WASHINGTON, Oct 7: President George Bush on Thursday said the United States and its partners had foiled at least 10 ‘serious’ Al Qaeda plots since the Sept 11, 2001, attacks, plus five more attempts to case targets or infiltrate operatives onto US soil.
Below is a list released by the White House of the disrupted plots and casings:
The 10 terror plots:
“The West Coast Airliner Plot”: In mid-2002 the United States disrupted a plot to attack targets on the West Coast of the United States using hijacked airplanes. The plotters included at least one major operational planner involved in planning Sept 11.
“The East Coast Airliner Plot”: In mid-2003 the United States and an unnamed “partner” disrupted a plot to attack targets on the East Coast of the United States using hijacked commercial airplanes.
“The Jose Padilla Plot”: In May 2002 the United States foiled a plot that involved blowing up apartment buildings in the United States. One of the plotters, US citizen Jose Padilla, also discussed the possibility of using a “dirty bomb” in the United States.
“The 2004 UK Urban Targets Plot”: In mid-2004 the United States and “partners” disrupted a plot that involved urban targets in Britain. These plots involved using explosives against a variety of sites.
“The 2003 Karachi Plot”: In 2003 the United States and “a partner” disrupted a plot to attack Westerners at several targets in Karachi.
“The Heathrow Airport Plot”: In 2003 the United States and “several partners” disrupted a plot to attack Heathrow Airport using hijacked commercial airliners. The planning for this attack was undertaken by a “major” September 11 operational figure.
“The 2004 UK Plot”: In the Spring of 2004 the United States and “partners”, using a combination of law enforcement and intelligence resources, disrupted a plot to conduct large-scale bombings in Britain.
“The 2002 Arabian Gulf Shipping Plot”: In late 2002 and 2003 the United States and “a partner nation” disrupted a plot by Al-Qaeda operatives to attack ships in the Arabian Gulf.
“The 2002 Straits of Hormuz Plot”: In 2002 the United States and “partners” disrupted a plot to attack ships transiting the Straits of Hormuz.
“The 2003 Tourist Site Plot”: In 2003 the United States and “a partner nation” disrupted a plot to attack a tourist site outside the United States.
The five casings and infiltrations:
“The US Government and Tourist Sites Tasking”: In 2003 and 2004, an individual was tasked by Al-Qaeda to case important US government and tourist targets within the United States.
“The Gas Station Tasking”: Around 2003, an individual was tasked to collect targeting information on US gas stations and their support mechanisms on behalf of a senior Al-Qaeda planner.
“Iyman Faris and the Brooklyn Bridge”: In 2003, and in conjunction with a partner nation, the US government arrested and prosecuted Iyman Faris, who was exploring the destruction of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Faris ultimately pleaded guilty to providing material support to Al-Qaeda and is now in federal prison.
“2001 Tasking”: In 2001, Al-Qaeda sent an individual to facilitate post-September 11 attacks in the United States. US law enforcement authorities arrested the individual.
“2003 Tasking”: In 2003, an individual was tasked by an Al-Qaeda leader to conduct reconnaissance on populated areas in the United States. —AFP