Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - Thread Thirty-One

[nwctwx]

Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat

Thread Thirty-One (Index)

Yahoo News : Yahoo Images : News Hotlinks

The Threat Matrix

The title refers to a daily report given to the president of the United States detailing the most serious terrorist threats against the country. To tackle those threats, the government has formed a top-notch task force to infiltrate the terror cells and cut off the danger.

"Every morning, the president receives a list of the top ten terrorist threats - this list is known as the threat matrix."

We here at FR are trying to be in conjunction with the daily reports around the world that involve threats. We try to provide a storehouse of information that takes hours of research.

YOU be the judge and get informed!

Home grown Islamists may hit US: FBI chief
Full Story

WASHINGTON -- The United States could be attacked by "home grown" Islamist terror groups, the FBI's chief has warned.

FBI Director Robert Mueller told the London Financial Times newspaper in an interview published Thursday that the United States could face attacks from "home-grown terrorism" very similar to the July 7 bombings in London that killed 52 people and wounded another 700, Mueller said.

When asked if the United States could face such attacks from "home-grown groups", Mueller answered emphatically: "Absolutely, it could," the Financial Times said.

Related:
U.S. Officials Warn on Global Reach of al-Qaida
U.S. seeks more cooperation to fight terrorism
FDNY Chaplain Resigns After 9/11 Remarks
Nuclear option escalates jihad threat

"I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat."

TM Terrorism Handbook	Link to Thread Thirty "Code Red Implications: Code Red - Stay Home and Await Word." From Tm'er and Freeper ~MamaDearest~	Tracking the Chatter with TM
TM 'Be on the Lookout'		Survival Preparedness Info.
Threat Matrix Book List		ExSoldier's Invaluable Tips
Arabic Links and Resources		Godzilla's Summaries

Threat Matrix HTML designed by: Ian Livingston

[StillProud2BeFree]

Over the past few months there has been much discussion of the Laillat al Qadr, the night when Muslims believe that the fate of the world for the coming year is determined.

Many have speculated that the next major terror attack would occur on the Laillat al Qadr.

You’ll see the phrase Laillat al Qadr translated several different ways. The most common are “Night of Power” and “Night of Determination”.

The Laillat al Qadr is considered an especially holy night for Muslims because they believe that it is the night when Allah first began to reveal to Qu’ran to the prophet Mohamed.

Muslims believe that this is the night that the fate of the world for the coming year is determined. It is considered to be better than 1000 nights.

Some Muslims celebrate it on the 27th day of Ramadan.

But no where in the Qu'ran is the exact day specified, although the Prophet Mohamed is believed to have said it falls within the last 10 days.

When I was in Cairo, I was taught that it was one of the odd numbered days during the last 10 days.

Muslims are taught to treat each of the last ten nights of Ramadan as if it is the Laillat al Qadr, when their prayers and good deeds are rewarded 1000 times over.

I’ve seen many analysts speculate as to whether or not the “Night of Determination” or the “Night of Power” is the target date for a major terror attack.

Based on my understanding of Islam, and the fact that the specific Laillat al Qadr is not known, that appears unlikely.

However, it is important to note that radical Muslims believe that martyrdom within Ramadan takes them to a higher level in Paradise.

Therefore, the entire month of Ramadan should be seen as a time of elevated risk of terror attacks.

We are in the final week of Ramadan – and the Laillat al Qadr may be in the days ahead, or it may have already passed.

The risk of terror attack has not passed.

We need to keep in mind that absence of a terror attack does not mean absence of planning for such an attack.

We must maintain our vigilence.

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1512287/posts

"Small US units lure Taliban into losing battles"
The Christian Science Monitor ^ | October 31, 2005 | Scott Baldauf

Posted on 10/30/2005 5:12:51 PM PST by george76

QALAT, AFGHANISTAN

[Cindy]

Snippet: "The risk of terror attack has not passed.

We need to keep in mind that absence of a terror attack does not mean absence of planning for such an attack.

We must maintain our vigilence."

OPINION: I agree.

[jer33 3]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1512328/posts

[Cindy]

Thanks to jer33 3 for pointing to this article:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1512328/posts


"Infection rate in Volgograd school reaches 110"
Itar-Tass ^ | 30.10.2005

Posted on 10/30/2005 7:01:16 PM PST by jb6

VOLGOGORAD, October 30 (Itar-Tass)

[nw_arizona_granny]

I-25 near Denver, is at this time closed.

