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Philippines: Australia Warns Of Terror Attacks During The Holidays
24.DEC.07

Manila, Philippines - The Australian government warned that terrorists may attack during the celebration of Christmas and New Year in the Philippines. The Philippine National Police (PNP), however, said security agencies have no information of a specific threat.

"It is a caution, a warning, nothing specific, perhaps the Australians have information (which) we know they will share with us," said PNP Director General Avelino Razon, Jr. "We are verifying Australia's warning, but so far we have not detected any specific terror threat," Razon added.

As is customary during the holidays, the entire 125,000 men and women of the PNP are on "heightened alert." Australia's Embassy in Manila issued a travel advisory recently. It warned its citizens to "steer clear of places frequented by foreigners" and strongly advised against travel in the Mindanao region "where al-Qaeda-linked militants are active."

"Credible information indicates terrorists may be in the advanced stages of planning attacks. Attacks may be imminent and could occur at any time, anywhere in Mindanao," the advisory said.

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Turkish Police Stop Would-Be Bomber in Istanbul
Monday, December 24, 2007

ISTANBUL, Turkey — Turkish police thwarted a bomb attack in Istanbul on Monday, arresting a 25-year-old man with explosives in his backpack outside a subway station, the city's governor said. The man was carrying more than 7 pounds of A-4 plastic explosives when he was arrested in the Sisli district, one of the most crowded areas of the city, Turkish news agencies reported.

Though Governor Muammer Guler said the man was surely preparing for a bomb attack but said police were not yet able to find out what his target had been. Guler said police launched a raid on an apartment believed to be used as a safe house and seized more explosives and various mechanisms that could set off a bomb. Another man at the apartment was arrested after a chase, Guler said, and was suspected of membership in an unspecified terrorist organization.

Militant Kurdish, leftist and Islamic groups have carried out bombings in big cities and in resort towns in the past. In May, a 28-year-old once convicted of membership in a militant leftist group blew himself up in Turkey's capital, killing six people and wounding dozens.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,318188,00.html