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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[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, Tue Jun 12 2007 02:16:23 GMT-0700.

Worldwide Caution

April 10, 2007

[Cindy]

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

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1164071
(WTOP,AP)

“IED Found at Bel Pre Elementary”
June 11, 2007 - 8:54am

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “SILVER SPRING, Md. - A construction worker found an already detonated improvised explosive device outside of Bel Pre Elementary School Monday morning.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Department spokesman Pete Piringer says the bomb squad checked it out and determined that it had already been detonated or someone had attempted to detonate it.”

[Cindy]

Note: The following breaking news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3411664,00.html

Lebanon army, militants fight on at refugee camp

Published: 06.12.07, 12:17 / Israel News

Heavy fighting erupted on Tuesday between the Lebanese army and Islamist militants at a Palestinian camp which has been the battleground for Lebanon’s bloodiest internal violence since the civil war.

A military source described the fighting as heavier than usual at the Nahr al-Bared camp, where the army’s battle with the al Qaeda-inspired militants of Fatah al-Islam is now in its fourth week. (Reuters)

[Cindy]

More Details/Photos UPDATE:

http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/pij_e100607.htm

Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC)
June 11 , 2007

“A Fatah-Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist squad infiltrated Israel near the Kissufim Crossing to attack an IDF force. The terrorists, who used a jeep camouflaged as a TV vehicle, may have planned to abduct an IDF soldier, if the opportunity arose.”

[Cindy]

Following up...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1848772/posts

~

http://www.israelnewsagency.com/cabinetisraeltvmediaterroriststerrorism48061207.html

“Israel Cabinet: Palestine Terrorists Using TV Markings Punish Real Media”
By Israel News Agency Staff
Jerusalem ——June 12..

[Cindy]

More Details UPDATE:

http://www.pr-inside.com/serbian-police-discover-bullets-bomb-making-r150850.htm

World News
“Serbian police discover bullets, bomb-making material in Muslim-populated region”

2007-06-12 11:40:58 -

ARTILCE SNIPPET: “BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) - Serbian police said Tuesday they discovered a large cache of rifle bullets and bomb-making material in a series of raids in a tense Muslim-populated region.

About 10,000 bullets and 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of plastic explosives were discovered Monday in the tense southern Sandzak region bordering Kosovo, Serbia’s Interior Minister Dragan Jocic said.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “In April, police arrested six Muslims in the region, and accused them of being Islamic radicals and adherents of the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam, which is followed by Osama bin Laden and many al-Qaida members.

Police said then that they discovered a mountain cave that served as a terrorist training ground packed with plastic explosives, masks and machine guns. Police said the alleged terrorist group was planning attacks in Serbia or elsewhere and had ties to other Islamic terrorist groups.”

[Cindy]

UPDATE...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6743937.stm

Last Updated: Tuesday, 12 June 2007, 09:12 GMT 10:12 UK

“Arrests after Kenyan bomb blast”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Police in Kenya say they have made three arrests following Monday’s blast in the capital, Nairobi.

At least one person was killed and about 30 injured in the explosion outside a city centre cafe.”

[Cindy]

ADDING a link to post no. 547:

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1848785/posts

Serbian Police Uncover Weapons Cache Near Kosovo

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/06/5c0f95ce-7e70-4710-915e-6ea0579723b3.html ^

Posted on 06/12/2007 3:06:22 AM PDT by kronos77

June 12, 2007 — Serbian police say they have discovered a large cache of bullets and bomb-making material in a southern region bordering Kosovo.

Interior Minister Dragan Jocic says some 10,000 rounds of ammunition and 15 kilograms of explosives were found during a series of raids in the Sandzak, an ethnically mixed region that straddles Serbia and Montenegro and is principally populated by Bosnian Muslims.

Police believe the munitions were intended for “terrorist actions” by Muslim extremists against targets in the region.

In recent months, Serbian police have conducted a number of raids in the area against what they describe as “Wahhabis,” a generic term in the Balkans for Islamic radicals.