Reported a man with a scoped rifle is on a overpass at Park,
I think they meant Park street, wasn't expecting it in the middle of Drudge, broadcast at 8:45 pm.

So far no one shot, but earlier today Denver has had 3 shootings of 4 men.

from 850koa.com (radio)

[nw_arizona_granny]

Denver, I - 25 still closed, due to man with a rifle on the Park Ave. overpass.

No shots have been fired.

I-25 both lanes are closed.

Police spokesman said: this is a dangerous search, that will last until the man is caught.

It may take hours, as there is underbrush to hide in, it is being handled as they handle a bomb threat.

You can listen on the computer at 850koa.com, the Drudge program.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Denver, I-25 is now re-opened, not a word said about arrests.

Still says "No shots fired".

[nw_arizona_granny]

SALMONELLOSIS, SEROTYPE GOLDCOAST, TOURISTS - MULTICOUNTRY EX SPAIN: ALERT *************************************************** A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases _____________________________________________________________ Sponsored in part by Elsevier, publisher of Antiviral Diseases -------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 From: ProMED-mail Source: Eurosurveillance Weekly [edited] _____________________________________________________________ By 27 Oct 2005, 32 cases of gastroenteritis due to Salmonella [_S. enterica_ serotype] Goldcoast had been detected in tourists who are known to have stayed in Majorca (Spain) during Sep and Oct 2005. --------------------------------- Health Protection Scotland has reported 24 cases in Scottish tourists to Enter-net (the international surveillance network for the enteric infections Salmonella and VTEC O157, ). _______________________________________________________________ By 26 Oct 2005, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre of Ireland had reported 2 cases of serotype Goldcoast in tourists. ------------------There have also been 3 cases in Swedish tourists, 2 cases in Danish tourists and 1 case in a Norwegian tourist. ---------------------------------- The Health Protection Agency's Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens in England and Wales has reported 68 cases of serotype Goldcoast between 1-25 Oct 2005, compared with only 3 cases in the same period in 2004. The majority of cases are in patients who are believed to have visited Majorca. Phage typing results that are available indicate that the same type is being identified. --------------------------------- Illness onset for the 20 cases for which information is available was between 25 Sep and 11 Oct 2005. Only 5 patients had symptom onset during their holidays in Majorca; most patients had symptom onset between 1 and 10 days after returning to their home countries. The patients stayed in several different towns and different apartments throughout Majorca between 13 Sep and 10 Oct 2005. --------------------------------- The regional health authorities in the Balearic Islands have informed Spain's Instituto de Salud Carlos III that they have not detected any Spanish case of serotype Goldcoast in Majorca in 2005. The Spanish National Reference Laboratory has found 8 Goldcoast isolates between January and August 2005 in different regions throughout Spain. None of the isolates were from the Balearic Islands. --------------------------------- Epidemiological information that could identify the source or possible places where food was eaten or acquired is limited so far. An international investigation has been initiated with a view to identifying the vehicle(s) of infection in Majorca. ---------------------------------- Information on any other _S. Goldcoast_ cases related to travel to Majorca should be sent to Dr Alison Smith-Palmer, coordinator of the Scottish investigation (), and Drs Gloria Hernandez Pezzi and Pilar Soler Crespo, coordinators of the Spanish investigation ( and ), and copied to the Enter-net scientific coordinator (). [Reported by: in alphabetical order: Coia J, Cormican M, Ethelberg S, et al] _______________________________________________________________ -- ProMED-mail --------------------------------- [Majorca -- spelled Mallorca in Catalan and Spanish -- the largest of the Balearic Islands, and along with its sister islands of Menorca and Ibiza, lies in the Mediterranean Sea off the southeast coast of mainland Spain. ---------------------------------- This outbreak of salmonellosis in tourists is likely to continue to grow as more cases identified in other countries are linked. The vehicle for transmission is yet unknown but will likely be identified after the results of the investigation are available. ---------------------------------- Other outbreaks of this serotype of _S. enterica_ have been transmitted by watercress sprouts (1), fermented sausage (2) and cheddar chesse (3). ------------------------------------ 1. Joce R, O'Sullivan DG, Strong C, et al: A national outbreak of Salmonella Gold-Coast. Commun Dis Rep CDR Rev 1990:4:3-4. --------------------------------- 2. Bremer V, Leitmeyer K, Jensen E, et al: Outbreak of Salmonella Goldcoast infections linked to consumption of fermented sausage, Germany 2001. Epidemiology and Infection 2004; 132: 881-87 ----------------------------------- 3. Anonymous: Salmonella gold-coast and cheddar cheese: update, Communicable Diseases Report. 1997; 7: 93, 96. - Mod.LL]

