Threat Matrix: July 2007

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Threat Matrix:
July 2007

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US Steps Up Security Following Attack in Britain

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff made appearances on several television talk shows.

He told ABC's This Week program there is no indication of a linkage between the events in Britain and any specific attacks on the United States. "We do not have, at this point, specific, credible intelligence that there is an attack, a particular attack, focused on this country," he said.

But at the same time, speaking on CNN's Late Edition program, Chertoff said U.S. authorities are concerned about the threat of terrorism, especially in the coming months. "We have had a number of al-Qaida leaders quite publicly talking about how they want to carry out their threats against the West. So, given that and given the history that we have had over past summers, with attacks in Britain, I think we were clearly focused on this as a possibility," he said. Full story...

	More United Kingdom Attacks Possible
	More US Air Marshals on Flights to Europe
	Officials: Car Bomb Plot Bears al Qaida's Trademark

[Oorang]

Thanks very much Cindy. Ahmad Abdallah Abu Ghanam’s behavior is definitely filed under “suspicious”.

[Cindy]

Yep and you’re welcome Oorang.

[Cindy]

PROPAGANDA ON THE NET...

www.youtube.com/user/SayfulAdel

img.youtube.com/vi/3taMuI-uIjc/default.jpg

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2hCly2addg

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3taMuI-uIjc

www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=SayfulAdel&p=r

[Cindy]

PROPAGANDA ON THE NET...

www.youtube.com/user/Cih4d

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oEE9DkMmVM

[Cindy]

Smiling...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZgFlReHu2s&mode=related&search=
“Coming Soon”

[Cindy]

Thanks to a Special Emailer for sending me this live blogging link:

http://islamabad.metblogs.com/

[Oorang]

Children flee mosque as Pakistani troops move in
July 10, 2007

Pakistani commandos stormed a besieged mosque in Islamabad early this morning moments after negotiations between the country’s leaders and Islamic militants broke down.

Loud explosions and gunfire were heard as the troops entered the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, in a dawn raid. About 20 of the children who had been held hostage inside the mosque by the rebel group led by Abdul Rashid Ghazi escaped as the military exchanged gunfire with the militants.

Major-General Waheed Arshad confirmed that some soldiers had been killed. It was not known how many of the estimated 60 militants holed up inside the mosque died. “This is the final assault,” he said. “We expect to clear the mosque and madrassa in the next few hours. Around 20 children managed to slip out and they are with the troops now.”

Excerpted

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2051853.ece

2 killed as troops storm Pakistan's Red Mosque

[Oorang]

Airports warned against possible al-Qaeda attack
10.07.2007

The European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) sent an urgent encrypted message to 55 countries, including Turkey, cautioning them against possible attacks by al-Qaeda.

On receiving the alert, the National Security Directorate -- Turkey’s top police authority -- has launched a massive investigation into some 27,000 people working at 40 airports across Turkey. The message was sent by the ECAC following the ramming of a fuel-packed jeep into Scotland’s busiest airport, Glasgow. The high security message stated that al-Qaeda was in preparation for deadly attacks similar to its infamous attack perpetrated on Sept. 11, 2001, on the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The ECAC drew attention in particular to the importance of subjecting all airport staff to a security clearance check, making sure there are no possible links at all to the deadly terrorist network. It also specifically demanded that private sector employees working at airports open to international air traffic be investigated.

The message was also sent to the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Civil Aviation Security Board. Airline companies themselves are also looking into subsidiary companies and subcontracted services from private security companies, airport service providers and cleaning companies.

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=116267

EU, Israel Warn Morocco of Terror Threat
Jul 9, 2007

RABAT, Morocco - The European Union and Israel have alerted Morocco to the threat of imminent terrorist attacks and urged tighter security, a Moroccan newspaper reported Monday. Al-Ahdath al-Maghribiya newspaper said EU officials sent a report warning of a "very high likelihood of terrorist attacks against Morocco." The newspaper also said Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa received similar warnings from Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni when the two met last week in Paris.

The newspaper said the EU and Israel have urged Morocco to tighten security at foreign embassies, tourist sites and along borders particularly in southeastern desert regions bordering Algeria and Mauritania.

