Posted on 08/27/2003 11:43:52 AM PDT by 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.
* * * * *
February 12, 2003
There are "disturbing signs" the terror network has a solid presence in Iran and Iraq, and is taking refuge in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the CIA director said. It's also refining new means of attacks, such as surface-to-air missiles, poisons and underwater missiles to attack underwater targets "to achieve multiple objectives, striking prominent landmarks, inflicting mass casualties," and causing economic strife, he said.
And on May 25, 2002
FBI field offices will contact officials at industries they believe might be the most vulnerable to an underwater attack, including atomic power stations, which draw reactor cooling water from nearby waterways.
The Coast Guard also notified all major ports and shipping lines, as well as the power, cruise ship and pipeline industries, U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Cmdr. Jim McPherson said.
Since September 11, FBI investigators asked dive training industry officials for the names of all people who had been trained in the use of sophisticated "rebreathers," one industry official said.
Calling Mike Nelson!
He can hone his underwater knife-fighting skills!
Maybe now you will stop leaving the toilet seat up.
http://www.masnz.co.nz/brochures/limpet.pdf
No, that's not a real one: it's an "exercise" mine.
LOL! No kidding.
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