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Readers of Tom Clancy are probably familiar with his book, Rainbow Six, which focuses on the work of an elite team of terror fighting commandos, who were formed to respond to terror attacks, especially those involving hostages. The team was formed in the sequel to his book Executive Orders, where the US Capitol building was destroyed by a terrorist acting on his own, and the US was hit by multiple attacks including one involving bioweapons.

As Clancy readers will tell you, quite often Clancy’s fictional writings draw striking parallels to reality.

We need look no further than the tragedy that occurred this week in the Russian republic of Ossetia, where over a thousand school children and their parents were held hostage by Islamic terrorists, and then hundreds were massacred.

Criticism has been heaped upon the Russians for their handling of the incident. But what country is in fact equipped to deal with a tragedy of this nature? I would dare to suggest that there are not many.

If there is one thing that I have learned from many years of studying Al Qaeda and their operations it is this: they tell us what they are going to do, and they do it.

No, they don’t make it quite that easy. They don’t tell us when or where, but they tell us what and how. They publish their plans for murder and mayhem for all to read.

This will not be the only incident of this nature; Al Qaeda has put too much emphasis on publishing the how-to’s. More assassinations and kidnapping operations are on the horizon, based on their internet announcements.

Many of the incidents could be prevented before they actually happen by extra vigilance. In this case, it appears that the terrorists were involved in the remodeling of the gym of the school this summer. They not only knew their way around the premises, but they appear to have prepositioned weapons and explosives, hiding them under the floorboards of the gym. (This technique has been used in the past. The President of Chechnya was assassinated earlier this year by an explosive device prepositioned when a stadium was constructed.) Those responsible for facilities and for construction need to be alert for this scenario.

But no amount of vigilance is going to stop all attacks. They will certainly continue; the genie is already out of the bottle. We must have a plan of response.

I am publicly calling for the establishment of a multinational team of special forces, not under control of the United Nations but under it’s own aegis, similar to other multinational military coalitions which have been formed over the years.

I would expect Israel, the United States, Great Britain, and Russia to head up this team, but other countries would certainly participate.

This force would be a rapid deployment force, divided into 5 or 6 different groups, each prepositioned at a different location globally to ensure that a team can reach the site of a hostage situation as quickly as possible. That means one positioned in Europe, the US, South America, eastern Russia, Australia, Southeast Asia, and probably North Africa.

Each of these teams would have the best available equipment, as well as expertise in psychology, negotiations, crowd control, explosives, weaponry, hostage rescue, and evaluating the situation. They would be able to go in, assess the situation, and devise a plan to minimize chaos and maximize the chances of getting the hostages out alive.

Although no one team could handle a situation with as many hostages as the school takeover this week, it would certainly be able to provide the leadership and expertise for law enforcement and military forces already on the scene. A multi-day scenario would also provide for more time for one or more of the other teams to arrive on the scene.

Such a force would certainly save lives.

It’s time for one to be created.

We know from experience terrorists want to bring their murder and mayhem to the US homeland again. We must be prepared. Please contact your Senators and Congressmen, and tell them you want one created. Now.

Is That What They are Really Saying?

by Douglas J. Hagmann, Director, Northeast Intelligence Network

2 September 2004--Over the last 24 hours, the Northeast Intelligence Network has received numerous e-mails concerning two reports being circulated on popular Islamic web sites: the alleged chemical attacks on US and coalition troops on a military base north of Baghdad, Iraq, and yet another alleged "warning" by a division of al Qaeda to vacate portions of the US and Europe in anticipation of an impending attack. Readers have been questioning our lack of coverage on these "reports" found on popular and much frequented Islamic web sites available to many journalists and intelligence analysts.

After careful analysis of both the original posting source and the manner in which the actual message translates from Arabic to English, we found both accounts to be highly "suspect" if not outright "suspicious" in nature. From an investigatory and analytical standpoint, there are several standards of evidence that must be present before we publish a report. These standards are constant in all of our published reports, and we methodically adhere to a strict and proven investigative process to insure accuracy and that the information meets the highest standards of proof. In these two instances, and especially these two instances,they do not.

Without exposing or fully detailing our investigative and analytical process, we can state that we carefully consider the manner in which messages, written in Arabic, translate by machine and by an Arabic linguist. When a message translates in a "certain manner" from Arabic to English via machine, we see a "red flag," as most communications originally written in Arabic have certain unique characteristics based on the nuances inherant with the Arabic dialects when processed into English. The absence of these characteristics causes analysts to ask many questions, the first of which being: "Was this message originally written in Arabic?" If not, we attempt to determine in what language the message was originally written and ask why it was written in that language. We also look carefully at the history of the person or entity publishing the communication or message to determine their affiliation and historical track record for accuracy.

In the case of these two accounts, we found that neither passed the first round of qualifying tests. Based on a extensive analysis of both accounts, we are looking at the possibility that the particular Islamic sites featuring these communications were "intentionally seeded" with these reports - much like a criminal investigation where the critical piece of evidence is neatly packaged and left lying in an obvious location where it will certainly be found by police. Perhaps it can be best summarized by quoting French novelist Francoise Sagan:
"It seems to me that there are two kinds of trickery: the 'fronts' people assume before one another's eyes, and the "front" a writer puts on the face of reality."

Escalation in Terrorism

by Randy Taylor

2 September 2004--When planes go down killing passengers and flight crews, it brings terrorism dead center into the public eye. It brings a more graphic and enlarged violent picture to our minds because it is a painful reminder of events past that occurred right here in our country, a place we never imagined would be violated in such a manner. Many of us stared in horror and disbelief as we watched the tragic events unfold right before our eyes on that frightful day in 2001.

This is the reason that the Chechen rebels or affiliates of the same chose to hijack the Russian jetliners on August 24, 2004. Suddenly the world is aware that there is a steadily escalating conflict between the Russian government and the Chechen Rebels, although this conflict has been going on for many, many years. It was imperative that they raise the ante and perform acts that draw world attention, because as with any terrorist action, the act itself bears carnage and death but the larger and more valuable prize to the terrorists is the attention, anxiety and fear the act itself generates worldwide.Click here to continue reading

We Cannot Win the War Against Terror This Way

By Douglas J. Hagmann, Director, Northeast Intelligence Network

I am going to be somewhat political here, but definitely not apologetic. I am going to be realistic, and by doing so, I will hopefully be able to shed some outside perspective on our war against terrorism to the average person like me reading this. I am able to do this as I have personally spoken with numerous agents of the US intelligence communities over the last 18 months. These are the men and women actually fighting the war on terror inside the US, those who know the dirty details of the depth and breadth of our trouble. I’ve had them in my office, at my dining room table, and I’ve met them in their offices. Further, I’ve seen thousands of terrorist communications, read hundreds of indictments, and had conferences with some of the most capable intelligence analysts in the public and private sector. Accordingly, I believe that I can speak with some authority and insight.

The current water-cooler buzz right now, depending on which cooler in which intelligence agency building you are standing next to, is the President’s answer to the question posed by NBC’s Matt Lauer about whether we could win the war on terror. President Bush responded: “I don't think you can win it. But I think you can create conditions so that the — those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world.” Click here to continue reading

PC will get us killed! by Randy Taylor

Once again, the document below is living proof that Political Correctness will eventually get us killed and has absolutely no place during a war on terror. I submit the following, filed by the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee against the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority July 28, 2004. These Arab Americans have an objection to their luggage, hand bags, etc. being searched. The disappointing part is that the court has to actually listen and give credence to this Civil Action and weigh it for merit.

My question, as an American, is “How exactly do we, as a country, protect ourselves when the very processes required to increase transportation safety is being maligned and questioned by the ones we are trying to protect, as well as the ones we are trying to protect ourselves against?” Click here to continue reading

27 August 2004 - UN Report claims Al Qaeda attacks cost less that $50K each

All major al-Qaida-linked attacks except Sept. 11 cost less than $50,000 each to carry out, according to a new U.N. report circulated Thursday that indicated just how little money the terror network needs to mount operations.

The report - the first by a new team monitoring the implementation of U.N. sanctions against al-Qaida and the Taliban - said only the sophisticated attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon using hijacked aircraft "required significant funding of over six figures."

"Other al-Qaida terrorist operations have been far less expensive," said the report, directed to the U.N. Security Council.

For example, the report said the March attacks in the Spanish capital, Madrid, in which nearly 10 simultaneous bombs exploded on four commuter trains, cost $10,000 to carry out. The blasts killed 191 people, Spain's worst terror attack.

The November 2003 attacks in Istanbul, Turkey - four suicide truck bombings that killed 62 people - cost less than $40,000, the report found. And the twin truck bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in August 1998 are estimated to have cost less than a total $50,000. Those attacks killed 231 people, including 12 Americans.

The report said al-Qaida has changed over the last five years from an organization run by Osama bin Laden to a global network of groups that don't wait for orders but launch attacks against targets of their own choosing, using minimal resources and exploiting worldwide publicity "to create an international sense of crisis."

"There is no prospect of an early end to attacks from Al-Qaida associated terrorists," the monitoring team said. "They will continue to attack targets in both Muslim and non-Muslim states, choosing them according to the resources they have available and the opportunities that occur. While they will look for ways to attack high profile targets, soft targets will be equally vulnerable."

U.N. sanctions require all U.N. member states to impose a travel ban and arms embargo against a list of those linked to the Taliban or al-Qaida, currently 317 individuals and 112 groups, and to freeze any assets. Sanctions were first imposed on bin Laden's network in 1999.

The report said punitive measures to stop terror financing have had some effect and led to "millions of dollars of assets" being frozen.

"As a result of national and international action, al-Qaida's funding has decreased significantly. But so, too, has its need for money," the team said.

The number of people in training camps controlled by al-Qaida "is now far less, and al-Qaida no longer pays the $10 million to $20 million annually that it gave to its Taliban hosts" in Afghanistan before a U.S.-led force routed the government in late 2001, it said.

While some money for the al-Qaida attacks since 1998 may have come from "the center," the report said "much of it will have been collected locally, whether through crime or diverted from charitable donations."

But the monitoring team said al-Qaida will still need to raise and move money, and not enough was being done to identify those involved and to crack down on terror-related transactions - especially those through informal channels.

The report said not a single country reported stopping an arms shipment or banning entry to any of the Taliban and al-Qaida members on the U.N. list.

It called for increased efforts to stop al-Qaida from obtaining large weapons systems and to restrict its ability to build non-conventional bombs designed to cause mass casualties.

"There is evidence that al-Qaida remains interested in acquiring the means to construct bombs that would disperse chemical, biological or radiological pollutant, and the threat to use such a device was repeated, albeit obliquely, in a communique from the Abu Hafs Brigade, an al-Qaida offshoot, on July 1, 2004," the report said.

"Al-Qaida related groups have tried at least twice to buy the basic ingredients for a dirty bomb and a good deal of the necessary technical knowledge is available on the Internet," it said. "There is real need therefore to try to design effective measures against this threat."

Overall, the monitoring team said, U.N. sanctions have had "a limited impact," primarily because the Security Council has reacted to events "while al-Qaida has shown great flexibility and adaptability in staying ahead of them."

