Threat Matrix: July 2007

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[nwctwx]

Threat Matrix:
July 2007

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US Steps Up Security Following Attack in Britain

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff made appearances on several television talk shows.

He told ABC's This Week program there is no indication of a linkage between the events in Britain and any specific attacks on the United States. "We do not have, at this point, specific, credible intelligence that there is an attack, a particular attack, focused on this country," he said.

But at the same time, speaking on CNN's Late Edition program, Chertoff said U.S. authorities are concerned about the threat of terrorism, especially in the coming months. "We have had a number of al-Qaida leaders quite publicly talking about how they want to carry out their threats against the West. So, given that and given the history that we have had over past summers, with attacks in Britain, I think we were clearly focused on this as a possibility," he said. Full story...

	More United Kingdom Attacks Possible
	More US Air Marshals on Flights to Europe
	Officials: Car Bomb Plot Bears al Qaida's Trademark

[Velveeta]

Security alert grounds flights at Heathrow Terminal 4
Filed 03/07/07

British Airways European flights from Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 have been cancelled for the rest of the day (3 July) following a security alert sparked by a suspect bag.

Police were alerted to the luggage shortly before midday on Tuesday (3 July) and as a precaution it was decided to perform secondary searches on all departing passengers at the aircraft gate. In order to facilitate this process, a decision was made by the police to partially evacuate the departure lounge and rescreen passengers.

British Airways has cancelled all European flights departing from Terminal 4 for the remainder of the day and long haul flights until 2100. Arrivals at the terminal are operating as normal and BA flights to and from Terminals 1 and 3 and other UK airports remain unaffected. Terminal 4 is also used by KLM, Qantas Airways and Sri Lankan Air.

This latest Heathrow security alert follows the recent failed terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow. Additional security measures are in place at all BAA operated airports, including restrictions dropping off and picking-up passengers in front of airport buildings. BAA has recommended passengers use public transport to get to airports and says travellers using private cars will find it more convenient to use short term car parks to gain access to terminals.

Earlier in the day a controlled explosion was carried out on a suspect device near Hammersmith Tube station. Up to 8,000 commuters were forced to find alternative routes into work as Hammersmith and Barons Court stations were closed for an hour.
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=4173

[Velveeta]

Considering I’m in the heart of Chicago and 1 million plus people are headed down here for fireworks this evening - I’m really hoping to get out of here early today!

[nwctwx]

Here’s a CNN report on the VIPR teams that aired this afternoon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBpBM91eO-s

[tmp02]

Source of stock price has been down for and hour. What is Up? I hope it is just the source. I went to several site and the price was 1hour behind and halted. Does anyone have any info?

It halted at 1:03 at price 41.87. It has not moved.

[tmp02]

The same with all the index prices...

[swarthyguy]

It beggars belief. Why/how cut your own throat, harakari japanese style is “easier” because you essentially disembowel yourself.

Cutting your own throat? BAH!

And a military attache without a gun? Why not use that? I believe his gun was missing.

Sounds like a sucker trap ambush.

[callmejoe]

They indicated that they chose the cities generally based on population densities (and probably passenger volumes as well) and not on any unique information on threats pertaining to these particular locations. If they had “specific and credible” information that any of these cities were a target, they would (at the very least) raise the alert level for specific types of mass transit (as they have with airports for the past couple years) or specific cities (the 2004 NYC/DC/Newark threats). If the threat were specific and credible enough, they could raise the general threat level in certain locations or even nationwide to “orange”, and in the worst case, “red” (but they really don’t want to do either unless absolutely necessary because it causes “alert fatigue” aka “the boy that cried wolf”)

If they come across new information from this ongoing situation with these international networks being uncovered, I expect a new alert to come out. But unless they come across that type of specific and credible information, the threat is probably no greater in these mass transit systems and airports than it was 10 days ago or will still be 10 days from now (not that such a possibility is necessarily a comforting thought). The problem is that vaguely worded “September 10th threats” like “the match is tomorrow” with no way of knowing the source of the threat may make sense to everyone after the fact, but before the fact, it does not help much. Hence the need for “specific and credible” information.

