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Three Foiled Hijack Plots Revealed in U.S. Document
June 21, 2006 2:10 PM
Al Qaeda terrorists were planning to use cameras to disguise bombs and flash attachments as stun guns in a disrupted hijack plot that targeted the U.S. east coast, Britain, Italy and Australia, U.S. officials say.
The plot was one of three previously unknown al Qaeda hijack plots disrupted before they could be carried out, according to a Department of Homeland Security report obtained by ABC News.
The report, a strategic assessment on U.S. aviation, says despite security improvements, "DHS continues to receive information on terrorist threats to the U.S. aviation industry and to the Western aviation industry worldwide."
The previously secret plots include one in which "Al-Qa'ida planned to hijack flights departing London's Heathrow Airport and crash them into the airport and a skyscraper in the Canary Wharf financial district of London."
The plot using cameras and flash attachments was foiled in the summer of 2003, according to the report.
Homeland Security officials say it is an example of al Qaeda adapting "to increased aviation security by shifting planned suicide hijackings from domestic carriers to international flights…to take advantage of perceived less effective security screening at some foreign airports."
The officials says al Qaeda's "ingenuity was evident" in its attempts to convert camera equipment and other non-threatening items into weapons that could be smuggled onto a plane. It warns such items could be used to bring down an aircraft or "to gain access to an airliner flight deck."
The third previously secret al Qaeda plot revealed in the document involved a May 2003 al Qaeda plan to fly "an explosive-laden general aviation aircraft into the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan."
The report concludes that there have been nine similar plots since September 2001 "demonstrating a continued commitment to attack aviation-related targets."
The report says, "There is no recent information to suggest near-term operational planning" for an aviation attack within the United States.
Read what the New York Post had to say about our story.
June 21, 2006 in Homeland Security | Permalink | User Comments (92)
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We shoudl all be so proud of our excellent administration foiling these plots against freedom and liberty. I for one am glad our President and savior George W Bush is keeping us safe with his ever vigilant watch on the land of the holy. God is truly on our side and we shall achieve victory over the non-believing heathen who wishes to destroy us. Keep praying and George bless.
Posted by: Preacher Shepard | Jun 21, 2006 10:45:55 AM
Isn't it convenient that this news surfaces in an election year when the presidents poll numbers are so low?
Why hasn't this been made public before? These events are years old.
And why isn't anyone questioning the economic numbers coming out of this administration? Poll numbers have consumer confidence very low with everyone worrying about the economy, but the numbers put out by the govt. paint a rosy picture of it. And whenever bad economic numbers send the stock market south, the very next report has those same numbers at fantastic gains. Is this just wartime propaganda or Bush pulling an Enron with the country's books?
Posted by: Dale Miller | Jun 21, 2006 11:04:02 AM
Oh my god, when were we gonna here about this??? 3 years after it happened isn't the best time to find out about it. Why can't these stupid sob's leave us alone and go back to their tents and do something more constructive than plan their own deaths along with countless others they don't even know so they can get 72 virginians in heaven and allah's everlasting praise for successfully killing a lot of innocent people. C'mon you idiots grow up were not living in the medieval age fighting a crusade so put your damn swords back in their sheaths and make friends with your neighbor. Why do you feel it's necessary to kill mass people and cause chaos? Just because we have different beliefs? You have to grow up and realize that everyone on this earth thinks differently and thats not a reason to hate those who don't think like you. Everyone on this planet is a human being and we only have a short time on this earth so why not work together so that we all as a whole can have better lives? (instead of forcing us to get in our fighter jets to drop bombs on your soon to be vaporized selves) I mean cmon seriously WAKE UP people
Posted by: teodoro | Jun 21, 2006 11:04:29 AM
How can I believe this? This could be just another clever leak
put out there by Carl Rove to ramp up the terror scare before the November elections. Do you know how many times he has done this? Media still goes for it!!
Posted by: Phyllis Culbert | Jun 21, 2006 11:41:37 AM
President and SAVIOR?? Uh, hey, I can give credit where credit is due, but lets not get blashphemous, ok? He throws enough random darts some are bound to hit the bullseye once in a while...or so we can only hope.