It cited al-Qaida's transformation from an office supporting Afghan fighters to its role initiating and sponsoring terrorism from an established base "to its current manifestation as a loose network of affiliated underground groups with certain goals in common."

"Al-Qaida wishes to promote the idea that Islam and the West are now at war, and that al-Qaida and its supporters are the true defenders of the faith," the monitoring group said. "This message ... appeals to a widespread sense of resentment and helplessness in the face of the West's political and economic hegemony that many believe is intrinsically and determinedly inimical to their interests."

"Al-Qaida's ability to strike the enemy and survive, despite the disparity in resources, taps into an ill articulated desire for revenge and gains both recruits and donations," it said.

19 August 2004 - Natural gas blast rocks Houston suburb

An explosion early Thursday at an underground gas storage facility near Houston has forced dozens of residents to evacuate from the area, say authorities who also closed nearby roads.

Houses within a one-mile radius around the Moss Bluff gas storage facility were ordered evacuated after natural gas exploded at about 4 a.m., authorities said.

"We've got dozens of evacuations," said Cathy Jones, a dispatcher for the Liberty County Sheriff's Department.

She said no injuries had been reported.

Highways near the facility along Farm-to-Market Road 563 at the Liberty-Chambers counties' border were shut down following the explosion. Residents beyond a one-mile radius of the plant were asked to stay in their homes.

Emergency crews remained on the scene three hours after the blast. A cause of the explosion has not been determined.

According to the Duke Energy Web site, the Moss Bluff facility has a storage capacity of 16 billion cubic feet of natural gas and is linked to 5 major pipelines stretching from New York to far South Texas.

19 August 2004 - Iraqi terrorists threaten to kill US-French Journalist

Iraqi militants who claim they captured a US journalist last week have threatened to kill him if US forces do not pull out of Najaf.

Al Jazeera television showed footage of a man with a moustache kneeling in front of five masked men holding rifles. No audio can be heard but the man was identified as Micah Garen, and said the group called itself the Martyrs Brigades.

Mr Garen, 37, is a journalist and archaeology specialist with US-French citizenship who was working for a New-York based production company and was making a documentary on the impact of the war.

19 August 2004 - Sadr changes his mind again

Fierce fighting erupted in the city of Najaf Thursday after a rebel Shi'ite cleric defied an Iraqi government threat to attack his stronghold in a holy shrine and rejected demands that he end his uprising.

New reports indicate that Sadr's supporters have boobytrapped the shrine with explosives and are threatening to blow up the building if they are attacked.

developing...

19 August 2004 - Armed Group Claims Kidnapping Iraqi Intelligence Officer

An armed group in Iraq calling itself the Brigades for the Defense of the Holy Shrines [Saraya al-Difa an al-Atabat al-Muqaddasah] has claimed that it has abducted a person whom it says is an officer in the Iraqi Intelligence Service and whose name is Usamah Abd-al-Jabbar. Al-Jazirah obtained a video, which shows the kidnapped person providing personal information about himself to the kidnappers. The armed group said that the kidnapping is in response to the fighting taking place in Al-Najaf. [Video shows a person standing between two armed and masked men]

The view may be downloaded here.

19 August 2004 - Sadr and supporters to drop weapons, leave Najaf shrine

Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has accepted a peace plan drafted by the Iraqi National Conference, which would include laying down arms and withdrawing his militia from a holy shrine in the city of Najaf, a delegate told the conference Wednesday. There was no immediate confirmation from al-Sadr's office.

Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia has been battling U.S. and Iraqi forces in the holy city of Najaf for nearly two weeks. A previous effort to broker a truce collapsed over the weekend, and al-Sadr, whose forces fought a two-month insurgency in the spring, has made contradictory statements in the past.

On Tuesday, an 8-person delegation from the conference traveled to Najaf to present a peace proposal to al-Sadr. The proposal demanded the cleric's militia drop its arms, withdraw from the Imam Ali Shrine where it has taken refuge and transform itself into a political party in exchange for amnesty.

Al-Sadr declined to meet the peace delegation, and earlier Wednesday Iraqi Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan said the government could raid the shrine within hours to push out the militants.

On Wednesday evening, however, Safiya al-Suhail, an independent Shiite delegate at the conference, said she had received a letter from al-Sadr's Baghdad office saying he was agreeing to the conditions.

"Muqtada al-Sadr has agreed on the conditions set by the National Conference," she said reading the letter to the conference.

"We call on the Iraqi government and the National Conference to participate in implementing what is proposed by Muqtada al-Sadr, otherwise everybody will bear the responsibility," the letter said.

19 August 2004 - Iraqi Interior Ministry Forms 4 Border Commands To Stop Entry of Infiltrators

The Interior Ministry in coordination with the Defense Ministry has formed four border commands all over Iraq to control the joint borders and prevent the entry of infiltrators into the Iraqi territory.

An official source at the ministry said that the first command located in Arbil includes the northern governorates, whereas the second command situated in Al-Anbar includes the western part of Iraq. As for the third command, which is located in Diyala, it includes the governorates of Wasit and Diyala, while the fourth located in Basra governorate includes the southern governorates.

The source pointed out that the Interior Ministry assigned 600 police officers of various ranks and specializations to Diyala Police Directorate to be deployed in the border police stations between Iraq and Iran to prevent the infiltrators and saboteurs from entering the Iraqi territory.

19 August 2004 - Suspicious activity reported involving ambulances

The following alert was released by Westchester County Department of Emergency Services based on information fron New Jersey authorities and should be practiced by all agencies.

Within the past week, the Office of Counter-Terrorism received three reports of suspicious activity concerning ambulances .

The most recent incident involved an individual who attended an open-house at an ambulance squad in Middlesex County . The man, who claimed he was from Pakistan and a physician,asked a series of questions to the squad members that related exclusively to the operation of the emergency vehicles, including the speed at which the vehicles responded to calls and the use of the lights and sirens. The individual appeared very nervous, did not ask about patient care, and left the premises when asked to complete a membership application.

The second incident occurred at a hospital in Essex County and involved an inquiry made by a male of Middle-Eastern appearance who was first observed standing near an ambulance at the emergency room doors while writing notes in a small notepad. When confronted by the vehicle's operator, a firefighter/EMT, the man asserted that he was employed as an ambulance mechanic. He then asked where a nearby fire department serviced its vehicles. The man provided an illegible New York driver's license when asked to produce identification before leaving the premises.

Lastly, OCT received information concerning an unusual attempt by three men of Middle-Eastern appearance to join a volunteer ambulance squad. The men expressed to squad members an "abnormal interest" in operating the emergency vehicles, and further insisted that the process by which they obtain the appropriate credentials and certifications to join the squad be expedited at their personal expense.

Due to the recent threat elevation to ORANGE (HIGH) for the financial sector and intelligence relating to the threat of Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs), any suspicious activity relating to emergency vehicles is of particular concern and should be reported to law enforcement immediately. As demonstrated by recent attacks in Iraq , Saudi Arabia , Turkey , and elsewhere, terrorist operatives worldwide continue to rely on VBIEDs as a method of attack. This tactic has been used here in the past, notably in the 1993 World Trade Center and 1995 Oklahoma City bombings.

The World Trade Center and Oklahoma City attacks were carried out with rented vehicles, highlighting the need for awareness among the car, truck, and limousine rental community of the potential for vehicle-borne attacks in the United States .

19 August 2004 - Arkansas center to train officers in cyberterrorism

The Arkansas Department of Highways and Transportation was itself a victim of a form of cyberterrorism earlier this summer when "Terrorist 007" appropriated their anonymous FTP server to use in distributing audio and video files to other Al Qaeda sympathizers. 007 has since moved on, and is now "borrowing" webspace from a company in Oklahoma.

But the State of Arkansas, already recognized as being one of the top cybersavvy state governments, is going to use their knowledge to help fight cyberterrorism throughout the US.

On a visit to his home state, Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson announced a $34 million grant program that will be shared among 14 groups nationwide to counter terrorism. The former congressman from Arkansas announced Sunday that the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement in Little Rock was among the 14 groups that will share in the $33.6 million competitive training grant program.

The center grant is the first among the 14 in the program to be announced; the remaining will be named in the next several days.

The center is part of the University of Arkansas ' Criminal Justice Institute, and was awarded $2.8 million of the total grant to train rural law enforcement officers to recognize cyberterrorism, preserve the physical evidence as they would any crime scene, and notify the appropriate federal agency.

The money will be used over the next two years to train 1,500 public safety officers nationwide. Jim Clark, director of the Criminal Justice Institute, said his agency hoped to begin the actual training in about three months.

Hutchinson said the national center in Arkansas was a logical choice because the state reflects rural America . He said cyberterrorism presents a threat to the country's security and the operation of utilities, government infrastructure, and commerce.

18 August 2004 - Iraqi Police Infiltrated by Al-Sadr Supporters

A policeman in the morning for the Iraqi authorities and a rebel against those same authorities in the afternoon: the contradiction does not bother Imad, 24, a young fighter in the Mahdi's Army, Muqtada al-Sadr's militia, [whom we] met yesterday in Baghdad. "One has to survive," he said, "and in any case the Americans done nothing for the people since they came to Iraq." Imad, in jeans, his hair slicked back and his beard finely trimmed, was assigned to protect a bank.

His superiors do not know anything about his underground activities. When his duty is over, he returns his gun to the Police Academy. Are there Islamists infiltrated into the new security forces? "There are a lot of them," he said, taking a puff on his cigarette. At home, he has an RPG rocket launcher, which some militiamen gave him. His targets? The US soldiers who regularly go into Sadr City on the outskirts of Baghdad.

Imad regularly receives phone calls from his friends, besieged in Al-Najaf. "Al-Sadr must not give up. He must fight to his last cartridge. Our men are not afraid. They have good morale, they tell us they do not need any help." And as a warning, "If anything bad ever happens to him, the explosion of anger of the Shiites will be terrible." His mentor must especially not grab the line thrown by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who is inviting him to take a place in the political arena. "It is a government of traitors; we must not make any contact with those people." According to him, "Al-Sadr is the only one who is defending Iraq, and who wants the Iraqis' welfare. That is why I joined him." Imad denies the brutalities committed by the militiamen against shopkeepers or the policemen: "Those are looters who later claim to be following Muqtada." With no military training, he says he "learns a lot" from his US enemies, and he admits that weapons reach Al-Najaf through the desert. "He is a somewhat schizophrenic young misfit who has no confidence in the future," his aunt sighs.

17 August 2004 - Current Status of Kidnapped Foreigners in Iraq

CURRENTLY HELD HOSTAGE

Mustafa Koksal and Durmus Kumdereli, Turkish truck drivers. Kidnapped Aug. 14 outside Mosul after delivering water to U.S. base in Baghdad.

Micah Garen, freelance Western journalist, and Amir Doushi, Iraqi translator. Seized by gunmen Aug. 13 at market in Nasiriyah.

Faridoun Jihani, Iranian consul to Karbala. In video made public Aug. 7, kidnappers accused Iran of meddling in Iraq's affairs.

