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Mastermind fears grow: terrorism is a family practice
United States authorities, buoyed by the capture of al-Qaeda operations chief Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, say they are worried his nephews may take over planning terrorist attacks.We have noted here before that being a scumbag terrorist seems to be genetic. As FBI agents began running down leads which emerged from a search of the house where Mohammed was captured in suburban Islamabad, counter-terrorism officials said they believe that two of his nephews and one of their cousins were planning al-Qaeda operations in the US and Europe. Mohammed was flown from Pakistan yesterday to Afghanistan, where US interrogators are questioning him. The interrogators' immediate goals were to find out about any attacks planned for the near future and the location of al-Qaeda's leader, Osama bin Laden. They believe bin Laden is hiding in the rugged northern border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. I still think Binny is feeding the worms. An informant is reported to have tipped off US intelligence about the whereabouts of Mohammed. In London, The Sun claimed that an Egyptian father of four, who is a suspected former Taliban officer, was to be given a $A43million reward. He had been tracked down by the CIA and arrested in the Pakistan border town of Quetta on February 14. The newspaper reported that the man was being offered a new identity. The Sun also reported the town in England where the guy was supposed to be hidden in. Binny is supposed to have spoken (from the grave) and put out a hit on him. US intelligence officers say Mohammed had in the past spoken about blowing up filling stations and suspension bridges. He is believed to have been active in several plots targeting US interests, but officials do not have specific details. Even before Mohammed's arrest on Saturday, sources said, the US intelligence community were worried that his nephews had the experience and connections to succeed him. The brothers have been in Pakistan and move easily around the Middle East, officials said, but their whereabouts are unknown. They'll be moving now, wondering if Uncle Mohammed is going to crack and give them up. Authorities in Pakistan say they were led to Mohammed by information developed from other arrests, including the arrest five months ago of Ramzi Binalshibh. US officials said on Monday they were also helped by the capture last month in Quetta, Pakistan, of Mohammed Omar Abdel-Rahman, a son of the blind Egyptian cleric serving a prison sentence for plotting to blow up New York landmarks. Another family connection. Posted by: Steve 2003-03-04 |
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