[nw_arizona_granny]

Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 From: ProMED-mail Source: Eurosurveillance Weekly Vol.10, Issue 10, 27 Oct 2005 [edited] _______________________________________________________________ An outbreak of cryptosporidium infections occurred among employees at a large private company in Denmark in late August 2005. The outbreak was reported to the food safety authorities by the company management on 2 Sep 2005, following the onset of diarrhoea among a large number of employees during that week (week 35). To investigate the cause of diarrhoea, people with symptoms were urged to submit faecal samples for examination, and a case-control study was initiated. The faecal samples tested negative for diarrhoea-causing viruses and bacteria, but 13 of 17 patients were found by microscopy to be infected with Cryptosporidium. ----------------------------------- The parasite was subsequently typed as _Cryptosporidium hominis_ by PCR. Results of the case-control study indicated that disease was associated with eating in the company canteen in the 1st part of the previous week (week 34). Eating food from the salad bar in the canteen was also associated with disease. A 2nd questionnaire-study was conducted during week 39. This was conducted as a cohort study using an electronic form distributed by email to all employees of the company, and contained questions about the individual food items available from the salad bar. ------------------------------------ A total of 364 out of about 600 employees of the company participated in the 2nd study. Of these, 78 met the case definition (diarrhoea with onset after 20 Aug 2005). Disease was associated with eating in the company canteen on Monday (relative risk [RR]: 4.1, 95 percent confidence intervals [CI]: 2.2-7.6) or Tuesday (RR: 4.4, 95 percent CI: 2.2-8.8) in week 34, and eating from the salad bar on those days (RR: 3.1, 95 percent CI: 2.0-4.8 and RR: 3.1, 95 percent CI: 2.0-4.7, respectively). ------------------------------- An analysis of questionnaire responses from people who reported eating from the salad bar found that 2 food items in particular were associated with disease: whole peeled carrots (RR: 2.4, 95 percent CI: 1.5-4.0) and grated carrots (RR: 2.0, 95 percent CI: 1.2-3.5). In a multivariate analysis, only these 2 food items were associated with disease. The whole carrots were considered to be a probable vehicle for infection, as they were kept in a large bowl with water. --------------------------------- One hypothesis is that employees using the canteen may have taken carrots from the bowl using their hands, and that this action could have contaminated the carrots if any of these people were human carriers of the parasite. --------------------------------- There was no evidence to suggest that the carrots were contaminated by the kitchen staff. As a consequence of the outbreak, the canteen management has announced that raw vegetables will no longer be served in water. ----------------------------------- A total of 99 people reported onset of diarrhoea after 20 Aug 2005. Only 2/3 of the individuals assumed to have been exposed to canteen food during the relevant time period participated in the studies, and so the actual number of infected patients may have been higher. --------------------------------------- Outbreaks of cryptosporidium infections are uncommon in Denmark. The only previous report was a hospital-associated outbreak in 1989, where the likely source of the outbreak was an ice cube machine contaminated by a patient excreting the parasite [1]. In Denmark, cryptosporidium infections are not notifiable and faecal samples from patients with gastrointestinal symptoms are not always examined for parasites. Therefore, a reliable estimate of the incidence is not available. However, based on the number of positive samples reported from the diagnostic laboratory at Statens Serum Institut, the infection is believed to be relatively rare compared with other gastrointestinal infections. _____________________________________________________________ References: Ravn P, Lundgren JD, Kjaeldgaard P, Holten-Anderson W, Hojlyng N, Nielsen JO et al. Nosocomial outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in AIDS patients. BMJ 1991; 302 (6771):277-280. ---------------------------------- [Reported by: Steen Ethelberg (1) (SET@ssi.dk), Morten Lisby (2), Lasse S Vestergaard (1), Heidi Larsen Enemark (3) and Kåre Mølbak (1). 1). Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark 2); Regional Food Control Authority Northeast-Sealand, Copenhagen, Denmark; 3). Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research, Copenhagen, Denmark] ----------------------------------- -- ProMED ----------------------------------- [Infections with cryptosporidia have been extensively reported from the United Kingdom (see below). The prevalence -- at least of symptomatic infections -- is low in humans in Scandinavia. However, the present report shows there are probably carriers who can serve as source of infection given the opportunity. Serving raw carrots in a bowl of water is common practice, but apparently carries a small risk if people serve the carrots with their fingers. --------------------------------- The investigation of cases and controls by questionnaire or interview shows the strength of these methods for identifying the source of infection. - Mod.EP] *************Read and be aware of carrots served in water****