Vlada Abu Ghadi, Lebanese director of Lara construction company. Abducted July 31 in Baghdad.

Ali Ahmed Moussa, Somali truck driver. In video aired July 29, insurgents threaten to kill him if his Kuwaiti employer doesn't leave Iraq.

Raad Adnan, Iraqi general director of government-owned Al-Mansour Contracting Co. Kidnapped July 24.

Ibrahim Khamis, Salm Faiz Khamis and Jalal Awadh of Kenya; Antaryami, Tilak Raj and Sukdev Singh of India; Mohammed Ali Sanad of Egypt. Truck drivers abducted July 21. Militants threatened to behead them if Kuwaiti employer keeps doing business in Iraq and their countries do not withdraw citizens.

Rifat Mohammed Rifat of Canada. Prison worker. Abducted April 8.

Aban Elias, 41, Iraqi-American. Held since May 3 by group calling itself the Islamic Rage Brigade.

HOSTAGES KILLED

Murat Yuce, of Turkey. Shot and killed in video made public Aug. 2. Worked for Bilintur, Turkish company providing laundry service for Jordanian firm in Iraq.

Raja Azad, 49, engineer, and Sajad Naeem, 29, driver, both Pakistani, working for Kuwaiti-based firm. Slain July 28. Group calling itself Islamic Army in Iraq said they were killed because Pakistan considering sending troops to Iraq.

Georgi Lazov, 30, and Ivaylo Kepov, 32, Bulgarian truck drivers. Last heard from June 29. Abducted by militants loyal to Jordanian terror suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Lazov's headless body found July 14 in Tigris River. Kepov's decapitated body found in the Tigris July 22.

U.S. Army Spc. Keith M. Maupin, 20, of Batavia, Ohio. Disappeared April 9 after an attack on a fuel convoy. Arab television reported June 29 that he was killed. U.S. military could not confirm that man shown being shot in videotape was Maupin.

Kim Sun-il, 33, South Korea translator. Beheaded June 22 by al-Qaida-linked group.

Hussein Ali Alyan, 26, Lebanese construction worker. Found shot to death June 12.

Fabrizio Quattrocchi, 35, Italian security guard. Killed April 14 after being kidnapped April 12. Previously unknown group, the Green Battalion, claimed responsibility.

Nicholas Berg, 26, American businessman. Beheaded by al-Qaida-linked group after being kidnapped in April.

ESCAPED HOSTAGES

Thomas Hamill, 44, American truck driver. Escaped May 2 after being wounded in April 9 ambush on fuel convoy.

Radoslaw Kadri, Polish businessman. Escaped by kicking car window and jumping out near U.S. troops after abduction June 1.

HOSTAGES FREED OR RESCUED

Taha al-Jundi and Khaldoun Othman, Lebanese truck drivers. Kidnapped early August. Freed Aug. 16.

James Brandon, British freelance journalist. Kidnapped Aug. 12 from hotel in Basra. Freed Aug. 13.

Jamal Sadeq al-Salaymeh, Jordanian businessman. Abducted Aug. 9 in Baghdad by kidnappers who demanded $250,000. Freed Aug. 12.

Antoine Antoun, Lebanese businessman. Abducted in Baghdad July 31. Freed Aug. 10.

Kassem Murqbawi and Nasser Othman, Lebanese truck drivers. Kidnapped early August. Freed Aug. 9.

Fayez Saad al-Udwan and Mohammad Ahmed al-Manaya'a, Jordanian truck drivers. Kidnapped July 26. Freed Aug. 9.

Ahmad Sunokrot, a Jordanian businessman, and Ahmad Abu-Jaafar, Mohammad Khleifat and Khaled Ibrahim Sasoud, Jordanian truck drivers. Kidnapped in late July. Freed Aug. 3 by tribal sheik from Fallujah and his armed men who overpowered kidnappers.

Abdulrahran Demir and Sait Unurlu, Turkish truck drivers. Released Aug. 4 after Turkish trucking union agreed to halt deliveries to U.S. forces.

Vladimir Damaa, Lebanese director of a construction company in Baghdad. Freed Aug. 1, a day after being abducted.

Mehmet Dayar, Turkish driver. Abducted July 17. Freed after promising not to return to Iraq.

Mohammed Mamdouh Helmi Qutb, Egyptian diplomat. Abducted July 23. Militants said they seized him because Egypt said it would send security experts to Iraq. Freed July 26.

Iraqi driver Omar Khaled Selman, kidnapped with two Pakistanis. Released July 28 after militants announced the Pakistanis were killed.

Angelo dela Cruz, Filipino truck driver. Kidnapped July 4. Freed July 22 after Philippines withdrew 51 peacekeepers from Iraq.

Also freed: 13 Turks, five Japanese, three Czechs, three Italians, two Lebanese, two Russians, an Egyptian, a Pakistani, a Frenchman, a Chinese citizen, a Pole, a Syrian-Canadian, and an Arab Christian from East Jerusalem.

STILL MISSING IN IRAQ

William Bradley and Timothy Bell. American contract truckers last seen April 9 after convoy attack.

RETURNED FROM IRAQ

Marine Clp. Wassef Ali Hassoun. Failed to report for duty in Iraq June 20. Videotaped images showed him apparently kidnapped. Emerged unharmed in Lebanon, July 8. Brought back to the United States. Denies having deserted.

17 August 2004 - 30 of Saddam's officers lead battle in Najaf, claims jihadi website

According to a report on an Arabic language jihadi website, the jihadis supporting Moqtada Sadr in Najef, are being led by 30 officers of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's Republical Guards and the Fedayee Saddam.

We are attempting to verify this report through other sources as well.

17 August 2004 - South Korea braces for Al Qaeda attacks

South Korea's key intelligence agency has warned that an Al Qaeda-linked militant group may launch terror attacks on South Koreans staying in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq.

The National Intelligence Service said it has obtained information that the Ansar al-Islam militant group is preparing terror attacks on South Korean civilians in northern Iraq, including Irbil, Sulaimaniyah and part of Kirkuk.

South Korea is currently deploying 3,600 troops to Irbil and its surrounding areas. Those areas are controlled by Kurdish tribes.

According to government data, about 50 South Korean civilians are believed to be staying in Iraq but it is unknown how many of them are in the Kurdish regions.

The Ansar al-Islam group is said to have connection with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian al-Qaida-linked militant who is believed to have masterminded the killing of South Korean hostage Kim Sun-il in June.

Kim's kidnappers beheaded him after the Seoul government had rejected their demand to cancel its plan to send troops to Irbil.

Earlier this month, a senior South Korean government intelligence official told parliament that a separate Islamic insurgent group, named the Lions of God, has formed a special unit for attacks on South Koreans in Iraq.

17 August 2004 - Website Says Al-Qa'ida Leaders To 'Soon' Pronounce War on US, Europe (Again)

Reprinted from Karachi Islam in Urdu

According to a report on an Arabic language jihadi site, Al Qaeda has announced that Osama Bin Ladin and Ayman al-Zawahiri will soon make a public appearance so as to pronounce a fierce battle against the United States and Europe as well as the expiration of a deadline to pull out forces from Iraq. His appearance will belie all US claims regarding his arrest or death.

The statement released by an Al Qaeda affiliate group, posted on the Islamic website says their leader Osama Bin Ladin, or his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri, will soon make an announcement on the expiration of a deadline given to Europe to be followed by massive attacks on the United States, Europe, and other allied countries. The statement said "all Al Qaeda cells are fully prepared and as soon as Sheikh Osama gives an order, they will attack targeted places and personalities. Through these attacks, they will tell their enemies that they are not only capable of defending themselves, but also eliminating them."

The statement adds that all Muslims have been told that Sheikh Usama or al-Zawahiri will soon appear on some satellite TV channels and announce the expiry of a deadline and a war on the Untied States and European countries. It also said the people will soon see the Al Qaeda chief with their own eyes.

17 August 2004 - "I Heard the Terrifying Click of the Trigger in my First Mock Execution"
by James Brandon

[Daily Telegraph journalist James Brandon's account of his kidnapping]

I was blindfolded by a sheet soaked in my own blood and could see nothing. "Who are you? What are you?" the Arabic voices snarled in broken English. "Are you CIA? Are you an Israeli spy?" The voices, many of them, seemed to boom from all around the room.

All I could feel was the cold steel of the muzzle of one of my abductors' pistols being pressed to my temple. Then came a chilling silence . . . broken only, seconds later, by the terrifying metallic click of the trigger being pulled.

It was the first of a series of mock executions. In all, four men took turns to put their guns to my head and pull the trigger. The first time, I didn't know the weapon wasn't loaded. It felt surreal . . . like a bad film.

I kept shouting "Sahafi, sahafi" (journalist). But they were raging. I was pistol-whipped. They screamed in my face, calling me an animal. They were an unreasoning mob, driven by hatred. At that point, after hours of fear and uncertainty about my fate, all I could think was: they are going to kill me.

This was undoubtedly the worst moment of a terrifying ordeal that I will never forget. It had begun the previous evening, Thursday, at about 11 o'clock, shortly after I had checked into a Basra hotel.

I answered a knock on the door and when I opened it there was a man in a police uniform wearing a balaclava. He was followed by about seven others who began shouting frenzied abuse, pistol-whipping me around the head. In vain, I shouted at them in Arabic that I was a journalist. But they took no notice.

They gathered up the bedsheets and used them to blindfold me, wrapping them around my head. I was dragged downstairs and shoved into a waiting police pick-up, not realising that blood was streaming from a head-wound, leaving a trail down the steps.

There wasn't really time for terror: when the assault actually happened, I couldn't really claim it was totally unexpected. After all, this was Iraq.

For 10 minutes I was driven around the city until I was utterly disorientated. I had no idea where they were taking me - I was still blindfolded.

They flung question after question at me. Who was I? What was I? They accused me of being a spy working for the CIA or the Israelis. However much I protested my innocence they just wouldn't listen.

It was at that point that they subjected me to the terrifying ordeal of staging a series of mock executions. I will never forget the soft click of the trigger hitting the empty chamber so long as I live. This was to be the first of a series of mock executions during my 20-hour ordeal.

I assumed that the gunmen were supporters of the rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who had been under American bombardment in the holy city of Al-Najaf. Not that they said so: we were never formally introduced though they later started muttering about Al-Najaf.

They gave me a cigarette from my own packet that they'd liberated from my shirt pocket in the hotel. They didn't allow me to bring any other possessions - my laptop, passport and my clothes were all left behind.

In all, about 30 men were involved in my abduction. They came and went, conferring about my fate. One had a particularly sinister, reptilian voice. When I said I was a journalist, he said: "Ah. But you are also British." I knew it wasn't a compliment.

I had been determined to become a journalist while growing up in London. I went to Westminster School and York University, where I read history, but the prospect of covering stories about golden weddings and missing kittens on a local newspaper did not really appeal. That's why I went out to work in Yemen, to learn Arabic and work for a local newspaper there. I was just 21. Once the war was over in Iraq, it seemed an obvious place for me to go. My family gave me their blessing, after a fashion: the country was safer last summer. A group of young journalists went out to work on the Baghdad Bulletin , one of the newspapers set up after official hostilities ended. When it folded I stayed on, freelancing for various British and American titles.