Israeli intelligence given to Morocco indicated that 11 suspected al-Qaida members had recently slipped over the country's borders, the newspaper said.

Excerpted

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3360514

[Oorang]

Airports warned against possible al-Qaeda attack
10.07.2007

The European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) sent an urgent encrypted message to 55 countries, including Turkey, cautioning them against possible attacks by al-Qaeda.

On receiving the alert, the National Security Directorate -- Turkey’s top police authority -- has launched a massive investigation into some 27,000 people working at 40 airports across Turkey. The message was sent by the ECAC following the ramming of a fuel-packed jeep into Scotland’s busiest airport, Glasgow. The high security message stated that al-Qaeda was in preparation for deadly attacks similar to its infamous attack perpetrated on Sept. 11, 2001, on the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The ECAC drew attention in particular to the importance of subjecting all airport staff to a security clearance check, making sure there are no possible links at all to the deadly terrorist network. It also specifically demanded that private sector employees working at airports open to international air traffic be investigated.

The message was also sent to the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Civil Aviation Security Board. Airline companies themselves are also looking into subsidiary companies and subcontracted services from private security companies, airport service providers and cleaning companies.

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=116267

EU, Israel Warn Morocco of Terror Threat
Jul 9, 2007

RABAT, Morocco - The European Union and Israel have alerted Morocco to the threat of imminent terrorist attacks and urged tighter security, a Moroccan newspaper reported Monday. Al-Ahdath al-Maghribiya newspaper said EU officials sent a report warning of a "very high likelihood of terrorist attacks against Morocco." The newspaper also said Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa received similar warnings from Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni when the two met last week in Paris.

The newspaper said the EU and Israel have urged Morocco to tighten security at foreign embassies, tourist sites and along borders particularly in southeastern desert regions bordering Algeria and Mauritania.

Israeli intelligence given to Morocco indicated that 11 suspected al-Qaida members had recently slipped over the country's borders, the newspaper said.

Excerpted

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3360514

[Godzilla]

placemark

[Cindy]

Thank you Special Emailer.

This link is still being updated.

http://islamabad.metblogs.com/

[Cindy]

Thank you very much for that update Oorang.

[Cindy]

Thanks Oorang for the links regarding airport warnings/threats.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1859319/posts?page=888#888

[Cindy]

Thanks to a Special Emailer for these links:

http://www.jumptv.com/en/channel/aajtv/

#

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IG10Df04.html

“A moment of truth for Pakistan”
By Syed Saleem Shahzad
(July 10, 2007)

KARACH

[Cindy]

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

#

http://www.satp.org

###

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/017330.php
(AFP)

July 10, 2007
“Pakistani troops storm jihadist mosque, 23 dead”

###

Previously...

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/017309.php

July 8, 2007
“Pakistan Red Mosque Clash Intensifies”

###

http://www.saag.org

http://www.saag.org/papers23/paper2292.html

Paper no. 2292

09.07.2007

“THE LAL MASJID STAND-OFF IN ISLAMABAD & MUSHARRAF’S FUTURE - INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM MONITOR-—PAPER NO. 253”
By B. Raman

[callmejoe]

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1183980038909&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Syria rejects offer to hold peace talks

JPost.com Staff, THE JERUSALEM POST
Jul. 10, 2007 (excerpt)

Damascus has rejected Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s offer to hold peace talks with President Bashar Assad, Army Radio reported on Tuesday morning.

Syrian parliament member Muhammad Habash said late Monday night that Damascus did not believe Olmert’s overtures were serious.

In an historic interview with Saudi satellite station Al Arabiya, aired by Channel 10 Monday evening, Olmert invited Assad to Jerusalem to talk. . .

[callmejoe]

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/880286.html

Last update - 04:29 10/07/2007
Analysis: Israel monitoring Lebanese politics closely
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent (excerpt)

The defense establishment will be keeping a close eye on developments in Lebanon’s domestic political scene, particularly those in the coming two weeks. While intelligence analysts do not believe that the growing tensions inside Lebanon will necessarily spill over and affect the calm along the border with Israel, preparations are nonetheless in place to monitor developments.

The crisis in Lebanon currently centers on the confrontation between Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and his anti-Syrian backers, known in Lebanon as the March 14th movement, on one side and Hezbollah and other pro-Syrian factions on the other.

