Posted on 10/25/2002 5:13:45 AM PDT by Libloather
FBI Says Al Qaeda Targeting Railways
Thu Oct 24, 6:13 PM ET
By Deborah Charles
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI sent out a national alert to law enforcement officials on Thursday, warning that al Qaeda may be planning another attack on the United States, possibly targeting the railway sector.
The FBI also cited possible future attacks against the global petroleum sector and said U.S. intelligence continues to receive general threats on the airline and maritime industries, the financial sector and government facilities and installations.
The FBI said it distributed the warning across the country on Wednesday, citing information from recent debriefings of detained al Qaeda members.
It said al Qaeda has considered directly targeting U.S. passenger trains, possibly using operatives who have a Western appearance.
"The U.S. intelligence community continues to assess that al Qaeda plans to attack targets that they believe will be readily recognized as representing U.S. economic interests," the FBI said in the warning message sent out 13 months after the deadly attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
"Additional information suggests operatives may try a variety of other attack strategies such as destroying key rail bridges and sections of track to cause derailments or targeting hazardous material containers."
It said recently captured al Qaeda photographs of U.S. railroad engines, cars and crossings heightened the intelligence community's concern of the threat.
The United States has blamed Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda network for the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked airliner attacks on the United States that killed about 3,000 people.
Due to a lack of specificity about the method, location or timing of any possible attacks, the nation's overall level of alert remained unchanged, the FBI said. It stands at "elevated" or "yellow" -- the middle of the five-point scale indicating a "significant risk of terrorist attacks."
CONCERNS ABOUT PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
Earlier this week U.S. officials asked the oil, gas and transportation sectors to take additional steps to protect their facilities from possible terrorist attacks.
In its statement on Thursday, the FBI said the recent attack on a French oil tanker off the coast of Yemen and information from al Qaeda detainees suggest plans exist to continue attacks against the global oil industry.
"According to this information, al Qaeda plans to weaken the petroleum industry by conducting additional sea based attacks against large oil tankers and that such attacks may be a part of more extensive operations against port facilities and other energy-related targets including oil facilities and nuclear power plants," it said.
Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the Office of Homeland Security, said the government was addressing the latests threats and urged Americans to continue to ride trains.
"The American people should continue to ride our rail system," he said. "This warning has been sent to the appropriate law enforcement and security officials so they can take action to improve the protective measures for our nation's railway system."
The government has increased surveillance and boosted the number of law enforcement officers at railways and is working with the Department of Transportation and other agencies to review the current threat.
The latest threat follows an Oct. 9 warning from the FBI, the Office of Homeland Security and other agencies telling U.S. law enforcement agencies that the network may be planning an attack against U.S. interests.
I will not go into the number of different means that could be employed to attack this train but it is totally vulnerable and in places it could also very much disrupt commuter service into at least NYC.
Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - yorktown
There was an actual act of sabotage a few years ago. Anyone recall the details?
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