In recent months, it has become more dangerous as the insurgents step up their attacks on coalition troops and foreign contractors, and become less discriminating in their targets. But they had never seized a British journalist before I was abducted, and certainly not from the relative safety of a hotel with hundreds of rooms.

I had assumed that once they knew I was a journalist, they would set me free. Although a number of westerners had been beheaded by mujahedin captors, mostly having been abducted in the Sunni-dominated towns west of Baghdad, no journalists had been targeted despite operating in Al-Fallujah, Ramadi and Al-Najaf.

But it soon became clear that they would not quickly release me. Back in the car, I thought I heard them talking in Arabic about going back to the hotel, but I was wrong. Instead, I was driven through the darkened streets of Basra - by now it was well after midnight - to a house. They manhandled me up the stairs, pushed me to the floor and tied my feet together, and my hands behind my back, with electric cable and rope. They gagged me with a piece of cloth, switched off the light and left me alone.

I assumed I was going to be killed, and decided to try to make a break for it. I worked off my blindfold, which was quite loose, and managed to untie the rope that ran behind me, linking my feet to my hands. Through the darkness, I made out the shape of a large stove, and realised that I was in a kitchen.

With difficulty, I got to my feet, hobbled over to the sink and found a knife on the draining board. Holding the blade behind my back, I started to saw through the ropes joining my wrists. Soon the knife was slippery with blood as I nicked my flesh in my frantic haste to sever the ropes. Eventually, the fibres parted and I quickly freed my feet, too. The windows were barred, so my only exit was through the door, which I worked out must be tied shut by a rope.

Putting my fingers through a crack in the wooden door, I loosened the rope and tugged at the door - only to realise that someone outside the room was holding it shut. I wrenched it open and saw a woman in a nightshirt standing there. I felt cold, clinical and desperate to escape at all costs. In an Indiana Jones moment, I grabbed her by the neck, slammed her against a wall, pressed my knife to her throat and hissed at her: "Help me, or I will kill you."

She was terrified. "Please, please do not kill me," she said. She had children, she told me, and didn't want to die. In Arabic, I told her that I was an English journalist, and she seemed surprised. I forced her out on to the large roof terrace. How can I escape? She told me to jump, but it was a drop of at least 15 feet. I made her call softly, to see if anyone was on the lower floors. When there was no reply, we crept downstairs and slipped out of the front door.

Once through the garden gate, I faced a choice. I could take the road, and risk bumping into my kidnappers, or I could head over some waste land where I was more likely to evade capture. It was a rubbish tip, effectively, and I was wearing no shoes, having been snatched in just a shirt and trousers. My feet were lacerated by sharp edges, pieces of glass, perhaps, or the jagged lid of tin cans, but I forced myself to keep going towards a distant main road.

In vain, I waited for a passing car to flag down. I must have waited for about five minutes, but it felt like hours. In the distance I could see a floodlit government building and made my way towards it. I hammered on the perimeter gate which was eventually opened by uniformed guards.

I dived through, imagining that I was finally safe. But I could not have been more wrong.

I explained my plight and the guards seemed sympathetic. They gave me water, helped me wash my wounds and promised to call the British Army to come and rescue me. Relief washed through me as I realised how much pain I was in. I congratulated myself on escaping, and on having such a good story to tell, though I also feared no one would believe it.

Suddenly the guards came rushing back in. The Mahdi army militia fighters loyal to Al-Sadr were at the gate. They told me to hide under the blankets on a bed used by men on the night shift, feigning sleep so that the militia would go away. Ten seconds later, I heard boots charging up the hall. The blanket was ripped off and I found myself looking into the faces of 15 enraged kidnappers. One of the guards must have tipped them off - either that or the woman from the house had told them what had happened.

They were raging. I was dragged from the bed and pistol-whipped again. At some point, my eye was blackened, but I can't remember when. It is difficult to convey the depth of their anger. Still, I wasn't frightened. There didn't seem much point. It seemed clear what was going to happen: they were going to kill me. After a struggle, they put me in a police pick-up. I kept shouting: "Sahafi! Sahafi!"

My shirt had been ripped off in the melee of punches and kicks. One man hit me on the side of my head with a pistol and my hearing just cut out for about 10 seconds. The battering seemed to go on and on - mostly targeted at my shoulders and neck. They didn't hold me down, but just came at me in endless waves of aggression.

They drove me to a deserted building and ordered me to get out. At first I refused, figuring that if they shot me in the back of the truck, they'd have to clear up a horrible mess - shades of Pulp Fiction. In the end, they beat me so badly that I had no option.

It was in a corridor here that the video camera came out. I kept telling them that I was a journalist, trying to keep them talking. They tried to get me to kneel down on the floor, but I simply would not.

"Talk to the camera," they ordered. They took quite a lot of footage before they staged the short sequence that would later be beamed around the world. "My name is James Brandon. I am a journalist for The Sunday Telegraph . I just report what happens in Iraq."

I thought that I heard one gunman say that if the Americans did not stop attacking Al-Najaf within 24 hours, I would be killed. I had assumed that it would be my fate, but this was the first time I had heard it mentioned in front of me. I knew the video would probably be seen around the world, and thought about my family. They were probably more worried than I was. If anything happened to me, they would have to deal with it, not me.

Your brain works in mysterious ways. I began planning to ask my kidnappers whether I could be shot rather than beheaded because it would be a quicker, less messy death. Still, I hoped it wouldn't come to that. I was still planning to escape and kill them all. For all their weaponry, Iraqis are not adept with AK47s.

Perhaps they sensed what I was thinking: this time I was tied up properly. The knots were tighter - the ties around my wrist close to the bones. In a familiar pattern, they put me back into the car. I got the impression that they didn't quite know what to do with me because we drove around for about two hours, stopping off at safe houses, dropping gunmen off, picking others up. I got the impression the people we were picking up were better educated.

I didn't know if this was good news: that the lowly thugs at the beginning were giving way to potentially criminal masterminds. Impossible to know. At one point I heard a British helicopter overhead - a frustrating, bitter-sweet sound. I didn't think they were looking for me.

Basra, after all, is a city of three million people, and I never dreamed that my capture would have caused such a stir. I never imagined that the Foreign Office would have been alerted to the kidnap so quickly by a witness at the hotel.

It was still pitch black, probably about 4am. The night seemed never-ending, but the temperature had barely dropped below the high 30s Centigrade. I was desperate by now for a drink of water; desperate, frankly, for something -- anything -- to happen. I was moved by car to another house. Inside, I was told to lie down on a bed and my hands were gently untied. The guards seemed more relaxed. There was no sheet, just a mattress, and as my blood soaked in, I even felt moved to apologise. They gave me water. "Now you sleep," they said, and switched the light off, but of course I couldn't.

I lay there until morning finally came. I watched the sun come up through the windows and wondered if I would live to see it set. Time dragged. I had no watch, but I think it was midday on Friday when more people started to arrive at the house. Later in the afternoon, one of them promised that I'd be freed later that day. I should have been elated, but I didn't believe them. After all, they'd already threatened to execute me. But, little by little, I allowed myself to think that maybe I might be released. Things gradually improved. My hands were still tied behind my back, but one man gently fed me biscuits. "Don't be afraid," he tried to reassure me. "We are Muslims." They had a television on and I heard my name mentioned on al-Arabiya. I heard the men saying to one another, "Sahafi, sahafi", and realising that they had -- as I had been trying to tell them all along -- f***ed up. I was not a spy, a soldier, an agent. I was just trying to report on events in a war-torn country.

At that point, I didn't know that Al-Sadr had appealed for my release at Friday prayers, or that the Foreign Office and The Sunday Telegraph had been working so hard on my behalf. When the end came, I didn't realise that it had. I thought it was just another episode of driving, kicking, being tied up and held captive. The kidnapper who spoke the best English came to the room and said: "We are taking you back to your hotel."

But in the pick-up, I was still surrounded by armed men. I didn't dare believe that I was going to be freed. We didn't go to my hotel, but to Al-Sadr's district office in Basra. There, I feared, my captivity would continue. I didn't expect to be pitchforked into a bizarre, televised press conference, surrounded by Iraqi journalists representing global news channels. If I looked bewildered, and somewhat out of my depth, I was. Was this just another piece of staged footage?

A senior Shia cleric, Al-Sadr's representative in southern Iraq, took me by the hand and assured me that taking people hostage wasn't how they did things in Iraq. He led me outside to a waiting car. We arrived at the local police station. This was not reassuring: the men who originally burst into my hotel had been wearing police uniforms. I only relaxed when I was delivered to the British military police.

They gave me medical treatment for my cuts, bruises and grazes, X-rayed my head, diagnosed a fractured cheekbone, patched me up, kept me in overnight and released me yesterday morning. The army escorted me to Kuwait.

Believe it or not, I was actually intending to head straight back to Baghdad, until I was persuaded by the British consul in Basra that I was being a little over-enthusiastic. But being kidnapped has not deterred me from working as a journalist in Iraq. The opportunities make up for the inherent risk.

The eldest of three children, I have always been independently minded, and although I have sometimes been relentless in the pursuit of my career, I remain close to my two sisters, Catherine, 20, and Laura, 16. Now that I am free I can't wait to be reunited with them and my mother, Hilary. I intend to take a holiday. But eventually, I plan to return to Iraq. Only next time, I just want to do the reporting. I have no desire to be the story again.

16 August 2004 - Mohamed Atta Brigades issues another warning to El Salvador

It appears the jihadis are still annoyed with El Salvador, and have issued them another warning. They call this warning the last warning.

The capabilities of the Mohamed Atta Brigades are undetermined. See article below on 2 guys, a fax, and a computer.

In the Name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful

The peace is on the one(s) who followed the guidance ..

This is a statement to the Salvadoran government ..

We have warned you of the result of your staying in Iraq land, and we did not find the attentive and therefore, wise ear, we in the Martyr Brigades Mohammad Ata we declare the next :

we give time to you twenty one day for the withdrawal from Iraq, and she is the last deadline that will not be after it any advertisement or a clarification, but will be its considering the blood God willing ..

the target is from this deadline he is nothing but a period for reviewing yourselves, and we its count will be free from the blood of each Salvadoran whether it was in Iraq or in Alslfador herself .

we and as we said before we will transfer the battle to inside Alslfador and that will not dissuade us from targeting your strongholds in Alslfador .

the statements that got out of what is named the archbishop of the Salvadoran capital she is nothing but an indication on it panted behind America and behind the mean Bush the criminal ..

the waiting militants are to the jihad for the sake of Allah, will wait until the end of this deadline and will have the speech and the doing after the passage of the deadline ..

And he who wronged will know any return they turn back

Mohammad Atta Brigades
Qaeda al Jihad
7 / 1425 AH
16 / 8 / 2004 AD

16 August 2004 - Speaking of 2 guys, a fax machine, and a computer

People often ask us how we determine what postings we see on the jihadi boards are real, and what ones are completely bogus.