Posted by: JF | Jun 21, 2006 11:55:27 AM
"As we know, there are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don't know we don't know."
- Donald Rumsfeld, Feb. 12, 2002,
Department of Defense News Briefing
Posted by: King George | Jun 21, 2006 11:56:07 AM
George Bush a savior?! Well...I guess.... if you are an oil barron.
Posted by: Eric | Jun 21, 2006 11:56:40 AM
Who'da thunk Dubya was taking such good care of us? Maybe his appearance of total incompetence is just a ruse to lull the terrorists into getting sloppy with their plans to destroy, uh, Freedom. Or to take out minds off the slaughter of our troops in Iraq. Did I mention gay marriage?
Posted by: Marya | Jun 21, 2006 11:57:48 AM
Contrary to what you right-wing zealots want us to think, George the Lawbreaker is NOT God. Get off your cloud and open your eyes to the atrocities carried out by the US federal government and its failure to act on things that are really important and that are having a real effect on daily life -- like the rampant ripping off of the public by Big Oil.
If you want to make biblical allusions, I'd say the guy is more comparable to certain red-skinned fallen angels who live in places that are always burning.
Posted by: Anonymous | Jun 21, 2006 11:58:42 AM
George bless? sounds like that goes against the ten commandments,is'nt there one on killing your fellow man too?so much for holyer than thou g.w.
Posted by: dick hirt | Jun 21, 2006 11:58:43 AM
To follow up on Preacher Shepard's comments.
I say, "Praise the lord and pass the ammunition."
As our "Savior George" has said, "Bring it on!"
Posted by: Shawn | Jun 21, 2006 11:59:23 AM
great to see we're on the ball now. What a tragedy we were asleep at the wheel back on 9-11 despite the warnings of previous attacks
Posted by: ifonlymccainhadwon | Jun 21, 2006 12:01:36 PM
I hate "virginians." They're the worst drivers! :)
Posted by: Mike | Jun 21, 2006 12:06:16 PM
Preacher Shepard, that was some funny stuff. its been quite some time since I've seen that much sarcasm crammed into a paragraph that size.
9-11 has been used as a Get-Rich-Quick scheme by those in the bush administration, the $320 billion has gone from We The People straight into the pockets of the war machine and oil companies. this is and always has been about money. the longer they can keep us too scared to think, the longer they can keep bleeding us dry. Look at the background of those in office, the industries they came from, and those are the same industries making incredible profits. Follow the money.
Posted by: KenF | Jun 21, 2006 12:20:56 PM
It's funny we never had these problems until Bush 43. And ironic someone should praise him for preventing these same events he seems in fact to have brought upon us. "Bring it on" baby!
Posted by: david zero | Jun 21, 2006 12:31:39 PM
Yes, and Canada has foiled our plans to invade/attack them, as have Russia and China. When I was 11 I drew up plans to fly to Mars and shoot down missiles in mid air....
Posted by: MarkMc | Jun 21, 2006 12:39:03 PM
Never had these problems before Bush 43? Were you just born or is this more convenient, liberal revisionist history? If Bill had gotten more aggressive after the first time the twin towers were attacked (BEFORE Bush 43) 9-11 might not have ever happened.
Posted by: Tim G. | Jun 21, 2006 12:46:10 PM
Next we will hear about George Bush, son of God. Well...when we do, i'll agree with the son of part but the last word aint God
Posted by: kathy | Jun 21, 2006 12:46:38 PM
Why must we put up with soo much crap from a president and government. We need to impeach "W" and then continue on down through the house and senate. I hope all you people out there are paying attention to what is going on and take it to the polls. WE MUST HAVE CHANGE!
Posted by: Ron | Jun 21, 2006 12:52:33 PM
Who said we never had terrorist problem until Bush 43? Hello??? World trade center bombing when Clinton was the president! Attack on U.S. Code during Clinton presidency! Read the news, people!
Posted by: leo the one | Jun 21, 2006 12:56:18 PM
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