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

[Cindy]

Note: If the ID of the supsect is released, would someone please post it? Thank you.

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=canada
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=jewelrystore
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=school

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1848783/posts

“Heist puts schoolkids in crossfire”
Sun Media ^ | 2007-06-12 | Chris Doucette

Posted on 06/12/2007 2:59:46 AM PDT by Clive

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “It was an afternoon of terror in an upscale Thornhill neighbourhood yesterday as a gunman fleeing a jewelry store heist opened fire on a cop in a schoolyard and then led police on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle with two hostages.”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The pursuit continued into a park behind Leo Baeck Day School, a private elementary school for about 530 Jewish students, and that’s when the situation became extremely dangerous.

“During the foot pursuit, the suspect turned and fired a weapon at the officers and one officer returned fire,” Perks said.

Nobody was hurt in the melee but terrified kids, who were outside for gym class, ran for their lives into the school when the gunfire erupted.

Sierra Plachi, 10, was among the 20 or so kids playing soccer when the gunman and police exchanged gunfire nearby. She was still visibly shaken when she was finally able to run out to her mother’s awaiting arms later in the day.

The girl said the man was a few metres away and he appeared to point the silver gun he was carrying at her gym teacher, whom she knows only as Sharitz.

Sierra said the teacher positioned himself between the armed man and his students and yelled at the kids to “run, run, run” inside the school.

“We’re all so proud of him and how brave he was, that he would put our lives ahead of his,” Sierra said, bursting into tears as she became overwhelmed by her emotions.”

[PGalt]

Thanks to all linkers/researchers. Placemark bump.

[all4one]

CDC Investigating Sick Passengers (Miami, FL - 6/12/07)

MIAMI (AP) -- Federal health authorities were responding Tuesday to reports that 11 people were ill on a flight from Mexico to Miami International Airport.

The Aeromexico flight from Merida, Mexico, landed at the airport and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was meeting with authorities in Miami to assess the situation, said Von Roebuck, a CDC spokesman. He had no further details.

Airport spokesman Marc Henderson could not confirm the illnesses. He said the plane landed at about 1:10 p.m.

Link to Article

[Cindy]

Good afternoon P. Galt.
You’re welcome.

[Cindy]

THANK YOU all4one for the links and heads up.

#

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=Aeromexico+&btnG=Search+News

A bit of an update:

http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6647647

“Sick passengers allowed to continue on”
Associated Press - June 12, 2007 3:33 PM ET

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “MIAMI (AP) - Health officials have now released nine passengers who were ill on a flight from Mexico to Miami today.

Initially, authorities reported eleven sick passengers on the Aeromexico flight from Merida. But a spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says nine were ill, with gastro-intestinal-type symptoms.

None was hospitalized.

An airline spokesman says it must have been something they ate before leaving Mexico, since no food is served on the flight.”

[Cindy]

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3073.html

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Tue Jun 12 2007 12:54:28 GMT-0700.

Fiji

June 12, 2007

[Cindy]

http://www.truthusa.com/IRAN.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=iran
http://www.memri.org/iran.html
http://www.memritv.org/Search.asp?ACT=S5&P1=148

#

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/016877.php

June 12, 2007

Iran to make U.S. “regret” detention of Iranians

1938 Alert. “Iran to make U.S. ‘regret’ detention of Iranians-FM,” by Fredrik Dahl for Reuters (thanks to Mackie):

TEHRAN, June 12 (Reuters) - Iran will make the United States “regret” its detention of five Iranians in Iraq since early this year, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Tuesday.
Iran says the five Iranians detained by U.S. forces in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil in January are diplomats and has demanded their release. U.S. officials say they were involved in supporting militants inside Iraq.

“We will make the Americans regret their ugly and illegal action against the Islamic Republic of Iran’s consulate in Arbil, Iraq, and the abduction of the five Iranian diplomats,” Mottaki said, according to the state broadcaster’s Web site.

Mottaki said the Foreign Ministry had “put on its agenda a series of widespread actions against these unlawful and illegal actions that are in contradiction with all international conventions,” the ISNA news agency said, without giving details.