Many of the postings are obviously bogus; some are clearly legitimate; and others fall in between the two extremes, where we cannot ascertain whether the posting is something to be concerned about or not.

Some analysts have suggested some of the frightening posts put out by so-called terror organizations are nothing more that 2 guys with a fax machine and a computer.

Even the jihadis can't be sure. Over recent weeks, someone has been posting fake jihadi posts, and the terrorists have had to come out and disavow the postings, which has been interesting considering that the postings say the same thing they usually do.

Sometimes the posters are clearly in fantasy land. Probably the best example that comes to mind today is the following post:

The revengeful great one has destroyed America then left it at the bottom, the hurricane photographs show the damage that was left.

In case anyone has any doubts, we are pretty certain that Hurricane Charley was NOT a terrorist action by jihadis.

16 August 2004 - Holland reassessing terror risks in wake of more internet threats

The Dutch government has ordered an inquiry into the terrorist threat aimed explicitly at the Netherlands which has been circulating on the internet since Sunday. The website of a group calling itself the Islamic Tawhid says the Netherlands will be targeted if Dutch troops are not withdrawn from Iraq.

The Dutch secret service, the AIVD, says there is no reason to revise its risk assessment. It is generally accepted that countries with troops in Iraq, such as the Netherlands, face greater risks. Last month the Dutch Interior Ministry introduced a number of additional security measures for potential terrorist targets.

The following message is the one that the Dutch government refers to in this article:

From / the Islamic Al Tawheed group ( ( Martyr Major General Amr Almokhtar ) )

To / the government and the Dutch nation .

We direct this message to all crusade countries that conspire against the Muslims and who send forces to Iraq oh ' Fghanstan and specially ( ( Italy and Netherlands that did not direct to it I ' A Thdidoghirha from the crusade countries are a simple message they waited for the hell that will transfer your night to a dream from the bloodshed and your daytime that will turn to a hell it expected Yabrlscona the Islam soldier who sold I soul from I the Allah's religion support most and the defiance of the crosses, you challenged the Islam soldier Fa ' Ntzr ( ( the Islamic earthquake ) ) and to Netherlands that I is its messengers forces to Iraq .

We direct punching the message except ' a benevolent and our message simple she is the withdrawal of the Dutch forces from Iraq or your fate as the fate of Italy and other will be from the countries would surprising from the Islamic earthquake that will shake your countries you did not benefit from the lessons in Spain and other from the countries ( ( you understand only the language of blood and car bombs ) )

? ' our messengers are messages including the sufficiency to the countries except ' and its lords and that the station of the space arabic and other transmitted from the stations, we are ready and with waiting the suitable time so that we shake all of the countries that I is its messengers forces to Iraq, therefore to the Dutch nation an advice ( ( we advise you on the withdrawal of the Dutch from Iraq forces or we will not bear what will happen will be the response is not through the Internet but will be through our special ways .

( ( and will know a return that turn back ) )

The Islamic Al Tawheed group
Martyr Major General Amr Almokhtar
Sunday 29 Jumada II

16 August 2004 - Abu Hafs Masri Brigade makes another final warning to Italy

There is considerable speculation among analysts with regards to the Abu Hafs Masry Brigade. Is it one teenager with a computer and a fax machine, as some have speculated? Or is it a real group, with a history of terror attacks.

Right now, the jury is still out on that one. However, they are certainly staying busy these days issuing "Final Final Warnings" to Italy. The most recent, shown below, was released this weekend:

The last warning of the Italian nation

In the Name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful and the honour to Allah

This is the last warning of the Italian nation

As for that you get rid of the lacking Berlusconi the efficiency or will burn actual Italian, that it a clear equalization we put it between your hands so that we leave our responsibility, and the one who warns is excused .

The coming message what they concealed will be on your land no on the Internet ....

Berlusconi pulls you to more blood and the complete slavery to America . ..

They remembered Shfikm Anthony Rousseau my bitter that Putin 's intelligences killed just for that he was sharing suffering our brothers in Chechnya they greeted that was a dear guest on them . At it Berlusconi did not move living to the fact-finding and the clarification of the assassination circumstances, you do not be deceived by the mass medias that control them or he possesses them, and they investigated the truths objectively then we are not bloodthirsty beasts or stupid hardliners as call . We are a people understand the greatness of the Islamic civilization and boast of it ..

We look how tortures and our brothers are insulted in the dogma all over the world under the claimed civilized western world whips and the supported dictatorial regimes from it .

We are sure that Berlusconi 's information will delude you that it is a threatening message only and will rebel against you by Fouad Allam and his proverbs from the mercenaries who claim the representation of the Islam the peaceful Almthzr .

You do not be deceived by their speech and they got rid of the abstinence knot on the Islamic world and know that the regimes Allti you name it a straight she is your most pleasant enemies ...

As for the Islam the truth has permitted for us the response by the amount of the aggression on us and do not run the other cheek until we preserve our dignity .

Know you that this message is farther from that it is threat merely .. But she for putting the matters in front of you on their truth and she that we capable on to are right qualitative targets by unconventional weapons that a huge disaster will limit .

A single person resolute on the sacrifice of its life for the sake of a fair case equals a complete army and eleventh of September the good proof .

We in Italy and no one of you in a safety as long as refusing the display of our sheikh we will transfer his promise to a truth .

With waiting you similar bloodshed to eleventh of September .....

We will write by our blood and blood of thousands of Italians a new page from the pages of your history .....

And greeting the one(s) who follow the guidance ...

Abu Hafs Masry Brigades
Qaeda al Jihad
Italy

16 August 2004 - At least three flights make emergency landings after bomb threats

On 15 August 2004, reports emerged that at least three flights, including a Lufthansa, Turkish Airways, and Croatia Airways flight were forced to make emergency landings after several anonymous bomb threats were phoned in.

Early on 15 August 2004, a Luthansa flight bound from Frankfurt to Istanbul with 169 passengers and crew was forced to make an emergency landing in Budapest, Hungary after an anonymous phone threat was made from somewhere in Turkey. A Turkish Airlines flight carrying 162 passengers was also forced to land in Budapest later in the day after receiving a similar threat. A Croatian Airlines passenger aircraft carrying an unknown number of passengers from Zagreb, Croatia to Frankfurt, Germany was evacuated and searched upon landing in Frankfurt after a similar threat was received. In all three cases, no explosive devices were discovered

15 August 2004 - 6 Bombs Explode in Quetta, Pakistan

On 14 August 2004, six explosive devices detonated throughout the city of Quetta, in an attack planned to occur during Independence Day celebrations. The devices detonated prematurely and caused no serious injuries, but several buildings in the area sustained damage. The bombs were placed at various public locations in Quetta, including the city's main railway station.

14 August 2004 - Increased fighting in Afghanistan

Factional fighting broke out near Shindad airfield, located in the western province of Herat, approximately 65 mi/100 km south of the city of Herat. More than 20 combatants were killed in the fighting, involving rival warlords and forces loyal to the provincial Governor Ismail Khan. President Hamid Karzai dispatched troops from the Afghan National Army to the region on 15 August 2004 in an effort to quell the violence.

13 August 2004 - Firefight in Saudi Arabia; militant throws bomb; is killed

There was an exchange of fire on 12 August 2004 in Mecca between a suspected Islamic militant and Saudi police forces. Saudi sources stated that police officers attempted to convince the suspect to surrender, but opened fire on him after he threw a bomb. The militant was killed, and one police officer sustained minor injuries. Saudi authorities stated that the man was not on the list of 26 most-wanted militants that was issued in December 2003, but provided no further details about him. Police forces continue to search the area for individuals connected with the victim.

13 August 2004 - Car bomb explodes outside police station in UK

A car bomb exploded outside the Mereyside police station in Liverpool on 12 August 2004 at 2200 local time. According to police officers on the scene, a car was parked outside the station on Walton Lane, underneath a railroad trestle. An unidentified man was seen running from the car just prior to the blast. No damage -- aside from the completely destroyed car -- or injuries were reported. The car bomb is the second such device to detonate outside the Mereyside police station in 2004. An investigation is currently underway

13 August 2004 - Italy increases security on Abu Hafs Masry deadline

Italian authorities will implement increased security measures in Rome during the 14-15 August 2004 weekend, when the deadline of an ultimatum by a purported branch of al-Qaeda expires. In a statement issued on 1 August, the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades threatened to stage attacks in Italy unless the country withdraws its troops from Iraq within 15 days. According to local sources, authorities will deploy between 3,000 and 5,000 members of the security forces to carry out checks throughout the capital, with special attention devoted to high-profile locations and facilities, such as Vatican City, the Coliseum, the U.S. Embassy and airports. Authorities have also placed ambulances and medical personnel in a state of readiness to respond to any possible emergencies. Authorities have not stated whether the increased security measures will remain in place after the weekend.

13 August 2004 - British journalist kidnapped in Iraq, then freed

Militants in the southern city of Basra on Friday released a British journalist they had kidnapped and threatened to kill after aides to militant Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr demanded he be freed.

The journalist, James Brandon, was brought to al-Sadr's local office and freed. He held an impromptu news conference there and thanked the kidnappers and al-Sadr's aides for working for his release.

Brandon declined to talk about the circumstances of his release.

13 August 2004 - Muqtada Sadr reported wounded in clashes with American soldiers in Najaf

Reports out of Najaf indicate that radical cleric Muqtada Sadr, who has been leading a revolt in the southern Iraqi city of Najaf, has sustained minor shrapnel wounds in the head and chest.

Sadr's home was raided yesterday by American troops; Sadr was not home but was suspected of being in a nearby mosque or maternity hospital.

Sadr has issued statements during the past week calling on the militants to continue battling US troops even after he is "martyred".

13 August 2004 - Father of Egyptian beheaded in Iraq Refuses body of accused spy

An announcement by the father of the Egyptian, beheaded by the militants in Iraq after being accused of acting as a spy for American forces, shows a disturbing trend in the public opinion of the Arab world. The announcement appeared on an Arabic language message board frequented by Al Qaeda sympathizers.

“If my son was really a spy for the Americans, he has dishonored the family and I will ask that his body not be returned to us.” That was the statement issued by Fawzi Abd Al-Aal Mutwaali, father of slain Egyptian hostage Mohamed Mutwaali.

The execution of the Egyptian man was shown in a video clip broadcast on Al Arabiyah satellite TV. (Subscribers of the HQ Intel Alert may download the video from the subscriber’s forum; or email Laura for the link.)

The father had not been in touch with his son for more than a decade. He said that his son had gone to Iraq to work 18 years ago. He believed that his son had been killed in 1991 during the first Gulf War in US raids on Iraq, and none of the family had heard from him since that time.

12 August 2004 - Red Herrings and Disinformation
by Laura Mansfield

Early this morning, I noticed a posting on an obscure Arabic language message board that I only follow occasionally. But this morning, this particular post caught my attention in a big way.

The post reads as follows (translated into English from the original Arabic):

The distractions are going well. The Americans are chasing those with video cameras believing them to be terrorists. That permits us to do our preparations undetected. My brother your idea for people to draw attention to themselves with cameras was excellent.

