Terror Alert Issued As The Anniversary Of Osama Bin Laden's Death Approaches

Bin Laden Anniversary Triggers Law Enforcement Surge -- ABC News

While U.S. officials say publicly there is no specific threat of a terror attack, behind the scenes law enforcement officials tell ABC News there are plans for a major security surge at airports and transportation hubs in advance of next week's anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death.

The precautions are based on intelligence reports that al Qaeda is determined to avenge the death of bin Laden, killed by Navy SEALs last May, with a focus on aviation targets.

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More News On The U.S. Issuing A Terror Alert Before The One Year Anniversary Of Bin Laden's Death

U.S. on guard for attacks ahead of bin Laden anniversary -- Reuters
Osama Bin Laden's approaching death anniversary puts Feds on alert -- Global Post
U.S. on watch ahead of bin Laden anniversary -- CBS/AP
Feds urge vigilance 1 year after bin Laden's death -- FOX News
No threat seen of Bin Laden anniversary attacks: official -- AFP
FBI: 'No Specific Threat' One Year After Bin Laden Killing -- ABC News
After Osama bin Laden, al Qaida still a many-headed threat -- McClatchy News

Increasing Concerns Of A 'Credible Threat' Around 9/11 Anniversary

Terrorists fly a plane into the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001. The US believes terrorists are plotting a new attack. News.com.au

Terror Threat Called 'Credible' For 9/11 Anniversary -- MSNBC

U.S. officials considering issuing statement after Obama's jobs speech.

WASHINGTON — Federal officials are investigating a credible threat surrounding the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, NBC News reported Thursday.

"As we know from the intelligence gathered from the Osama bin Laden raid, al-Qaida has shown an interest in important dates and anniversaries, such as 9/11," the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday in a statement obtained by NBC News.

"In this instance, it's accurate that there is specific, credible but unconfirmed threat information," the department said. "As we always do before important dates like the anniversary of 9/11, we will undoubtedly get more reporting in the coming days. Sometimes this reporting is credible and warrants intense focus, other times it lacks credibility and is highly unlikely to be reflective of real plots under

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More News On Possible Terror Threats This Weekend

Federal Authorities Probe Possible Terror Threat Around 9/11 Anniversary, Sources Say -- FOX News
Report: Obama Briefed On 'Credible' Terror Threat Tied To 9/11 Anniversary -- Business Insider
U.S. sees credible but unconfirmed terrorism threat -- Reuters
Officials Says Credible US Terror Threat Detected -- CNBC
9/11 anniversary threat reported -- Politico
'Credible threat' of attack on 9/11 anniversary -- ABC News (Australia)
'Credible' 9/11 threat against US -- Sydney Morning Herald/AFP

Department of Homeland Security Warns Of Insider Terror Threat To Utilities

New Terror Report Warns of Insider Threat to Utilities -- ABC News

Sabotage by an insider at a major utility facility, including a chemical or oil refinery, could provide al Qaeda with its best opportunity for the kind of massive Sept. 11 anniversary attack Osama bin Laden was planning, according to U.S. officials.

A new intelligence report from the Department of Homeland Security issued Tuesday, titled Insider Threat to Utilities, warns "violent extremists have, in fact, obtained insider positions," and that "outsiders have attempted to solicit utility-sector employees" for damaging physical and cyber attacks.

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My Comment: What intelligence brought about this warning?

Homeland Security Changes The Color-Coded Terror Alerts

Napolitano Announces End To Color-Coded Terror Alerts -- USA Today

WASHINGTON — The color-coded terrorism alert system that has greeted travelers at airports since shortly after the Sept. 11 hijackings is being phased out, the government announced today.

Long a joke on late-night talk shows, the color codes are being replaced by a system designed to give law enforcement and potential targets critical information without unnecessarily alarming or confusing the public, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in her first annual "State of America's Homeland Security" address.