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1512372/posts

"England - Fire destroys top research centre (University of Southampton)"
BBC News ^ | October 30, 2005

Posted on 10/30/2005 8:44:19 PM PST by HAL9000

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "A massive fire has destroyed a leading computer science research facility at the University of Southampton.
Gas canisters exploded inside the Mountbatten building on Salisbury Road, Highfield, which was engulfed by a 100ft plume of smoke on Sunday morning.

No-one was hurt, but the building, housing valuable equipment for making chips and optic fibres, was destroyed.

A spokesman said some of the world's most advanced research was carried out there and its loss was devastating.

The laboratory, part of the school of Electronics and Computer Science, was completely destroyed, and a nearby office building was damaged.

John Lauwerys, secretary and registrar at the university, said: "Some of the most advanced research work in the country, and indeed the world was carried out in this facility."

He said it would be some time before they could assess how much work has been lost and what the damage would cost the university.

"We probably will have to start from scratch, and it will take a couple of years to rebuild the facility," he added.

People living in the area were warned of potentially harmful fumes and told to stay inside and keep windows and doors shut. Flats above a nearby building were evacuated.

It took more than 100 firefighters nearly ten hours to bring the fire under control."

[Cindy]

http://www.kusa.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=43f99fa6-0abe-421a-01f2-f1ed61d53171&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf

"Four dead in three separate homicides"
Dan Werner Web producer
Created: 10/30/2005 5:00 PM MST - Updated: 10/30/2005 5:49 PM MST
DENVER -

[nw_arizona_granny]