Earlier this summer, we reported a posting from an Arabic language board called "Summer of the Jihad Tourists", which suggested ways that tourists could participate in jihad.

There were also postings on Arabic language boards directed to Muslims in America, calling upon them to behave suspiciously as often as possible. One of the posts went so far as to advise people "if you are traveling, and can take a route near a nuclear power plant or a water treatment facility or any other building of that nature, stop and take photographs or video tape. The police cannot be everywhere. If they are watching you then they may not be watching our real projects." The poster went on to tell people that because they would not be breaking the law, they would not get into trouble.

My question is this. What are we missing? It sounds very much as if we are seeing these methods in action.

Obiously Al Qaeda is using tactics of misdirection and disinformation. What is their real target?

12 August 2004 - Jihadi boards discuss imminent Bin Laden tape

An Islamic website said Thursday an audio message is expected to be released by Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden or his second in command to declare the end of a truce offered to Europe if it pulls out troops from Iraq.

"Expect an audio message from Sheikh Osama bin Laden or Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri," said a statement on an Arabic language message board frequented by Al Qaeda sympathizers.

"To all Muslims: expect an audio message from Sheikh Osama bin Laden on one of the satellite channels during which he will announce the end of the truce that he has given to the Europeans for a pullout from Iraq," it said.

The authenticity of the statement could not be verified.

11 August 2004 - Al Qaeda's Voice of Jihad references plot to assassinate President Bush?

If a message in the newly released issue 22 of Voice of Jihad magazine, Al Qaeda's online publication distributed every two weeks on the internet, is any indicator that the terrorist organization may very well have a plan to assassinate US President George W. Bush in motion.

The mention of the plot was cryptic and short, but it was enough to catch the eyes of analysts at the Northeast Intelligence Network.

The magazine offers a single line reponse to an email from a reader by the name of Maddad.

The message says: "The plan you have drawn up to assassinate Bush is good but will need a lot of preparation. It is possible that you can take part in it, if possible. Thank you."

We will bring you more information on this story as we continue our translation and analysis of issue 22.

11 August 2004 - Jihadi Chatter
by Laura Mansfield

Over the past few weeks, the chatter on the Arabic language message boards frequented by Al Qaeda sympathizers has changed.

Normally there is a good bit of banter with regards to social issues, as well as speculation of upcoming attacks, and discussions of events going on in Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

But recently the tenor of the chatter has changed. Now, more and more, the boards are being filled with clips from the mass media. Translations of articles from CNN, Reuters, and even the NEIN website often appear on these message boards, side by side with the latest beheading video.

Some of the posters have moved on to other boards (which we have identified) but some seem to have vanished. One could speculate that some of the missing posters were picked up in raids in Iraq and Saudi; others may have been killed.

This morning we found a posting that is quite unusual. The poster seems to take issue with the Christian religious practices of some of the American soldiers.

The above collage of three different images, which we combined into one image for bandwidth purposes, shows the baptism of a soldier in the sands of the desert.

The second image is of soldiers praying. The poster notes that one of the soldiers has on a gun, and is holding a Bible. Given the propensity of the jihadis to hold the Qu'ran in one hand and an AK47 in the other, we're not sure why this was a problem for the poster.

The third image is of a statue made in the sands of the desert by an American soldier.

11 August 2004 - Zarqawi's group accuses American of being CIA agent, beheads him, releases video

Click here to view the video.

Zarqawi's Tawhid and Jihad group in Iraq claims to have executed an individual they identify as American CIA in Iraq.

Although the website claims that this beheading is the work of Zarqawi's group, the actual decapitation is considerably different from the other beheadings we have seen in Iraq. In this video, the condemned man is seated in a chair, apparantly unconscious because he does not move as the moment of death approaches. He remains seated in the chair as the executioner lunches towards him with a large sword. After several wide swipes of the sword, the head is removed from the body.

Other beheading videos from Iraq have used a smaller knife. In addition, the heads have been removed with more of a sawing action. This decapitation more closely resembles the execution style in Saudi Arabia.

Also worth noting is that this condemned man was not wearing an orange jumpsuit, but was in plain clothes. This beheading occurs outdoors; previous beheadings have been conducted inside a building.

These discrepencies indicate that the persons responsible for the death of this man may be not be the same as those responsible for the other beheadings.

There is no word as the the identity of the murdered man. In addition, the man does not speak. It is impossible to determine if this man is an American, as they claim. It is worth noting that they speak to him in English, saying "Open your eyes".

Other clues at the bottom of the page say "ALQA3EDAH" and "IRHABI007". Irhabi 007 is Arabic for Terrorist 007.

Yesterday, a video was released of an Egyptian who they claim was beheading for spying for Americans in Iraq, and for planing homing devices for guided bombs, as shown in the image below:

11 August 2004 - New York man admits to aiding Al Qaeda

A New York man has admitted to smuggling money and military supplies to a senior member of al Qaeda in Pakistan, setting up a jihad training camp and assisting in a bombing plot in the United Kingdom.

Mohammed Junaid Babar, a naturalized American originally from Pakistan, pleaded guilty June 2 to five counts of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, as well as providing the support, according to a court transcript made public Tuesday.

Babar is being held without bail and faces up to 70 years in prison, but Federal Judge Victor Marrero indicated Babar will serve less jail time under a plea deal.

Babar has agreed to cooperate fully with any investigation or prosecution by the U.S. Attorney's Office and he may apply to the witness security program, which would relocate his family under a new identity.

Babar told Marrero he provided night-vision goggles, sleeping bags, waterproof socks, waterproof ponchos and money to a high-ranking al Qaeda official in South Waziristan, a Pakistani region near the Afghan border.

Babar said he delivered the supplies personally in January and February 2004 and someone else transported the items in the summer of 2003.

"I understood that the money and supplies that I had given to al Qaeda was supposed to be used in Afghanistan ... against U.S. or ... international forces or against the Northern Alliance," Babar said.

The Northern Alliance helped remove the Taliban from power in Afghanistan by joining forces with U.S. and British soldiers.

"I set up a jihad training camp," Babar told the court, "where those who wanted to go into Afghanistan where they could learn how to use weapons, and also, you know, any explosive devices that they wanted to test out over there."

Babar, 29, confessed he supplied people who attended the training camp with aluminum powder and attempted to buy ammonium nitrate for them "with the knowledge that it was going to be used for a plot somewhere in the U.K."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Baroni said in court that Babar's training camp lasted for three to four weeks in July 2003 and he was involved in planning a bomb plot in Britain from around December 2002 until about March 2004.

Baroni said prosecutors had witnesses, documents and other physical evidence to prove the case against Babar.

Babar, who grew up in the New York borough of Queens, was arrested after he returned from Pakistan in April.

One senior law enforcement source said Babar had been "on the radar screen" before he taken into custody.

Babar is believed to have been associated with a group in London known as al Muhajiroun, which includes Pakistani terrorists, according to law enforcement sources.

Al Muhajiroun was under British surveillance and members of the group purchased nearly a ton of ammonium nitrate, a raw material used to make bombs, the source said.

British police foiled an apparent bomb plot March 30 when they arrested eight men and seized about 1,320 pounds (600 kg) of ammonium nitrate from a self-storage warehouse in west London.

Six of the men -- five of Pakistani descent -- were charged with conspiracy to cause explosions and possessing ammonium nitrate for possible use in terrorism.

Ammonium nitrate was a key ingredient in the bomb that destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1995, killing 168 people, as well as a bomb that destroyed a nightclub in Bali, Indonesia, in 2002, killing more than 200.

11 August 2004 - Georgian military opens fire on Vice Speaker of Russian Duma

Earlier today, Georgian military units patrolling a harbor in Abkhazia reportedly opened fire on a convoy of vessels carrying Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the vice-speaker of the Russian Duma and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR). Zhirinovsky was reportedly traveling from the Russian coastal town of Anapa to a resort community in Abkhazia when the incident occurred. Details regarding any casualties on board the convoy are not currently available. President Mikhail Saakashvili had warned previously that any Russian tourist vessel approaching a harbor in Abkhazia would be fired upon and sunk. The shooting comes after a 4 August incident in which a Georgian military unit allegedly fired upon a convoy carrying a senior Russian legislator and other members of a Russian delegation in the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

11 August 2004 - Homicide Bombing in Jerusalem Kills Two

This morning, a suicide bomber set off an explosion south of a military checkpoint in Qalandiyah, located between Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah. Two Palestinians were killed in the explosion, which also wounded seven Border Policemen and six Palestinians. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack. Security forces were on alert in the area due to intelligence warnings about a possible terrorist attack. The high state of alert continues in Jerusalem. Israeli authorities have reopened the Qalandiyah crossing to pedestrians.

11 August 2004 - Two Groups Claim Responsibility for Istanbul Bombings

Two claims of responsibility emerged on 10 August 2004 for bombings that occurred in Istanbul earlier that same day. One claim was from the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, which called the attacks the first in a series that "will be launched against European countries after they all rejected the truce offered by ... Osama bin Laden." The group has made threats against European countries before and has also claimed responsibility for previous attacks in Europe, such as the 11 March 2004 bombing in Madrid. There is serious doubt about the authenticity of these previous claims.

Another group, calling itself the Kurdistan Liberation Hawks, also claimed responsibility, stating that the attacks were in reaction to military operations by Turkish authorities against Kurdish rebels in southeastern Turkey.

Turkish authorities dismissed the claim of responsibility by Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, stating that the bombings were likely the work of Kurdish separatists with links to the separatist organization Kongra-Gel (previously the Kurdistan Workers' Party-PKK). Turkish authorities have eight people in custody in relation to the attacks, but have not yet charged them.

10 August 2004 - Charlotte NC Police Arrest Suspected Terrorist;
Suspect entered US illegally through Tijuana, Mexico

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory announced Tuesday the arrest of a foreign national believed to be a terror suspect.

The U.S. Attorney announced late Tuesday morning that federal authorities were holding a Pakistani foreign national in Charlotte who is suspected of videotaping landmarks in the city, including the Bank of America and Wachovia buildings.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested Kamran Acktar Shaikh, of Elmhurst, N.Y., on July 20 near the intersection of South Tryon Street and Stonewall Avenue.

Videotapes found in his possession include footage of buildings in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Dallas and New Orleans, as well as transit systems in those cities.

Acktar, who is also known as Kamran Shaikh, is being held on immigration violations.

According to the affadavit below, Shaikh was in the United States illegally, having crossed over the border near Tijuana, Mexico.

