The
following information was distributed through NLETS
earlier tonight to state and local law enforcement:
Recent
statements, apparently by al-Qaeda leaders, threaten
attacks against US economic interests. An audio message
from Usama bin Laden, (taped on an undetermined date),
broadcast by al-Jazeera on Sunday, refers to al-Qaeda
targeting key sectors of the US economy. Another senior
leader (bin Laden's senior deputy, Ayman al-Zawahir)
reiterated the threat in the closing line of an audio
taped interview released Tuesday.
The
coordinated release of these statements, coupled with
our knowledge of ongoing plotting by al-Qaeda members
and threat information described by detainees, strengthens
previous assessments that al-Qaeda continues to plan
major attacks against US interests. The statements suggest
that an attack may have been approved, while the specific
timing is left to operatives in the field. Our concerns
are heightened by comments from al-Qaeda detainees who
are independently interpreting these taped remarks as
a sign of attack. In 1998, al-Qaeda issued a fatwa (religious
ruling) calling for attacks against Americans worldwide,
apparently presaging the August 7, 1998 East Africa
embassy bombings.
The
content of the statements and the context surrounding
these threats reinforces our view that they may signal
an attack. One senior detainee maintains that al- Qaeda
would only release such a statement after approving
a specific plan for an attack. At this time, we have
no information on a specific time, date or location
of an attack.
Other aspects of the statements reflect what we know
of bin Laden and al-Qaeda strategy. In addition, other
recent appeals in extremist circles, some purporting
to be from bin Laden, urge Muslim youth to strike US
forces in Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain. The al-Qaeda
organization, which has lost its safe haven in Afghanistan
and many of its leaders, is attempting to manipulate
the broader Islamic extremist community to attack the
United States at home and abroad.
The focus on economic targets is consistent with al-Qaeda's
stated ideological goals and longstanding strategy.
The September 11 attacks and commentary on these attacks
by bin Laden and others indicate how central economic
targets are to this strategy: The group's leaders have
said that they aim to undermine what they see as the
backbone of US power, the economy. Our adversary is
trying to portray American influence as based on economic
might and therefore seeks to strike an economic target
prominent enough for economic and symbolic reasons that
it would have immediate resonance around the world.
In view of the above information, the FBI urges recipients
to review and implement additional prudent steps to
detect, disrupt, deter and defend against potential
attacks against our nation's critical infrastructure
and installations at home and abroad. Due to the lack
of specificity of method, target, and timing, the Homeland
Security Advisory System Threat Level will remain at
Yellow-Elevated, at this time.
State
and local law enforcement are encouraged to discuss
appropriate measures for their respective communities
with their designated Joint Terrorism Task Force.
