29-31 May 2001: African Embassy Bombers Found Guilty; Terrorism Advisories Issued
31 May 2001 -- From http://www.emergency.com/ennday.htm
PERSIAN GULF REGION:
US Gulf Forces On High Alert
Reportedly in response to a security threat connected to the convictions of four men for the 1998 bombing of US embassies in Africa, US forces in Bahrain and Qatar have now been put on a higher state of terrorism alert. New agencies quoted a senior US defense official as saying US forces in Saudi Arabia had previously been put on a higher state of alert, prior to Tuesday's verdicts. The troops in Saudi had been alerted in regard to a separate "non-specified threat" in the region. Reports said that much of the US Navy's Fifth fleet has put out to sea as a security measure. Other officially unconfirmed reports coming from Pakistan also indicate a heightened state of alert there as radical groups have reportedly threatened violence against U.S. interests in the region.
The US has about 11,000 troops stationed in the Gulf, based in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. In response to the terrorist threat, U.S. forces in Bahrain were reportedly ordered to go from "Threat Condition Bravo" to "Threat Condition Charlie," the Pentagon's second highest state of alert. According to Defense Department guidelines, Threat Condition Charlie is reserved for situations in which "an incident has occurred or intelligence has been received indicating that some form of terrorist action is imminent."
In related news, a U.S. House investigation has concluded that the United States needs more HUMINT agents and analysts focused on security threats in the Persian Gulf region to guard against terrorist attacks like the suicide bombing that struck the destroyer, USS Cole, last fall. The Armed Services Committee's investigation report that was released on Wednesday also said the intelligence agencies need a better system for ensuring that useful and timely threat information is available to ship commanders. The House report said there was no "single point" failure that led to the Cole attack. Instead, it was a combination of factors, including a "mindset" in the military that tended to discount the likelihood of a terrorist attack against a U.S. warship.
WORLDWIDE CAUTION
Webposted: 30 May 2001
U.S. State Department Issues Worldwide Caution
Just hours after the Emergency Response and Research Institute (ERRI) issued a supplemental Terrorism Advisory, the U.S. Department of State, late on Wednesday, issued the following Worldwide Caution:
"The U.S. Government learned in early May 2001 that American citizens abroad may be the target of a terrorist threat from extremist groups with links to Usama Bin Ladin's Al-Qaida organization. In the past, such individuals have not distinguished between official and civilian targets. As always, we take this information seriously. U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. On May 29, the defendants in the case of U.S. v. Bin Ladin were found guilty on a number of counts in connection with the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The U.S. Government is not aware of any specific threat in response to the verdicts.
Nevertheless, U.S. citizens are urged to
maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to
increase their security awareness to reduce their vulnerability. Americans
should maintain a low profile, vary routes and times for all required
travel, and treat mail and packages from unfamiliar sources with
suspicion. In addition, American citizens are also urged to avoid contact
with any suspicious, unfamiliar objects, and to report the presence of the
objects to local authorities. Vehicles should not be left unattended, if
at all possible, and should be kept locked at all times. U.S. Government
personnel overseas have been advised to take the same precautions. In
addition, U.S. Government facilities have and will continue to temporarily
close or suspend public services as necessary to review their security
posture and ensure its adequacy."
Source: http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html
*FLASH* - EmergencyNet News
12:10CDT - 29 May 2001
Chicago Institute Issues World-Wide Supplemental Terrorism Advisory
Chicago, IL (EmergencyNet News) -- Following the announcement of the conviction of four men for their involvement in a August 7, 1998 conspiracy to bomb U.S. embassies in the Kenya and Tanzania, the Emergency Response & Research Institute (ERRI) today issued a supplemental terrorism advisory. This advisory warns of the increased near-term possibility of a terrorist attack within the continental United States, against U.S. military bases and U.S. embassies abroad, and/or directed against U.S. civilian or military personnel, world-wide. The current ERRI assessment would suggest that some sort of attack may be carried out by those associated with Usama Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda organization, in retaliation for the conviction of Khalfan Khamis Mohamed, Mohamed al-'Owhali, Mohamed Sadeek Odeh, and Wadih el Hage, in a New York City federal courtroom today.
ERRI's Senior National Security analyst Clark Staten this afternoon reiterated an earlier advisory on this topic, "We know of no specific threat against the United States or her allies at this time, but believe that we are entering a period when greater caution, preparedness, and awareness is warranted." "Given the current tactical circumstances in the Mid- and Far-East and the ever escalating rhetoric by various militant organizations, we feel that we must urge additional caution and awareness for Americans everywhere at this time," Staten continued. "Certainly there is no reason to panic, but we must respectfully suggest that the U.S. undertake a higher than normal state of alertness and readiness now to defend against those who might wish us harm," Staten concluded.
Reference: http://www.emergency.com/2001/ter-advisry-03-05-01.htm
*****
11:40CDT - 29 May 2001
African Embassy Bombers Found Guilty
New York City, NY (EmergencyNet News) -- According to reports coming in to
EmergencyNet News, Khalfan Khamis Mohamed, Mohamed
al-'Owhali, Mohamed Sadeek Odeh, and Wadih el Hage have all been
found guilty on all counts of charges that they participated in a conspiracy
to bomb U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Few other details of the
verdict were immediately available, but EmergencyNet News will bring you
details as they become available...
© EmergencyNet News Service, 2001. All rights reserved. May not
be redistributed or otherwise published without the expressed permission of ERRI/EmergencyNet
News.
Emergency Response & Research Institute
6348 N. Milwaukee Ave., #312
Chicago, IL. 60646
(773) 631-3774 - Voice
(773) 631-4703 - Fax
(773) 631-3467 - Modem/Emergency BBS On-Line
http://www.emergency.com - Main Webpage
webmaster@emergency.com - E-mail
Return to the EmergencyNet News page