AFFIDAVIT I, John Scott Sherrill, hereinafter designated as affiant, having been duly sworn, hereby depose and state the following: 1. The affiant is employed as a Senior Special Agent with the United States Department of Homeland Security, immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and has been so employed with ICE and the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) for approximately the past twelve years. The afflant has been an ICE/INS representative assigned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) for approximately the last three years. The afifiant is a graduate of the Immigration Officer/Special Agent Academy and the Journeyman Immigration Special Agent Course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center at Glynco, Georgia. The affiant has also attended additional training courses involving domestic and international terrorism given by the FBI and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In addition to terrorism related investigations, the affiant is experienced in investigating criminal and administrative violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Title 8 United States Code, involving illegal entry into the United States, alien smuggling, and employer sanctions. The affiant has also conducted numerous investigations of violations of Title 18 United States Code including violations of immigration fraud, naturalization fraud, false identification, and other violations involving aliens. 2. The information in this affidavit is based on personal knowledge derived from my own participation in this investigation and information received from the Charlotte.. Mecklenburg Police Department and the records of the United States Department of Homeland Security. 3. On July 20, 2004, Officer Anthony D. Maglione of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) witnessed Kamran SHAIKH videotaping the downtown area of Charlotte near the intersection of South Tryon Street and Stonewall Avenue. When SHAIKH saw Maglione approaching he stopped videotaping and began walking away from the officer. Officer Maglione asked SHAIKH what he was doing and SHA1KH replied that he was walking to the bus station. Officer Maglione noted that SHAIKH was walking in the oppositc direction from the bus station. CMPD Detective Kenneth DeSimone, also a member of the JTTF, responded to the scene. Detective DeSimone asked SHAIKH if he would voluntarily accompany him to the Charlotte FBI office a few blocks away. SHAIKH agreed to go with Officer Maglione and Detective DeSimone to the FBI           office. Detective DeSimone explained to SHAIKH that he was not under arrest and at no time was SHAIKH placed in any type of restraints. 4. Once at the Charlotte FBI office, the affiant identified himself to SHAIKH as a Special Agent with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. I asked SHAIKH about his citizenship, and he replied that he was from Pakistan. The affiant asked SHAIKH his immigration status and SHAIKH stated that he was legally in the United States and that he had a “Green Card”. [The Immigration and Naturalization Service Form 1-551, Alien Registration Card, is commonly referred to by the slang term “Green Card”.] The affiant asked SHAIKH bow he obtained his “Green Card”, and he replied that his wife had applied for him in 1997. The affiant asked SHAIKH where he had his immigration interview and he replied that he had his interview in New York City in 2002. He also stated that he obtained his “Green Card” in New York in 2002. 5. SHAIKH provided the affiant with a New York Drivers License number 158 300 924 in the name of Kamran SHAIKH, with a date of birth of 09/14/1968 and an address of 42-66 Ketchum Street, Elmhurst, New York 11373. SHAIKH also produced a Social Security Card bearing the number 093-80-0455. 6. SHAIKH stated that his wife is also a Pakistani citizen but that she too has a “Green       Card” and is currently waiting to become a United States citizen. SHAIKH said that he       was born in Karachi, Pakistan. His mother's name is Suriya and his father's name is Akhtar. He stated that he originally entered the United States in 1991 by illegally crossing from Tijuana, Mexico into the United States. 7. The affiant asked SHAIKH if he had ever had a hearing in Immigration court. He replied      that he had not had any hearings. The affiant asked SHAIKH if he had ever filed any other immigration applications and he answered, “no”. 8. The affiant informed SHAIKH that he is required by law to carry his Alien Registration Card (“Green Card”) at all times. SHAIKH claimed that he did not know he was      supposed to carry it. He added that he doesn't like to carry it, especially when traveling, for fear of losing it. 9. SHAIKH claimed he had been back to Pakistan in 1996. The affiant asked him with what documents he was able to re-enter the United States. He replied that he used an Employment Authorization Card. The affiant informed SHAIKH that an alien couldn't enter the United States with an Employment Authorization Card. SHAIKH responded by saying that he entered using an Advance Parole document. SHAIKH stated that he had been applying for political asylum but withdrew his application. 10. The affiant and ICE Special Agent Deborah Cannady checked the Central Index System and found alien registration number A72 567 612 relating to a Kamran SHAIKH, date of      birth 09114/1968, place of birth Pakistan. This record also contained the Social Security Number: 093-80-0455. The Deportable Alien Control System showed that SHAIKH had been found Excludable/Inadmissable and that an administrative final order of removal had been issued. I l. Several times during the interview SHAIKH claimed to be legally in the US With a “Green Card”. After further discussion, SHAIKH finally admitted that he did not have a “Green Card” and that he had not traveled back to Pakistan since he left that country in 1991. 12.       A review of the videotape contained in SHAIKH's video camera showed video of the downtown area of Charlotte, North Carolina including the Bank of America Building and the Wachovia Building where the local FBI office is located. SHAIKH allowed agents to view other tapes in his possession. These tapes included video of buildings in the downtown areas of Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Houston, Texas; Dallas, Texas; and New Orleans, Louisiana. He also had video of what appeared to be Mansfield Dam in Austin, Texas. SHAIKH also had video of public transportation such as MARTA in Atlanta, the Downtown Transit Center and the Downtown Metro Trolley in Houston, trolley cars in Dallas and New Orleans. At times, SHAIKH turned the camera sideways in order to videotape the entire building and often zoomed in on street signs- 13. A review of Department of Homeland Security immigration records and the immigration file A72 567 612 show that SHAIKH claimed to have entered the United States      on December 10, 1991 by entering from Mexico into the United States without being admitted after inspection by an Immigration Officer. He applied for political . asylum in 1992. On August 6, 1997, the application for political asylum was denied and SHAIKH was placed in removal (deportation) proceedings. On September 2, 1997, a Form 1-130 Petition for Alien Relative was filed by Sumaira Azhar on behalf of SHAIKH based on their marriage. On March 4, 1998 at the Immigration Court in New York City, SHAIK      was found removable and given until July 12, 1998 to voluntarily depart the United      States. The judge's order stated that if SHAIKH failed to depart by July 12,1998 then the voluntary departure would be withdrawn and the order would become an order of removal to the country of Pakistan. On April 28, 1998, the I-130 Petition for Alien Relative was approved at the Immigration and Naturalization Eastern Service Center in St Albans, Vermont. There is no record that SHAIKH ever filed an 1-485 Petition to Adjust Status      to Permanent Resident nor any record of a motion to re-open his removal case to seek time to apply to become a lawfully admitted permanent resident. There is also no record      that SHAIKH has ever applied for or received an advance parole travel document. JOHN SCOTT SHERRILL, Sr. Special Agent US Immigration & Customs Enforcement Subscribed and sworn to before me on the 5th day of August 2004. David C. Kee , Unit States Magistrate Judge

10 August 2004 - Key port in Basra closed by militants

Forces loyal to Muqtada al Sadr have forced Governor of Iraqi southern city of al Basra to close a key sea outlet used for import and export of civil goods, Iraqi port sources said on Tuesday. "The port of Abuflous of the Basra governorate has been closed and employees did not show up this morning ", a well placed source in the port told KUNA here today. Requesting anonymity, the source said "the closure followed repeated pressure by Sadr's office and some official quarters in the governorate". He failed to name the official quarters. The source added that export and import operations in the port were brought to a halt. Oil production in Iraq was reportedly continuing and not affected.

10 August 2004 - Southern Provinces Threaten to Secede from Iraq

Deputy Governor of Basra Salam Ouda al-Malki has said he is to announce the separation of some Iraqi southern governorates from the central government in Baghdad.

Informed sources told Aljazeera that al-Maliki said the breakaway province would include Basra, Misan and Dhi Qar governorates.

He also wants to shut Basra's port, and effectively stop oil exports.

Al-Maliki said the decision was taken because the Iraqi interim government is "responsible for the Najaf clashes".

He has not outlined the steps for the implementation of his proposal.

10 August 2004 - Abu Hafs Masry Brigade Claims Credit for Istanbul Bombings
Promises "The coming shakes are more violent God willing"

A statement released this morning by the Abu Hafs Masry Brigade claimmed credit for this morning's Istanbul bombings.

A translation of the statement is shown below:

In the Name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful
Abu Hafs Masry Brigades
The Al-Qaeda Network - Europe flag
The military wing

( ( The coming shakes are more violent God willing ) )

Praise of Allah the Lord of the Worlds and the prayers and the greetings to the militants leader, and after ..

He said that rose: and what threw since I threw but Allah threw .

Militants from Abu Hafs Brigades carried out the first operation in series of the operations that will launch in the European countries face, after all of the countries refused the reconciliation that our sheikh presented to them . And the operation had will an explanation in a statement that will be issued later on that will clarify in it the way that arrived by it the militants to the place, and how they could planting bombs and exit safes without a harm .

The first shake that gave is Istanbul she is nothing but a beginning for a series of the hitting in the face of the European capitals . Then as said before, the submission of Europe is behind the mean Bush, will lead to an escalating war that will not end except with the change of Europe countries to its politics towards the Muslims, and the refusal of the criminal American policies, that is still until now violating the Muslims honors in Iraq and Palestine and Afghanistan, and remainder Muslim countries .

The European capitals will witness in the next days a series of the operations to the waiting militants who yearn for the certificate for God's sake, and the coming attacks that will be more violent God willing, and Istanbul she is nothing except opening the bloody war that promised the Europeans by them after if they did not respond to the truce that the sheikh Osama Ben Ladin that Allah kept gave, and we will translate all our speeches in the real world as translated them in Madrid and in Istanbul .. We will translate it with more battles that were their beginning today at dawn .

The bitterness that the Muslims pay in Iraq, and in Palestine, will taste it all who lives in Europe in Istanbul and Rome, and remainder of the countries that follow the mean American policy, and we will not soften and will not leave you that live in a security that Iraq nation and Palestine as long as did not knowing the safety taste ...

Our attitude is clear no retreat about it, then we will not leave you by your state, and will not enjoy the security O Europe nations, as long as you remained in your ugly silence, you if you did not sack your governments, that accepted and it was pleased with the slaughter of the Muslims, then you will hear from us a response that will not tolerate it .. Then no safety except with the renunciation of your governments of Iraq land, and no safety except with the refusal of the American policy that depends on the slaughter and the killing and torturing the prisoners . Or, your silence shows the support and the support of your governments .

Abu Hafs Masry Brigades
The Al-Qaeda Network - Europe flag
The military wing
Tuesday 24 / 6 / 1425 hijri - 10 / 8 / 2004 AD

It is important to note that in recent weeks, the Brigade has claimed that several statements issued in their name were in fact posted by imposters. It is impossible to verify the authenticity of this claim.

10 August 2004 - Feds to do Passenger Screening on NYC Helicopter Tours

An article in today's New York Times is reporting that federal security officers will take over passenger screening on New York City helicopter tours. Officials in Pakistan recently discovered brochures, photographs, and other information on these tours in the possession of an Al Qaeda operative.

The Transportation Security Administration will take over the screening by the end of the week. Passengers will be subject to the same types of searches for weapons, explosives and suspicious items as are now in place at airports. The helicopter tour operators will also be required to provide the names of passengers to the federal government to run against federal "no fly'' lists of terrorist suspects and to provide names and data on their own employees for federal background checks. The operators will also have to name a security coordinator, to be available 24 hours a day to respond to federal inquiries.

