"Terrorists may be trying to find chinks in airport security"

Friday, September 5, 2003

NEW AL QAEDA PLANE FEARS
United Kingdom - Sky News


Al Qaeda is developing a plot to hijack commercial jets that fly close
to or directly over the US, according to the Department of Homeland
Security.

"A growing body of credible intelligence indicates al Qaeda continues to
develop plans for multiple attacks against targets in the US involving
commercial aircraft, with some plans calling for hijacking airliners
transiting near or flying over the continental United States - but not
destined to land at US airports," said an advisory. 

"Operatives have been studying countries to determine which have the
least stringent requirements for entry (visas or other documentation)". 

Targets

The advisory said there was no specific information on possible targets
or dates for the attack to take place - but it warned that al Qaeda may
be casing foreign countries and even airlines trying to determine which
would best suit their needs.

"Identifying which countries have the least restrictive requirements for
entry may also tell terrorist operatives which airline flights would be
easiest to board and take control in order to crash into targets in the
US during over flight," the advisory said.

The advisory - issued because of the coming second anniversary of
September 11 and a recent rise in terrorist "chatter" - also includes a
long catalogue of other possible terror attacks, including chemical or
biological attacks and contaminating food and water.

Homeland Security officials said because there was no specific threat,
the US would not be raising the current threat level from elevated
(yellow) to high (orange).

Attached Photo:

Terrorists may be trying to find chinks in airport security

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