Al Qaeda Plans Underwater Attack

Newsmax ^ | 26 Aug 2003 | Charles Smith

[flamefront]

According to the U.S. agency charged with protecting America, Al Quaeda terrorists may be planning an attack from under water.

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a bulletin warning that terrorists may attack American ships or ports using scuba divers.

The "Swimmer Attack Indicators and Protective Measures" bulletin was issued on August 22, 2003. The bulletin advised "the maritime industry and owners and operators of maritime facilities of a number of incidents of suspicious activity and possible surveillance of maritime facilities around the U.S. over the past few months."

The bulletin, issued to ship owners, port managers and maritime police organizations, reads like a chapter out of Ian Fleming's "Thunderball" where a terrorist group uses sophisticated underwater technology to attack the United States.

"Although there is no evidence of international terrorist groups planning to utilize scuba divers to carry out attacks within the United States, there is a body of information showing the desire to obtain such capability," states the bulletin.

"During the past two years there have been numerous incidents that have occurred involving suspicious individuals possibly conducting surveillance of port facilities, cruise ship docks, naval bases, dams, bridges and power facilities in the United States. Also, there has been law enforcement reporting of suspicious individuals having queried marine shops and schools concerning equipment and training."

According to the agency, "there is no specific information indicating that a swimmer attack of any kind is currently being planned in the United States, such targeting would be consistent with Al-Qaeda's stated objective to disrupt and undermine vital economic interests in this country and to cause mass casualties and panic."

DIVERS AND ONE MAN SUBS

The U.S. security agency also warned scuba gear operators, owners and training companies to be on the look out for individuals or groups that have money but no visible means of support.

In addition, the Dept. of Homeland Security warned boat and submersible equipment dealers to report "volume purchasing inquiries related to Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) and Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPVs)."

Other indicators of unusual activity included, "exclusive purchases of darkened gear or after market painting" and "attempts to purchase large magnets, large diameter PVC pipe or empty compressed gas cylinders or theft of same."

The U.S. security agency also warned major ship owners to take various anti-swimmer and anti-terrorist measures.

"Because swimmers traditionally target a ship's screws and rudders in order to incapacitate a ship, periodically cycle rudders and rotate propellers at high RPMs," states the alert.

Ship owners were also warned to take steps against both small submarines that carry divers and small, unidentified boats.

"Periodically activate vessel's SONAR. This technique may assist with repelling swimmer attacks as well as detecting submersibles. Consider using radar at blind spots to detect small boat approaches," concluded the bulletin.

Al Quaeda has previously used waterborne attacks with great success. The U.S. warship U.S.S. Cole was attacked in Oct. 2000 in Yemen by a small suicide boat loaded with explosives. The attack killed 17 U.S. sailors.

Al Quaeda also attacked and damaged a large oil tanker off the coast of Yemen using either a radio controlled boat or a suicide boat.

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[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

That's why we've been having these guys on patrol:

030811-N-6803B-001 Naval Forces Central Command (Aug. 11, 2003) -- Mark Six swimmer defense dolphins are deployed to the Arabian Gulf to provide operational force protection capabilities for Navy ships, piers and other high-value assets as part of the global war on terrorism. The dolphins are trained to detect, locate and mark threat swimmers and divers attempting to commit terrorist attacks. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Veronica Birmingham. (RELEASED)

030318-N-5319A-004 Central Command Area of Responsibility (Mar. 18, 2003) -- Staff Sgt. Justin Roberts escorts K-Dog a Bottle Nose Dolphin belonging to Commander Task Unit (CTU) 55.4.3 in a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) back to the well deck and holding areas aboard the USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) in the Arabian Gulf. CTU-55.4.3 is a multi-national team consisting of Naval Special Clearance Team One, Fleet Diving Unit Three from the United Kingdom, Clearance Dive Team from Australia, and the U.S. Navy's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Units Six and Eight (EODMU-6 and -8). These units are conducting deep/shallow water mine countermeasure operations to clear shipping lanes for humanitarian relief. CTU-55.4.3 and USS Gunston Hall are currently forward deployed conducting missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Brien Aho. (RELEASED)

[Grampa Dave]

Poor Starbucks is targeted by all of the left wingers from Peta to the enviral whackos. Now, they are hated by the Islamokazis of America.

We will have to buy a few extra cups of Starbucks each month.

[knighthawk]

The Dutch have a lot of need for divers. They got a worldwide reputation for salvaging sunken ships.

[aristeides]

And Eindhoven is on the Rhine. Any nuclear power plants on big rivers like the Mississippi? Isn't Indian Point on the Hudson?

[knighthawk]

We only got two nuclear plants, Borssele and Dodewaard (located at the river 'de Waal'). Dodewaard was closed a while back. Borssele is still operational, and is located at 'de Westerschelde', which brings the river 'de Schelde' into the sea.

Maybe the Germans got some on the Rhine (btw Eindhoven is 60-70 km away from the Rhine)

[aristeides]

btw Eindhoven is 60-70 km away from the Rhine

I stand corrected. So where would the diving training have been taking place? Is Eindhoven on a canal?

[knighthawk]

60-70 km is not far for Americans, but for us...

They give diving lessons in swimming pools and specialy created deep bassins. The training school is located in Einhoven (mostly these are diving/surfing shops), but were they gave their lessons was not brought in the press.