Al Qaeda may be planning new U.S. attacks, officials say
Nuclear plants, Seattle landmark possible targets
From Barbara Starr
CNN Washington BureauWASHINGTON (CNN) -- Al Qaeda operatives apparently have been casing the United States for possible targets of future attacks, U.S. officials said, drawing that conclusion after finding photos and illustrations of U.S. landmarks and power plants in Afghanistan caves and safe houses.
In a related development, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission earlier this month sent a memo to U.S. nuclear power plants, warning that terrorists were plotting to crash a commercial U.S. jetliner into a nuclear power plant somewhere in the United States.
The discoveries highlight how serious terrorists are, President Bush said.
"We found some of their aspirations in terms of creating harm for America," he said this week during a speech to a senior citizens volunteer group Florida. "For example, they targeted some of our citizens or some of our infrastructure."
U.S. forces found a picture of the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington, in one location, sources said, and drawings of nuclear power facilities were discovered in Afghanistan.
Washington state, officials said, was apparently a prime al Qaeda target. Two weeks ago, the intelligence community issued a new threat assessment based on the discoveries and warning of possible al Qaeda attacks in the United States and overseas, U.S. officials said.
Officials emphasize they have no specific intelligence about timing or location of any attack.
"I think it is fair to say if we had specific information about the timing and place of a particular attack, we would get that to the authorities lightning quick," FBI Director Robert Mueller said Thursday when asked about the matter.
Sources said an "assessment of intent" report was based in part on drawings of nuclear power facilities discovered during searches of suspected al Qaeda sites around Afghanistan.
The documents suggested al Qaeda -- whose fighters have been on the run since the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan -- had been looking at possibly crashing an airplane into a power plant in Washington state.
A senior member of al Qaeda underscored those concerns when he told interrogators that plans had been made to hijack a civilian jetliner and crash it into a nuclear plant somewhere in the country, the NRC said.
In a January 23 memo distributed to each of the nation's 103 nuclear plants, the commission indicated that a team on the ground in the United States was to select the plant to be struck. The group would divert the plane into a tall building if a military plane tried to intercept the flight, the memo said.
Overseas targets
U.S. military intelligence also is concerned about new intercepts and other intelligence gathered over the last few weeks, suggesting a possible attack against a military target overseas.
Washington Gov. Gary Locke has downplayed the possibility of an attack against his state.
Locke said state officials were informed last week of the existence of the photograph, which featured the top half of the Space Needle from a distance and appeared to be a "tourist picture."
"Federal officials assured us that Washington state is not under any credible threat of any attack," Locke said Wednesday. However, he said, Seattle police were notified of the discovery.
Originally built for the 1962 World's Fair, the Space Needle is Seattle's most recognizable landmark. Rising 605 feet above downtown, the structure has an observation deck and a restaurant.
Mueller said the FBI presence has been reduced in Afghanistan. He said between two and 10 agents remain in the country. Their duties include interviewing detainees.
He said any documents recovered in Afghanistan that may relate to terrorist plots go to a "combined team" involving the military, CIA and FBI for study.