Click the image to view the video

10 August 2004 - Which Middle Eastern Ruler had a small role in the US TV series Star Trek Voyager?

Although this question may seem out of place for this website, this is actually a thread on one of the Arabic language message boards frequented by Al Qaeda sympathizers.

At least one jihadi appears to have taken a break from their global jihad and has been catching up on his Star Trek viewing.

If the material in the posting is to be believed, Jordan's King Abdullah had a small role in 1995 in episode 35 of Star Trek Voyager entitled "Investigations".

The post cites ArabTimes as a source. We have been unable to confirm this information beyond verifying that the article is in fact in the ArabTimes, but a quick check of news reports from 1995 indicate that then-Prince Abdullah was in fact in episiode 35 of Voyager.

10 August 2004 - Al Qaeda-linked group claims credits for this morning's Istanbul bombings

At approximately 0200 local time on 10 August 2004, bomb explosions struck two small hotels in Istanbul and a liquefied gas plant in the outskirts of the city. The Pars Hotel in the Laleli district, and the Star Holiday Hotel in the Sultanahmet district are both known for catering to tourists from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet republics. Reports indicate that the Pars Hotel received an anonymous call warning of a bomb located in a room approximately 10 minutes prior to the explosion. Two people were killed in the hotel bombings and 11others -- most of them tourists -- were wounded. In the third incident, two bombs exploded within a half-hour of each other at the gas plant, shortly after an anonymous warning. The plant is located in the western district of Esenyurt. The explosions caused damage but no casualties, and personnel at the plant quickly brought the resulting gas leak under control.

A group claiming ties to Al Qaeda has claimed credit for the attack.

10 August 2004 - US Embassy, USAID, and USIS Evacuated on Columbo, Sri Lanka

On 10 August 2004, officials evacuated the U.S. Embassy, USAID and U.S. Information Services buildings in Colombo after receiving a letter containing a suspicious substance. According to an embassy official, "the embassy is closed for an indefinite period due to security and administrative reasons, and that is all we can say at the moment." Reports indicate there has been no visible increase in physical security measures outside these facilities. No further information is currently available.

10 August 2004 - Security tight for Macabee Games in Maryland
Olympics-style game features Jewish athletes from around the world

Federal and state law enforcement agencies are working with Montgomery County police to protect more than 2,000 athletes and supporters attending this week's Maccabi Games.

The Olympic-style competition features Jewish athletes from around the world.

The Washington Post reports that county police are visible at various game sites across the county. The FBI is working behind the scenes. There are state troopers and SWAT team members at the headquarters in Rockville.

But some participants aren't impressed. The captain of a girls' volleyball team from Ariel, Israel, says she sees much tighter security at home every day - like tanks and armored vehicles.

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington says the security arrangements will cost up to $125,000. A $25,000 community grant from the County Council will help pay the costs.

9 August 2004 - Zarqawi's Group Tawhid wa Jihad claims credit for today's suicide bombing

The Muslim extremist group Tawhid wa Jihad, led by Abu Mus'ab Al Zarqawi, claimed Monday's suicide bomb blast north-east of Baghdad.

"One of the heroes of the Martyrs' Brigade struck this morning a group of policemen in Baquba, including the city's deputy governor, killing and wounding some of them," read the statement, purportedly by the military branch of the group.

In recent weeks, Zarqawi's group has been hit by poseurs, issuing statements on behalf of the group without "authorization". This statement is not yet up on the groups website, so it cannot be authenticated.

Six Iraqis, including five policemen, were killed and 16 wounded, including a provincial government official, in the suicide car bombing on Monday near the restive city of Baquba, police said.

9 August 2004 - More Parroting of Jihadi Propaganda - Literally Jihadi Bird in Action!
by Laura Mansfield

On a Monday morning after a very strange weekend in jihadland which brought a fake beheading video as well as a gruesome real beheading video, a moment of levity is appropriate.

As I checked the Arabic language jihadi boards, this morning, I came across the following video. We've seen one militant after another parrotting the party line, calling for global jihad against western interests.

But this video takes the parrotting to a new level. The lead character in this clip is a bird. Really.

Someone has taken the time to train this parrot to chant Quranic verses. You'll hear the bird screeching the battle cry of jihad "Allah Akbar".

One can't help but wonder if this jihadi bird is related to the birds causing the power outages at US airports? (Not really!)

Click on the image of the bird above, or here to view the jihadi bird.

9 August 2004 - Al Qaeda affiliate threatens to attack El Salvador

The Mohamed Atta Brigades, a subgroup of Al Qaeda named after the leader of the September 11 hijackers and which surfaced earlier this summer, has issued yet another threat - this time against El Salvador.

El Salvador's President Tony Saca said Wednesday that the country would be sending more troops to Iraq in the middle of August. The legislature approved sending 380 troops.

Sending any troops from El Salvador would declare of war against the Muslim people of Iraq, leading us to launch war against you and move the conflict inside El Salvador.

No citizen will enjoy security in El Salvador as soon as any soldier arrives in Iraq and do not hold us responsible for bloodshed in El Salvador as we have warned you against taking such a step.

8 August 2004 - Video Released of Bulgarian Hostage Beheading

In what may be the most gruesome beheading video yet, a grainy and dark video clip showing the beheading that claims to be of Bulgarian hostage Ivaylo Kepov.

The video, released in three parts on the Arabic language website that claims to be affiliated with Zarqawi's Tawhid wa Jihad group, is of poor quality but clearly shows the head being sawed from the body.

A headless body, clad in the orange jumpsuit that has become a hallmark of the beheadings, believed to be that of Kepov was recovered from the Tigris River.

We are making the video available here to

Video of beheading of Bulgarian Hostage part 1 | part 2 | part 3

7 August 2004 - Video Release Claims Beheading; Butn Video Titled Wannabe May Be Hoax

New video (which is available for download to HQ INTEL SUBSCRIBERS in the HQ INTEL FORUM) aired Saturday purportedly shows a San Francisco man beheaded moments after he urges the United States to end its occupation.

Unlike in previous videos of hostage killings, no militants were seen on the footage.

He was also clad in a t-shirt, not the orange jumpsuit that other hostages have been dressed in.

Zarqawy videos typically show the head completely removed from the body. This is missing from the video.

The opinion of analysts after reviewing this video is that it is unlikely to be authentic, and probably a hoax of some sort.

The image above shows the man in the video. The video end showing the man lying on a cot while someone beheads him. The pillow on which the man is laying has the word "NEPAL" on it. We are trying to determine the authenticity of the video. There are serious discrepencies regarding this video, and analysts at the Nprtheast Intelligence Network believe this video may be some sort of hoax or sick joke.

The man on the tape identified himself as what sounds like Benjamin Vanderford, from San Francisco. He sat on a chair in a dark room, his hands behind his back, trembling and rocking back and forth.

"We need to leave this country alone. We need to stop this occupation," he said, adding that he had been offered for exchange with prisoners in Iraq.

"We need to leave this country right now," he said. "Everyone's going to be killed this way."

The video then showed him "beheaded" with a large knife.

The video was titled "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Slaughters an American." Zarqawi is an al-Qaida linked militant whose group, Tawhid and Jihad, has claimed responsibility for numerous deadly attacks across Iraq, including the beheadings of U.S. businessman Nicholas Berg, South Korean translator Kim Sun-il and a Bulgarian man, Georgi Lazov. Their beheadings were also filmed and the video posted in the Internet.

Before he is killed, the man on the tape says he lives at 1510 Eddy Street in San Francisco. On his personal Web site, a Ben Vanderford lists that address as his home. The picture of Vanderford on the Web site closely resembles the man on the video.

The site says Vanderford is running for city supervisor of San Francisco. There is no record there of him traveling to Iraq and no record that he had been captured.

The video also showed images of disfigured and injured people in Iraq. A recording of the Quran, Islam's holy book, played in the background.

6 August 2004 - FBI and DHS issue alert for potential vehicle-borne attacks

This is a joint FBI and DHS Information Bulletin.

FBI and DHS intend to update this Information Bulletin should they receive additional relevant information, including information provided to them by the user community. Based on this notification, no change to the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) level is anticipated; the current HSAS national threat level is YELLOW-ELEVATED. The current threat level for the financial services sectors in New York City, Northern New Jersey and Washington, DC is ORANGE-HIGH.

FBI and DHS encourage recipients of this Information Bulletin to report information concerning suspicious or criminal activity to their local FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) – the FBI regional phone numbers can be found online at http://www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm – and the Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC) or the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC), a sub-element of the HSOC in support of the private sector and critical infrastructures. The HSOC can be reached via telephone at 202-282-8101 or by email at HSCenter@dhs.gov. The NICC/HSOC can be reached via telephone at 202-282-9201 or via email at NICC@dhs.gov. Each report submitted should include the date, time, location, type of surveillance, number of people and type of equipment used for the activity, the name of the submitting company and a designated point of contact (POC).

ATTENTION: State Homeland Security Advisors, Facility Security Managers, Emergency Services Sector, Real Estate ISAC, Highway/Trucking ISAC, and Car, Truck and Limousine Rental Companies

OVERVIEW

As demonstrated by recent attacks in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and elsewhere, terrorist operatives worldwide continue to rely on vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) as a method of attack. This tactic has been used here in the past, notably in the 1993 World Trade Center and 1995 Oklahoma City bombings. The World Trade Center and Oklahoma City attacks were carried out with rented vehicles, highlighting the need for awareness among the car, truck, and limousine rental community of the potential for vehicle-borne attacks in the United States.

DETAILS

There is no standard type of vehicle associated with VBIEDs. Terrorists appear to select vehicles based on an assessment of vehicles common to and available in a region, vehicles possessing routine access to the target area or the security posture of the intended target. Vehicles of any type or size can be utilized in vehicle bombings, although the size of the explosive charge may, to some degree, dictate the size of the vehicle required. In the 1993 World Trade Center attack, approximately 1,200 pounds of improvised explosives were placed in a rental van which had been reported stolen by one of the conspirators. Other large vehicles—such as limousines—should also receive consideration as potential VBIEDs, since limousines have larger storage capacity than regular passenger vehicles. In addition, limousines often convey an impression of authority or prestige, which may facilitate their access to specific locations in a building or facility denied to the general public.

Analysis of terrorist preparations for past attacks overseas and in the United States suggests that preoperational indicators may be present in the days or weeks prior to an attack. The following indicators may point to possible planning to use rental vehicles in a terrorist attack. Alone, each indicator can result from legitimate commercial activity or criminal activity not related to terrorism; however, multiple indicators can suggest a terrorist threat.

The three Turkish hostages, held by Zarqawi's Al Tawhid and Jihad terrorist group in Iraq, have been released.  The group had threatened to behead the 3 Muslim hostages.

The Arab satellite station broadcast a videotape showing the three Turkish hostages, believed to have been contractors, kneeling in front of three members of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's Tawhid and Jihad movement, as one of the militants read a statement.

"For the sake of you, our brothers, and Muslims of the people of Turkey ... we will release these hostages and send them safely home," the statement said.

HQ-Intel Alert subscribers may access the video announcing the release of the hostages by clicking here. To subscribe to HQ-Intel Alert, click here.