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.

* * * * *

[Hatteras]

Ah, the Incredible Mr. Limpet... The first movie I ever attended in a movie theatre.

[machman]

We need more of these guys on patrol.

Marine Mammals on Active Duty

[commandante_zero]

Looks like he picked the wrong day to give up smoking.

[Frank_Discussion]

That's hilarious!

[b4its2late]

Good point!

[BnBlFlag]

Turn the trained dolphins and sea lions loose on their sorry a$$es.

[My Favorite Headache]

[a_Turk]

Rubber duckie alert!

Signed,

Bert and Ernie..

[Redcrosse]

"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."

LOL. St John USVI must be a true hotbed of terrorist scoundrels.

[Diver Dave]

Did somebody call?

[JustPiper]

On our local Chicago scanner, a call came across last night from a Lt., the call was for homeland security bio-weapons and he was requesting a private channel. Now that doesn't make me feel too good!

[cyberaxe]

LOL. St John USVI must be a true hotbed of terrorist scoundrels.

.....lol.....

.....maybe they should "drag-net" Trunk Bay!.....

[martin_fierro]

THEY'RE COMING! THEY'RE COMING!

[shaggy eel]

,,, [my coat is black and the moon is yellow] BUMP!

[Bringbackthedraft]

Maybe we should think "dam", like in power dam?

[ffusco]

Ill tempered sea bass.....

[PoorMuttly]

Activate Plan B. Repeat...Activate Plan B.

Bert is Evil, y'know.

[kinghorse]

They are going to sink in those friggin robes just like their ancestors at Salamis. And how are they going to put that scuba mask over the hood.

[JustPiper]

Thanx for the Ping buddee! I wrote in another post I was slightly distressed to hear a CPD Lt. call in for help near Lk. Mich for homeland bio-chem team and requested a private channel.

[kinghorse]

That picture should be as famous as the naked vietnamese girl and the green eyed afghani girl. That picture tells a thousand words (unless it was photoshopped in which case it's still pretty good!).