The issue has fuelled tension between the two old foes at a time of a worsening standoff over Iran’s disputed nuclear programme, which the West suspects is aimed at making atom bombs. Tehran says its programme is peaceful.

Further souring relations, Iran is holding three Iranian-Americans on security-related charges. Tehran has dismissed any suggestions their cases might be linked to the five Iranians held in Iraq.

Posted by Robert at June 12, 2007 9:55 AM

[Cindy]

NEWS RELEASE SNIPPET: “Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, caught the alleged al Qaeda member and found about 500 boxes of toilet bowl cleaner and 20 boxes of circuit breaker covers, which can be used to build improvised chemical weapons.”

####

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46377

Eleven Terrorists Held; Bomb-Making Factory Seized in Iraq

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2007 – Coalition forces detained 11 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al Qaeda in Iraq operations in the Baghdad area today.

In operations yesterday, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers seized a bomb-making factory, along with another large weapons cache while on patrol in the eastern portion of the Rashid district of the Iraqi capital.

Troops from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, and Company A, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, discovered the factory, a complex of small buildings deep in the thick palm groves of East Rashid.

The find consisted of one vehicle wired and loaded with explosives, 54 82 mm mortars, 27 155 mm artillery shells, one 500-pound bomb, 64 anti-tank mines, two 200-pound bombs, three 100-pound bombs, 30 130 mm projectiles, 30 hand grenades, 200 artillery boosters, 10 40 mm rounds, 300 5-gallon cans of nitric acid used in homemade explosives, and 1,500 anti-personnel mines. Troops also found enough wiring and bomb-making material to create more than 300 improvised explosive devices.

In a separate cache found near the complex, an additional 125 5-gallon containers of nitric acid were found. Three other vehicles were found wired as car bombs, but did not contain explosives.

Elsewhere in Iraq, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers, in cooperation with Iraqi security forces, conducted a raid in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Hateen on June 10, uncovering a cache of bomb-making materials and capturing a terrorist suspect believed to be linked to al Qaeda in Iraq.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, caught the alleged al Qaeda member and found about 500 boxes of toilet bowl cleaner and 20 boxes of circuit breaker covers, which can be used to build improvised chemical weapons.

In other Iraq operations, an insurgent detonated himself in a suicide car bomb near the Iraqi highway patrol headquarters east of Tikrit on June 10. Fourteen Iraqi policemen were killed in the attack.

In addition, Iraqi army and coalition force soldiers fired at and used attack helicopters to repel insurgents firing from inside the Al Hussiniyah mosque in Old Baquba on June 9.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

[Cindy]

Thanks to a Special Freeper for pointing to this video.

stepping back in time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JE48XHKG64
“Gore criticizes Bush for ignoring Iraq’s ties to terrorism”
(Added June 8, 2007)

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46379

More Than 24 Enemy Fighters Killed in Afghanistan

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2007 – An eight-hour battle in Afghanistan yesterday led to the deaths of some two dozen enemy fighters.

Afghan and coalition forces patrolling near the village of Khenjakak received rocket-propelled-grenade and machine-gun fire in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province. The combined Afghan and coalition forces repelled the attack.

Five hours later, more than 30 enemy attackers ambushed the same patrol with RPG and machine-gun fire near the village. During the eight-hour battle, more than two dozen enemy fighters were killed. One Afghan officer was wounded during the battle.

Meanwhile in Kabul, Afghan and coalition forces detained two militants in an operation today against Taliban forces in the Mandozai district of Khowst province.

During operations June 10, Afghan and coalition forces discovered a munitions cache in the Chamkani district of Paktya province. Forces recovered RPG rounds, 82 mm mortar rounds, mines, grenades, blasting caps, machine gun ammunition, detonation cord, assorted fuses and charges, improvised explosive device receivers and power sources, and blocks of explosives.

(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2373462
TERRORISM FOCUS

“New Arrests Show Turkey as a Recruiting Ground for Islamist Militants”
By Frank Hyland

(June 12, 2007)