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More News On Homeland Security Changing The Color-Coded Terror Alert System

New US terror alert system replaces color code -- Yahoo News/AFP
Obama administration to replace color-coded terror alerts with new warning system -- Washington Post
Color-Coded Terror Warnings to End by April 27 -- CBS News
U.S. scraps color-coded terror alerts -- UPI
Color Coded Terror Alerts Retired by Department of Homeland Security -- ABC News
U.S. to provide specifics in future terrorism alerts -- Reuters
Color-coded threat system to be replaced in April -- CNN
U.S. Government to Ditch Terror Color Warning System -- FOX News
U.S. Will Scrap Color-Coded Terror Alerts, Napolitano Says -- Bloomberg
Code Red: Color-Coded Terrorist Threat Levels Say Goodbye -- Time Magazine
DHS to End Color-Coded ‘Threat Level’ Advisories -- The Danger Room

Terror Warnings For Oil Tankers In The Strait of Hormuz

Click on Image to Enlarge (Image from Eagle Speak)

Gulf Tanker Blast Was Al-Qaeda Attack: US -- Arab News

DUBAI: A Japanese oil tanker damaged in July near the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane was attacked by an Al-Qaeda-linked group that could carry out more such attacks in the area, according to the US Department of Transport.

The crew of the M. Star reported an explosion shortly after midnight on July 28 that injured one seaman but caused no oil spill or disruption to shipping in the strategic waterway.

A militant group called Abdullah Azzam Brigades said that a suicide bomber belonging to it had attacked the tanker. The incident sparked theories ranging from a freak wave to a collision with a US nuclear submarine.

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Update #1: FACTBOX-Abdullah Azzam Brigades and Japanese supertanker -- Reuters
Update #2: MARAD confirms identity of tanker attackers --Lloyds

My Comment: Nothing new in this latest report .... it just states what everyone knows. There was an attack on an oil tanker in the Straits of Hormuz earlier this year, and fortunately .... it failed.

Is President Obama Using Terror Alerts For Political Gain?

Barack Obama Accused Of Exaggerating Terror Threat For Political Gain -- The Guardian

• Pakistani diplomat launches scathing attack on White House
• European intelligence claims raised terror alerts 'nonsensical'

A US terror alert issued this week about al-Qaida plots to attack targets in western Europe was politically motivated and not based on credible new information, senior Pakistani diplomats and European intelligence officials have told the Guardian.

The non-specific US warning, which despite its vagueness led Britain, France and other countries to raise their overseas terror alert levels, was an attempt to justify a recent escalation in US drone and helicopter attacks inside Pakistan that have "set the country on fire", said Wajid Shamsul Hasan, the high commissioner to Britain.

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My Comment: Regular readers of this blog know that I am skeptical of President Obama's anti-terrorism strategy .... but using a terror alert for some political end .... I just do not see it in President Obama, especially with his focus primarily on domestic issues and his track record.

World Cup Terror Alert

From Times Live:

SA accused of being slow to respond to warnings .

South African intelligence services have been accused of being slow to react to warnings of terror threats to the 2010 World Cup.

This week, the US Congress counter-terror caucus was briefed on threats to the tournament.

This corroborates what local intelligence sources have told the Sunday Times.

Ronald Sandee, director of the NEFA Foundation, warned the US Congress that:

* Pakistani and Somali militants are running terror training camps in northern Mozambique;
* Trainees from these camps may have crossed into South Africa to join or form cells planning World Cup attacks;
* Surveillance and strike teams planning attacks are well established in South Africa. Terror groups involved include al-Qaeda and their Somalian allies, al-Shahaab; and
* Simultaneous and random attacks are being planned during the World Cup.

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My Comment: Africa has a long and bloody history when it comes to this type of conflict. The idea of terror teams attacking events at the World Cup is an idea that is not at all far-fetched. Unfortunately, South African authorities do not share in these concerns.

Terrorism Alert For U.S. Facilities In Asia

Al-Qaeda Planning Attack On U.S. Facilities In Asia: U.S. advisory -- The Hindu

Al-Qaeda and other terror groups like the Taliban and their affiliates are planning to strike against American facilities and its nationals in South and Central Asia, the United States said today.

While US government facilities remain at a heightened state of alert, the State Department in a travel alert said the terrorists groups may strike by vehicle-born explosives, improvised explosive devices, assassinations, carjacking, rocket attacks, assaults or kidnappings.

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My Comment: Someone either knows something .... or they are hearing it on the grapevine. Either way .... the terror alert has been issued.