TUBERCULOSIS, SCHOOL - SWEDEN (STOCKHOLM) **************************************** A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases _____________________________________________________________ Sponsored in part by Elsevier, publisher of Antiviral Diseases --------------------------------- Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 From: ProMED-mail Source: Eurosurveillance Weekly [edited] _____________________________________________________________ A female assistant at a nursery in a wealthy suburb of Stockholm was diagnosed with smear-positive advanced pulmonary tuberculosis in August 2005. She had lost weight and been coughing for several months before diagnosis. The chest x-ray showed bilateral cavitary lesions. Infection with an isoniazid-resistant strain of _Mycobacterium tuberculosis_ was confirmed on culture. --------------------------------- All children and adults with a presumed exposure at the nursery were listed and examined. A 3-year-old boy was found to be ill with fever, admitted to hospital immediately, and diagnosed with primary tuberculosis with hilar adenopathy. All children below 3 years of age were also sent directly to the hospital for clinical examination. Children 3 years and over underwent a tuberculin skin test (TST) at the nursery. All children with a TST of [10 mm induration or greater - Mod.LL] were referred to the hospital for chest x ray and clinical evaluation. --------------------------------- In total, 141 children were exposed and of these, 35 (25 percent) had a TST of 10 mm or more and/or an abnormal chest x-ray. Out of 20 children with an abnormal chest x-ray, 8 had bronchoalveolar infiltrates with hilar adenopathy and 12 hilar adenopathy only. A 7-year-old girl had a disseminated tuberculosis. No child required prolonged hospitalization, and all are recovering well. None of 61 children from nearby nurseries with sporadic short contacts were infected. 45 children had no observable reaction to their first TST. Another round of TSTs will be performed. ---------------------------------- Children with chest x rays showing signs of tuberculosis were put on full anti-tuberculous medication, while children with only a positive TST were prescribed chemoprophylactic therapy. --------------------------------- 11 of 25 permanent staff members at the nursery had a TST of 10 mm or greater. One assistant at a nearby nursery who had had only temporary contact developed tuberculosis pleuritis. Another 9 adults with sporadic contact showed a TST of 10 mm or greater. --------------------------------- 46 parents were considered exposed and 6 possibly infected. No parent has developed disease. Infected adults were prescribed prophylactic treatment, determined on an individual basis. --------------------------------- The strain was resistant to isoniazid and the chemoprophylaxis was adjusted correspondingly. In children, rifampicin [another name for rifampin - Mod.LL] only was used, although in the adults rifampicin was used in combination, for example, with a fluoroquinolone. --------------------------------- 9 of the non-infected children and 3 of the infected children had been vaccinated with BCG. No source of infection other than the index case was identified. ------------------------------- [Reported by: Berggren Palme I (), Larsson L-O, Zedenius I, et al] -- ProMED-mail _____________________________________________________________ [Elsevier on-line reference: Challenges and hope for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in infants and young children.Lancet, January 2005, ] ------------------------------------------------------------- [This outbreak, at an earlier stage, was pointed out to ProMED by Dr. Peter Valverius in late August 2005 for which we are grateful. ---------------------------------- Clusters of tuberculosis such as this one continue to point out that _M. tuberculosis_, which has been referred to as the "white plague," is still a threat in the developed world, even the "wealthy" part of it. The amount of transmission in this outbreak suggests prolonged, relatively close exposure of many children to the index case. --------------------------------- It is not stated in the posting whether the index case was known to be TST-reactive prior to the illness or was from a higher endemic area. Routine tuberculosis screening programs in environments where transmission can be more problematic (exposure to small children, hospitals, nursing homes) can be quite useful in minimizing risk. In this case, if the index case had been known to be TST-positive prior to becoming ill, tuberculosis chemopreventive therapy might have been utilized, and/or the individual could have been counseled regarding immediately seeking medical attention upon becoming ill with symptoms such as cough lasting more than a week or so -- especially when associated with constitutional symptoms such as night sweats and weight loss. - Mod.LL] ______________________________________________________________ [see also: Tuberculosis, hospital exposures - USA (MA) 20050616.1702 Tuberculosis - Iraq (Missan) 20050613.1652 Tuberculosis, nursery school - Spain (Catalonia) 20050523.1416 Tuberculosis, supermarket exposure - Netherlands (Zeist)(03) 20050225.0602 Tuberculosis, supermarket exposure - Netherlands (Zeist) 20050207.0411] ........................mpp/ll/pg/dk

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1512400/posts

"Paris riots continue after two die"
Ireland On-Line ^ | 30/10/2005

Posted on 10/30/2005 10:02:57 PM PST by ncountylee

[Selene]

FEMA Building in Md. Evacuated Over FumesFumes Force Evacuation of FEMA Office Building in Maryland; 31 Taken to Hospitals

HYATTSVILLE, Md. Oct 30, 2005
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1264720

[Seadog Bytes]

THANK you! Crazy stuff.

[Cindy]

Thanks Selene.
Updates appreciated.
===

http://wtop.com/index.php?nid=25&sid=607559

Firefighters evacuate Prince George's complex
Updated: Sunday, Oct. 30, 2005 - 4:27 PM

HYATTSVILLE, Md. (AP)

[Cindy]

You're welcome and yep.

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1512419/posts


"The Suicide Bombers Among Us"
City Journal ^ | Autumn 2005 | Theodore Dalrymple

Posted on 10/30/2005 11:10:44 PM PST by mal

[backhoe]

Paris riots continue after two die?

Ah, yes- the "Silence of the TOMs ( Tired Old Media )..."

 Paris rioting largely unreported

 Muslim youths have been rioting in a Paris suburb for three days—but good luck if you want details from mainstream media, who seem to be working overtime to obscure the facts in this disturbing story: Third night of trouble in Paris suburb following teenage deaths. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)   link: 219 comments

 Second Night Of Rioting In Paris
Saturday, October 29, 2005

 And last week they were rioting in Birmingham, UK as I just noted in the last thread. Melanie Phillips goes into the political reasons for the media's silence (reported already on LGF): 'minorities' must be victims and not agressors. But this is really approaching open revolt in Europe, and lunatic violence in India and Indonesia, and lunatic threats from pre-atomic Iran.

 We've had similar incidents here in Australia.

 riots in Sydney