The tenure of pro-Syrian president Emile Lahoud is due to end in September, and the two camps seem unable to reach an agreement on the appointment of a new president. According to the Lebanese Constitution, if a new president is not appointed, the authority and responsibilities of his office are transferred to the government. . .

Two other Lebanon-related developments are expected to take place at the United Nations in the coming days. First, the Security Council is scheduled to discuss a report on the implementation of Resolution 1701, the resolution that brought an end to the Second Lebanon War through an agreed cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah. Also, a report on the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, is expected to be released . . .

According to a number of reports, Syria has called on its citizens to leave Lebanon in the near future, but did not provide any reasons . . .

[callmejoe]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/10/africa/ME-GEN-Israel-Syria.php

Olmert offers to open peace talks with Syria

The Associated Press
Tuesday, July 10, 2007 (excerpt)

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to reopen peace talks between the two countries in an interview published Tuesday.

Israel had already appealed to Syria to open negotiations, but Syria insisted that talks be mediated by the Americans, who are not interested, Olmert said. . .

Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter said Tuesday that Olmert indeed wants to resume talks with Syria and his offer was “genuine and real.” But Dichter was not optimistic that Assad would agree to renew the talks, especially because he is allied with Iran, Israel’s greatest enemy.

“Bashar Assad apparently has other plans than making peace with Israel,” Dichter told Army Radio. “And now we will listen and wait.” . . .

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=70636

you are here: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
Warden Message: Two Explosive Devices Discovered in Aden
Consular Affairs Bulletins
Middle East / N. Africa - Yemen
9 Jul 2007

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Warden Message: Yemen Violence; Vigilance Urged
U.S. Embassy Sana’a issued the following Warden Message on July 9, 2007:

Two explosive devices (one confirmed vehicle-borne; one suspected to be vehicle-borne) were discovered in Aden today. As a result, the US Embassy has restricted its employees’ movements within Sanaa and canceled all travel outside of Sanaa through opening of business on Saturday, July 14. Additionally, all travel to Aden governorate has been canceled until further notice. On July 14, the Embassy will reassess the situation and inform American citizens of any change in these restrictions.

The Embassy urges all American citizens to avoid travel to Aden governorate at this time, and encourages them to maintain a high level of vigilance throughout Yemen. Avoid large crowds and demonstrations, keep a low profile, vary times and routes for all travel, and ensure travel documents are current.
The U.S. Embassy is located at Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, P.O. Box 22347. The telephone number of the Consular Section is (967)(1) 755-2000, extension 2153 or 2266. The fax number is (967)(1) 303-175. The after hours emergency number is (967)(1)755-2000 (press zero for extension). In case of an emergency, if these regular numbers do not work, please call 967-733213509.

Current information on travel and security in Yemen may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada, or, from outside the United States and Canada, 1-202-501-4444. U.S. citizens should consult the Travel Warning for Yemen, the Consular Information Sheet for Yemen, the Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement, and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement on the Department’s Internet site at http://travel.state.gov .

[Cindy]

UPDATE...

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/southasia/news/article_1327637.php/Kidnapped_Danish_aid_official_rescued_in_Bangladesh__Roundup_
(Deutsche Presse-Agentur)

South Asia News

“Kidnapped Danish aid official rescued in Bangladesh (Roundup)”

Jul 9, 2007, 9:55 GMT

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Dhaka - The army-led security forces in Bangladesh rescued a Western aid agency official from captivity in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the south-east of the country bordering Myanmar, officials said Monday.

Local sources said Hossain Shahid Sumon, a Bangladeshi working for Danish International Development Agency, was found in a jungle hideout Sunday, bringing to a close a fortnight-long search-and-rescue operation.

Sumon’s Bangladeshi driver, Mohammad Hanif, was also abducted on June 25 but released three days later by suspected anti-Myanmar rebels from the remote town of Thanchi.

Rescuers used air force helicopters for scanning the malaria-infested foothills of Bandarban district located in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region, about 350 kilometres south-east of the capital Dhaka.

A force of some 1,000 personnel took part in the search for the kidnapped workers.

Security forces killed at least one suspected kidnapper in a shootout on July 6, and arrested three others.”