatch Series - No. 1616
June 8, 2007 No.1616

“Islamist Websites Monitor # 108-110”

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1847779/posts

“Muslim women abuse soldier at troops hospital”
Daily Mail ^ | 06/09/07 | MARK NICOL

Posted on 06/09/2007 9:35:39 PM PDT by Pikamax

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1847172/posts?page=97#97

o: All
...and another update:

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/7920597.html

“Family Linked To Hazmat Scare Exposed To Banned Pesticide”
Tom Murray

MENOMONEE FALLS -

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Assistant Chief Jeff Hevey told TODAY’S TMJ4 reporter Tom Murray that the family used a pesticide called Chlordane inside the home. The Environmental Protection Agency banned that termite killing chemical in 1988. The EPA says Chlordane can cause dizziness, headaches and convulsions. It can linger in a home for decades. Chlordane is a white powder that becomes a dark, thick liquid when mixed with water.

While the Wauwatosa Fire Deparment confirms Chlordane was used inside the home, the case is still open. Authorities believe the boy may have been exposed to some different, unrelated substance. The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department is now handling the investigation.

“There was some weird powder on his backpack,” said Matt Polleck, a friend of the boy who brought the substance to school. Authorities brought Polleck to Children’s Hospital because he had contact with the powder. Matt also told TODAY’S TMJ4 there’s been a pesticide problem at his friend’s place.

“His brother had been sick a couple weeks ago because the pesticide had got to him, too.”

A Children’s Hospital spokesperson said everyone who came in contact with the substance has been treated and released. She said there is no longer a threat to patients or the community.”

97 posted on 06/09/2007 10:44:05 PM PDT by Cindy

[Cindy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6738113.stm

Last Updated: Sunday, 10 June 2007, 07:09 GMT 08:09 UK

“Priest kidnapped in Philippines”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “An Italian priest has been kidnapped in the southern Philippines, police say.

The priest, named as Giancarlo Bossi, was seized by armed men near the coastal village of Bulawan near Zamboanga, and taken to a waiting boat.

Police suspect the kidnappers are from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), seeking an independent Muslim state in the south of the country.

Father Bossi is the second Italian priest to be abducted in the area in the last 10 years.

Police said Father Bossi, 57, was grabbed by up to 10 men while riding a motorcycle in Zamboanga Sibugay province, 800km (500 miles) south of Manila, on his way to celebrate Mass in a remote village.”

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2007/s07060045.htm

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Friday, June 8, 2007

Children arrested in dawn raid on Christians in Eritrea
Pastor, radio journalist, information ministry employees also detained

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

DEKEMHARE, ERITREA (ANS) — At least twenty Christians were arrested by Eritrean security forces on the morning of Sunday, May 27. Among those detained were young children.

The raid occurred in Dekemhare, 40km south of Eritrea’s capital city, Asmara, and is a continuation of the extensive government crackdown on Christian activity in the country since the beginning of the year, according to the human rights NGO Release-Eritrea UK.

According to the agency reports, during the recent raid security forces expected to find Christians participating in a prayer meeting. However, when they failed to uncover such activity, they decided to detain everyone in the home they had raided as well as other people in the surrounding neighborhood.

Those targeted for arrest are said to all be members of the Kale Hiwott Church, one of the churches affected by the government decree of 2002 that banned several independent churches. Among those arrested was Pastor Michael Abraha who suffers from hypoglycaemia.

Given the shortage of food and medical supplies in Eritrean prisons, there are considerable concerns for his health. In a further sign of the deteriorating human rights climate in Eritrea, Reporters Without Borders has indicated that there is still no news on two Ministry of Information employees who were arrested in their homes during the week of March 12 and taken to unknown destinations.

The organization has also voiced deep concerns about the fate of Eyob Kessete, a journalist with the Dimtsi Hafash Amharic-language radio service. He was arrested as he tried to flee across the border to Ethiopia and has since been held in Mai Serwa detention centre, north of Asmara.

