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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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Sounds like more BS to me.
You know, just because someone says "Hey, it would be great to fly a plane into a building!" does NOT make that a plot. I'm betting the vast vast majority of the "plots" they foil are of the same order.
Posted by: mighty davefish | Jun 21, 2006 1:03:12 PM
George will never win. Once the next attack occurs, the libs will be poised to pounce on him for being asleep at the wheel.
Posted by: marc l | Jun 21, 2006 1:04:26 PM
We did have these problems before. Do you remember the first WTC bombing, the US Cole, the African embassies, Somalia, etc. People need to quit being babies and blaming George Bush for all their problems. Grow up.
Posted by: Johnny D | Jun 21, 2006 1:09:08 PM
We arent hearing about it until now to prevent panic and to ensure that none of the information can be deemed classified. Use your brains people. The only people that complain about "get rich quick" schemes are those who lack the education, intelligence, and discipline to create their own. As far as the Ten Commandments, when its kill or be killed, they go out the window. How about this for an 11th Commandment: Survival of the Fittest. Have some pride for your country. If you arent helping youre just holding everyone back with the negative attitudes.
Posted by: Jacob Reed | Jun 21, 2006 1:09:16 PM
These are OLD STORIES being recycled by the media and the Bush administration during an election year cycle. Its just repackaged from 2004 stories- go google these yourself.
Posted by: Stefan | Jun 21, 2006 1:09:53 PM
It's funny how Bill Clinton has
slipped through your criticism
like an oily mackerel, Mr. Zero.
Do you think Al-Queda started plotting 9-11 the day W took office? Everyone is so happy about Slick Willy's budget-balancing skills, without ever acknowledging that although he left W a balanced budget, he also left him a very expensive problem by ignoring the momentum that Al-Queda was gaining. Or do you think an appropriate answer to Bin-Laden's U.S. Cole and embassy bombings is firing American missiles at an abandoned jungle jim in Afghanistan?
Posted by: Michael | Jun 21, 2006 1:14:48 PM
Mission Accomplished !! for George and the people controlling him. That is because oil went from 20 per barrel when George "took over" to now $70 a barrel.
George made all his oil buddies and corporations richer, by cutting Iraqi oil production by 40% OVERALL.
In other words, that phony lying sack & Bush has done more harm to this country than Saddam ever did.
Thanks George, and moron voters from South & Mid West !!
Posted by: Mike Vodeck | Jun 21, 2006 1:17:05 PM
Mike said it the best. This is about money (and control). Watch out for Rove-ism to start spilling crap to the media that it will indeed pick up and 'run with' to stay in good with the adm. We have got to wake up and get real. Vote. George W. Bush is a disgrace to the United States of America - and the world.
Posted by: Toni | Jun 21, 2006 1:22:12 PM
These postings always provide a laugh everytime I read them. Humor is our ultimate weapon.
Preacher Shepard is hilarious, whether it's intentional or not.
KenF may have a point, regardless of anyones conspiracy theories or justified paranoia. I always find these reports of prevented terrorist acts as bogus and very questionable.
Posted by: Andrew | Jun 21, 2006 1:24:43 PM
This story is well timed propaganda. Only a fool would make it anything else. Why not get Pat Robertson and the other one Jerry Falwell to start a church of George? They hate the “heathen” too!
Posted by: gregB | Jun 21, 2006 1:25:04 PM
I feel an attadk of deja-vu coming on. Did we all forget the sudden elevation of the terror alert levels just weeks before the '04 elections? Are the American lemmings still that selfishly ignorant to think that what happens globally doesn't affect they're own personal universe? When will we get our heads out of the sand and do something about the madness that's coming from D.C. Sad to say but I'm almost glad that I'm most likely too old to experience the results of the shortsightedness that's driving all our lives, from energy issues, global warming, economic disparity between those at the bottom and the elite at the top, and doing our best to create as many religious zealots who want to kill us as possible. Great job, Dubya, the Great Uniter with all the political capital.
Posted by: Brian | Jun 21, 2006 1:32:30 PM
Never had these problems until Bush...hmmm let's see
Iran hostage crisis - Jimmy Carter
Beirut Lebanon embassy bombing - Ronald Reagan
U.S.S. Cole and Kenyan Embassy bombings - Bill Clinton
You people just don't get it. These people are at war with us and have been for a long long time. They want to kill Democrats, Republicans, Independents, etc. They HATE our Western democracies, freedoms, and societies. You have to be fairly dense not to see that and apparently there are a lot of dense people in this country judging by Bush's poll numbers.
Posted by: hawker1939hurricane | Jun 21, 2006 1:34:52 PM
I want to thank George Bush for what he is doing. I may not agree with everything he's done but he sure is a lot better than what we had in there before(bill and hillery}. I hope all you idiots who think this war is stupid just think for a minute, would you be able to voice your opinion aloud if we did not go and fight the Japanese and Germans in WW2? Instead we just sit back after
the bombing of Pearl Harbor and let them come onto the main land
and take over the country after all, we have to tolerate everybody no matter if they want to kill us or not.(WAKE UP PEOPLE) If you want to continue to enjoy the freedoms in this country then you need to think how we got this freedom. Not by sitting on our butts when our nation is at stake but by eliminating the enemy at all cost. If you are a soldier or a veteran reading this, I want to
tell you thank you for your service and sacrifice. I would like to apoligize to you for those in this country who takes your service to this country for granite. If not for you who?
As to the info about the plans to hijack other planes in 2003 those plans were probably found when the head al-Quida leader was killed last week. a duh!
Posted by: mike | Jun 21, 2006 1:49:28 PM
Why isn't the administration as ourspoken and open about the pay raise Congress has just voted for itself. Where are the press conferences? Why doesn't the President hold a news conference to advise us of how members of Congress have rewarded themselves with a salary increase on top of the $170,000 they currently earn. Won't good news like this help in an election season (tongue in cheek)?
Posted by: Jackintx | Jun 21, 2006 1:52:07 PM
Why is it that liberal conspiracy theorists always claim that "good news" stories are always staged to counteract bad poll numbers or election year worries. Folks, congressional elections are every two years. Do conservative presidents need a permission slip from Nancy Pelosi to announce positive news in an even-numbered year? And GW's poll numbers have been bad since when, 2002? So he should've kept news like this quiet in 2003 and 2005 as well? Please.
Posted by: Mikes Anonymous | Jun 21, 2006 1:55:28 PM
Bush is a good man doing a tough job. Leave the guy alone.
Posted by: Kyle | Jun 21, 2006 1:55:50 PM
I'm assuming you people still believe this mythical Al Qaeda was responsible for 9-11.
Posted by: John | Jun 21, 2006 1:59:58 PM
If we have come to think of Bush as our savior, we are in alot of trouble... So praise your Big oil and right wing philosophies cause Georgie isn't gonna be around forever!!!!
Posted by: SR | Jun 21, 2006 2:08:30 PM
Oh, good. The administration did something right for a change.
Let's jump all over them.
Posted by: c | Jun 21, 2006 2:10:31 PM
One of many "revelations" that terrorist plots have been foiled.
No, God is not on our side. This is a feeble attempt by the corrupt GOP presently in power to maintain their hold on power.
Don't even think of the current President as a Savior - he is as crooked as they come.
And don't put religion into this either. Religion has no place in the killings!
Posted by: RickG | Jun 21, 2006 2:11:55 PM
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