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Exclusive: FBI: Al Qaeda May Strike U.S. Shopping Malls in LA, Chicago
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ShareNovember 08, 2007 11:48 AM
The FBI is warning that al Qaeda may be preparing a series of holiday attacks on U.S. shopping malls in Los Angeles and Chicago, according to an intelligence report distributed to law enforcement authorities across the country this morning. (Click here for full text.)
The alert said al Qaeda "hoped to disrupt the U.S. economy and has been planning the attack for the past two years."
Law enforcement officials tell ABCNews.com that the FBI received the information in late September and declassified it yesterday for wide distribution.
The alert, like similar FBI and Department of Homeland Security terror alerts issued over the past five years at holiday times, raised questions about the credibility of the information.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
The bulletin acknowledges that U.S. intelligence officers are uncertain as to whether the information is real, and intelligence officers say there is a concern that it could be "disinformation."
Law enforcement officials at three different agencies told ABCNews.com the FBI alert was based on a source who has proved reliable in the past.
The source reportedly had only "indirect access" to al Qaeda and word of the actual threat came to U.S. intelligence officers "through a lengthy chain" of contacts.
With the shopping season approaching, however, the FBI officials decided it was necessary to share the information.
For the past few years, jihadist chat rooms have regularly posted comments from anonymous individuals who have suggested or boasted about similar plans to attack such soft targets as shopping malls.
"Out of abundance of caution, and for any number of other reasons, raw intelligence is regularly shared within the intelligence and law enforcement communities -- even when the value of the information is unknown," said Special Agent Richard Kolko. "In the post-9/11 era, sharing information is our top priority. Al-Qa'ida messaging has clearly stated they intend to attack the U.S. or its interests; however, there is no information to state this is a credible threat. As always, we remind people to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to authorities."
"We have no credible, specific information suggesting an imminent attack," a DHS official said.
This post has been updated.
Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?
November 8, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (587)
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Great.....perhaps this will stop us from buying toys!
Posted by: hap | Nov 8, 2007 11:59:11 AM
Just another reason to shop online
Posted by: Washington DA | Nov 8, 2007 12:02:21 PM
Hmm...economy on the rocks, Bush's disapproval rating hits a record high, dissatisfaction with Iraq hits a record high...BOOGA BOOGA! Terror! Al Qaeda! Look over there!
Posted by: Dave J. | Nov 8, 2007 12:04:39 PM
Big deal...
Posted by: Jazz | Nov 8, 2007 12:04:50 PM
Too far away from the election; if they stage an attack now they'll only have to stage another one next year.
Posted by: Mike Grello | Nov 8, 2007 12:07:25 PM
Everybody needs to stay calm....they tell us this every fricken year since 9/11. It's a government scare tactic. We are close to another election, and what better way to keep the sheep behind the fence then by fear of the "maybe" happening.
Posted by: andrea | Nov 8, 2007 12:09:10 PM
Tom Clancy's book "Teeth of the Tiger" details exactly this type of attack. I believe there were four malls hit simultaneously. The terrorists enter the US via the Mexico border.
Posted by: Craig | Nov 8, 2007 12:09:18 PM
This I doubt. There is very little that can be achieved by this.
Posted by: kilroy was here | Nov 8, 2007 12:11:08 PM
They can attack us where ever they want when ever they want thanks to our wide open borders. And when they do attack I want the heads of bush and chertoff for leaving us so vulerable.
Posted by: trillion1 | Nov 8, 2007 12:13:18 PM
Got a question for you....If someone connected with this planned attack was captured, would you accept water boarding this guy in order to acquire the info needed to save shoppers' lives? What if you knew the planned attack was within the next day or two?
Posted by: Bubbler | Nov 8, 2007 12:14:39 PM
Oh no! Not the malls! I mean, the fact that 5 political hacks and bums on the supreme court threw a federal election, and destroyed any remnant of democracy in this country, and that a mass-murdering moron continues to occupy the white house and destroy our nation is OK. But - if the terrorists destroy the malls, where will we get big-screen TVs! This must send chills down the spines of every true 'merikan.
Posted by: Bob | Nov 8, 2007 12:16:33 PM
Whatever!!! I am really sick of these guys leaking this stuff to inspire fear just about the time they want to take more freedom away or distract from some illegal thing they did that the media picked up on. I'm not buying it anymore.
Posted by: aboe | Nov 8, 2007 12:17:28 PM
Do al Qaeda really think this will discourage our economy? If anything, it will bolster already-blossoming E-Commerce. Sorry to be a downer terrorists, but this one looks like a wash.
Posted by: ColgateGrad | Nov 8, 2007 12:17:57 PM
We don't need Al Qaeda to disrupt the U.S. economy, we've got Gearge Bush!
Posted by: easystreet47 | Nov 8, 2007 12:18:21 PM
If they blow up Gamestop before I get my Wii, man am I going to be pissed.
Posted by: Floyd DaBarber | Nov 8, 2007 12:18:28 PM
This report can not be true. Everybody knows that guns are not allowed in shopping malls. Al Qaeda will take one look at the "No Guns" signs and turn back in defeat!
Posted by: JWindsor | Nov 8, 2007 12:19:13 PM
I'm amazed that they haven't been doing this already. I really am. It would be extremely easy to do relative to a 9-11 type attack. Very glad it hasn't happened and hope our luck holds.
Posted by: Phil | Nov 8, 2007 12:19:45 PM
Dumb Idea for Al Queda. With the economy slumping deeper into the Abyss,
Do they really think there will be THAT many holiday shoppers crowding the malls of America to become potential
targets ?? What happends if they attack and nobodys home ??
Posted by: Leprkin | Nov 8, 2007 12:20:15 PM
al Qaeda would be better off to sit back and let China keep doing it.
Posted by: Doug | Nov 8, 2007 12:20:39 PM
If something does happen, the first thing the FBI would do is to declare that it's 'not terror related' as they have done so often in the past.
Posted by: David Adams | Nov 8, 2007 12:25:08 PM
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