Stay safe.

[drymans wife]

They may have been doctors, but it looks like they didn’t graduate at the top of their class. At least, not Terrorism 101, for which the failed greatly. They couldn’t blow up a car let alone a building.

[callmejoe]

Markets closed early for Independence Day.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/us-stocks-close-higher-after/story.aspx?guid=%7B445BBF20-B520-45C7-8C7E-21C498A09545%7D

[tmp02]

Thanks. I’ll crawl back to my hole.

[nwctwx]

‘Same Men Behind Attacks’
Updated: 18:58, Tuesday July 03, 2007

The attempted attacks on London’s West End and Glasgow airport were allegedly carried out by the same men, Sky sources say.

Sky’s Foreign Affairs editor, Tim Marshall, said the two allegedly planted the car bombs in central London before heading to Scotland.

“We have had it confirmed by sources that the two men who attempted to bomb London, it would appear, are the same two people who allegedly attempted to bomb Glasgow airport,” said Marshall.

“In other words after that failed attempt they quickly went up to Glasgow and arranged this.

“I also understand that Scotland Yard were pretty much on their trail already.”

The second man alleged to have been in the flaming jeep driven into Glasgow airport was earlier named by Sky sources as Dr Khalid Ahmed.

He is being treated for severe burns at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, Glasgow.

The other man in the vehicle was named yesterday as Dr Bilal Abdulla, who worked as a locum at the hospital.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1273332,00.html

[callmejoe]

Not a problem. Honest mistake. (I make those all the time)

Appreciate the charts.

[callmejoe]

The idea that these doctors and med students were conspiring only to blow up cars strains credulity. But I guess if they haven’t found anything to indicate something more, I’m willing to go along with that hypothesis for now. Stranger things have happened.

Better than the alternative.

[drymans wife]

Not the brightest terrorist. It’s almost like Larry and Mo. LOL!!!!!!! At least the one will be paying for the rest of his life.

[nwctwx]

Before the events of recent days I think there were growing signs that something big was upcoming... and I don’t believe this was it, personally. I agree that increases in security are likely tied more to density/volume more than anything else. I also think that authorities here are worried about something besides a copy-cat of what we saw in Britain.

These attempted and successful attacks against western targets have largely been almost completely missed by security forces, so I guess one of our only options is increasing the total number of eyes and ears available.

[nwctwx]

I posted this last night, on the weather forum I help run (we have a politics section!)

The third attack strikes me as something that was not part of the original. When the first two car bombs did not go off, I wouldn't be surprised if these guys scrambled to make something happen. The same day as the failures, I posted that I thought Britain was in imminent danger if the main person/s were not arrested very shortly because the bomb was easy to replicate. It's also possible that they did not want to lose honor by not completing the job as expected. A martyr attack at one of the worlds busiest airports, while perhaps not as deadly as the original plan, would be a major strike and likely heralded by core AQ as one of its own. Unfortunately for them the error was apparently not corrected and they chose a somewhat soft target (the airport periphery) thats just a little bit too hardened.

Link

[drymans wife]

Awsome assumption, and I completely agree.

I also agree that something big is going to happen, chatter is quiet, and that is what has our folks worried.

I don’t think it will be the fourth because it would be hard to pull off.

I also don’t think what happens here will be from the same retarded group that can’t blow up a car.

Unless, all this was to take everyones eyes off the big picture.

[BurbankKarl]

My brother takes the Metrolink commuter train service into work every morning. He said there were bomb dog searches on his train in Santa Clarita and again in Glendale.

He has seen one dog before, but never two searches on one train during the commute. These were LASD dog teams.

[bd476]

BurbankKarl wrote:

"My brother takes the Metrolink commuter train service into work every morning. He said there were bomb dog searches on his train in Santa Clarita and again in Glendale.

He has seen one dog before, but never two searches on one train during the commute. These were LASD dog teams."

Thanks for the ping, Karl!