In a statement commenting on this latest raid, Dr Berhane Asmelash, Director of Release-Eritrea UK stated, “My concern isn’t just for those who are detained following organised prayer meetings now. These people seem to have been dragged out of their beds and taken into custody along with their children. The government of Eritrea needs to understand that no one can stop those who want to pray. And there really is no justification for this type of harassment.”

Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s National Director, Stuart Windsor, says, “Arresting children on the grounds that they may possibly be involved in a prayer meeting illustrates the depths to which government policy has fallen in Eritrea. However, a burden of responsibility rests with the international community for failing to challenge these violations. Notably, the European Union recently signed a major aid agreement with Eritrea while hailing its president as a key partner in the search for peace in the horn of Africa.”

CSW is a human rights organization which specializes in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.

For more information, please contact Penny Hollings, Campaigns and Media Manager at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045, email pennyhollings@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.

For more information on Eritrea please visit: www.csw.org.uk/Countries/Eritrea/Resources/Eritreabriefing.pdf

** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Lake Forest, California. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in September, 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

[Cindy]

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1181228585569&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Jun. 10, 2007 11:00
“Aide to Indonesia’s most-wanted terrorist nabbed”
By ASSOCIATED PRESS

[Cindy]

RECAP AND UPDATED...

ADNKI.com (AKI): Algiers - "TERRORISM: AL-QAEDA ON MEDITERRANEAN BEACH" (June 9, 2007)

BBC NEWS: "ITALY POLICE HOLD 10 'ISLAMISTS'" (Last updated June 7, 2007)

MAGHAREBIA.com: "GSPC FOUNDER SENTENCED IN ALGERIA" (June 5, 2007)

[Cindy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6736661.stm

Last Updated: Saturday, 9 June 2007, 07:13 GMT 08:13 UK

“Cameras disrupt Beijing flights”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Flights were disrupted at Beijing’s airport because of interference from radio-controlled cameras 14km (9 miles) away, a Chinese investigation says.

Three small cameras fitted on lifts at a building were responsible, China Daily newspaper said on the findings.

“The radio waves severely disturbed normal flight take-off and landings,” said Su Qing of the Northern China Air Traffic Management Bureau.

The report did not say when the interference occurred.”

[Cindy]

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

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1847812/posts

Afghanistan - Taliban say fire rockets at Karzai’s meeting site
Reuters (excerpt) ^ | June 10, 2007

Posted on 06/10/2007 1:20:12 AM PDT by HAL9000

Excerpt -

KABUL, June 10 (Reuters) - Taliban guerrillas fired rockets at a compound where Afghan President Hamid Karzai was attending a meeting on Sunday, a Taliban spokesman said.

A government official confirmed the firing of rockets, but said the president and his entourage were fine.

~ snip ~

(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...

[Cindy]

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

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

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, Sun Jun 10 2007 01:44:14 GMT-0700.

Worldwide Caution

April 10, 2007

This Public Announcement updates information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against Americans and interests overseas. This supersedes the Worldwide Caution dated October 11, 2006 and expires on October 9, 2007.

The Department of State remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas. Current information suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics to include assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings and bombings.

Ongoing events in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East have resulted in demonstrations and associated violence in several countries. Americans are reminded that demonstrations and rioting can occur with little or no warning.

In August 2006, British authorities arrested a significant number of extremists engaged in a plot to destroy multiple passenger aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States. The September 2006 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Syria and the March 2006 bombing near the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan illustrate the continuing desire of extremists to strike American targets.

Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons, and target both official and private interests. The bomb attacks targeting buses carrying foreign workers in March 2007 and December 2006 in Algeria, a series of bombings in Thailand in May and September 2006 that targeted commercial and tourist destinations in the far south, and the bombings in the the Egyptian resort town of Dahab in April 2006 all illustrate how terrorists exploit vulnerabilities associated with soft targets. Additional examples of such targets include high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas and locales where Americans gather in large numbers, including during holidays. Financial or economic targets of value may also be considered as possible venues; the vehicle-based suicide attack on an oil facility near Mukalla and Marib in Yemen in September 2006 and the failed attack on the Abqaiq oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia in late February 2006 are such examples.

In the wake of the August 2006 plot against aircraft in London, numerous terrorist attacks on trains in India in 2006, the July 2005 London Underground bombings, and the March 2004 train attacks in Madrid, Americans are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems. In addition, extremists may also select aviation and maritime services as possible targets.

U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security. For additional information, please refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” found at http://travel.state.gov .

U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture. In those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. Americans abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its Consular Information Program documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov . In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

[Cindy]

READY.GOV
http://www.ready.gov

[Godzilla]

placemark

[Cindy]

Thanks to Grandpa Dave for pointing to these FR threads.

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1847838/posts
~

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IF07Ak04.html
“AL-QAEDA SPARK FOR AN IRAN-US FIRE”
by Gareth Porter
WASHINGTON

(June 7, 2007)

###

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1847677/posts
~

http://billroggio.com/archives/2007/06/us_finds_karbala_pjc.php

“U.S. finds Karbala PJCC mockup inside Iran”
Satellite imagery links Iran to the Karbala attack which resulted in five U.S. soldiers killed”

(June 5, 2007)

~

http://www.billroggio.com/cgi-bin/cms/mt-search.cgi?tag=Iran&blog_id=1
http://www.billroggio.com/cgi-bin/cms/mt-search.cgi?tag=Iraq&blog_id=1

~

http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12214&Itemid=21

June 7, 2007
Release A070607a

16 SUSPECTED SECRET CELL TERRORISTS DETAINED

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi and Coalition Forces detained 16 suspected terrorists Thursday morning during raids in Sadr City.

The individuals detained during the raid are believed to be members of the secret cell terrorist network known for facilitating the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq to Iran for terrorist training.

Based on information from a suspected terrorist detained May 30, Iraqi and Coalition Forces detained 16 suspected terrorists during the pre-dawn operation believed to be associates of a key leader in the secret cell terrorist network. Four of the suspected terrorists detained tested positive for explosives.

Intelligence reports indicate that the suspected terrorist targeted during the raid is a key leader in the secret cell terrorist network who has ties to Iranian intelligence and is believed to be responsible for attacks on Iraqi civilians as well as Iraqi and Coalition Forces in Baghdad.

“We will seek out and find terrorists where they hide,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “Removing the networks that bring in explosively formed penetrators is a top priority to protect the Iraqi people and the security forces that serve them.”

-30-

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12259&Itemid=21

June 10, 2007
Release A070610a

Six al-Qaeda suspects captured

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces captured six suspected terrorists Sunday morning during operations that continue to deny safe haven to members of the al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist network.

Based on information gained during a successful operation May 27, Coalition Forces targeted a location in Fallujah looking for an individual suspected of recruiting for al-Qaeda. The suspected jihad leader is known for using “join or die” sermons and indoctrination ceremonies where those who refuse to swear allegiance are killed. Coalition Forces detained one suspected terrorist associated with the leader.

In Mosul, two coordinated operations netted three suspected terrorists tied into the al-Qaeda in Iraq network. One of the suspects is allegedly a recruiting emir for the terrorist network in Mosul, while another is suspected of facilitating the movement of foreign fighters for al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Southeast of Fallujah, Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists for their alleged involvement with a senior al-Qaeda in Iraq leader known for placing improvised explosive devices and coordinating terrorist attacks.

“We’re relentlessly attacking the al-Qaeda network to deny terrorists the ability to hide among the Iraqi people and spread their jihadist propaganda,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “The Iraqi people are choosing their own future, and it does not include terrorism.”

-30-