US warns of small airplane terror threats

Washington, Sept 4 - The FBI and Homeland Security have issued a nationwide warning about al-Qaida threats to small airplanes, just days before the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Authorities say there is no specific or credible
terrorist threat for the 10-year anniversary of the attacks on
the World Trade Center and Pentagon. But they have stepped up
national security a precaution.

According to a five-page law enforcement bulletin issued
Friday, as recently as early this year, al-Qaida was
considering ways to attack airplanes.

The alert, issued ahead of the summer's last busy travel
weekend, said terrorists have considered renting private
planes and loading them with explosives.

ÒAl-Qaida and its affiliates have maintained an interest
in obtaining aviation training, particularly on small
aircraft, and in recruiting Western individuals for training
in Europe or the United States, although we do not have
current, credible information or intelligence of an imminent
attack being planned,Ó according to the bulletin obtained by
The Associated Press.

The bulletin also says al-Qaida would like to use
sympathetic Westerners to get flight training, then get them
to become flight instructors.

Matthew Chandler, a spokesman for the Department of
Homeland Security, described the bulletin as routine.
ÒWe shared this information with our partners to
highlight the need for continued awareness and vigilance, he
said.

Aviation security is much tighter than it was a decade
ago, but al-Qaida remains keenly interested in launching
attacks on airplanes, believing large attacks with high body
counts are more likely to grab headlines.

Ahead of 9/11 anniversary US issues worldwide travel alert

Washington, Sept 3- The US has issued a worldwide travel alert for its citizens ahead of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, even though it insisted that there was no specific or credible intelligence about an eminent terrorist attack.

As we mark the 10th Anniversary of the September 11,
2001 terrorist attacks, the Department of State informs US
citizens traveling and residing abroad of the continued threat
posed by al-Qaeda and its affiliates, the State Department
said.

While we have not identified any specific threats from
al-Qaeda affiliates and allies to attack the United States or
our interests on the 9/11 anniversary, US citizens should be
aware that al-Qaeda affiliates and allies have demonstrated
the intent and capability to carry out attacks against the
United States and our interests around the world, it said in
a travel alert issued yesterday.

In the past, terrorist organizations have on occasion
planned their attacks to coincide with significant dates on
the calendar, the State Department pointed out.