Desert Shield-Terrorist Reports

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 02-14-91-1400 HRS. CST

RENEWED TERRORIST OFFENSIVE

Chicago, IL. An alleged call from Palestinian "terror-mastermind" Abu Abbas appears to have been made in response to the reported U.S. precision bombing of an Iraqi command and control bunker in Baghdad. During the past twenty-four (24) hours, some of the more traditional (i.e. long-standing) insurgent groups have targeted U.S. facilities in Bonn, Germany and Santiago, Chile. Reportedly, this signals a change in insurgent activity to a higher level.

Mounting evidence indicates that the configuration of the "civilian air-raid shelter" in Baghdad, was a communication and control bunker that had been specially "hardened" for that purpose. Military and intelligence sources have reported that pictures of the interior of the building demonstrate the use of air-conditioning, data and communication cables, and other capabilities that would only be used in a communications facility.

A spokeman from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the mere configuration of the construction of the bunker showed that it had significant similarities to those commonly constructed for military headquarters. He pointed out that the roof was camouflaged, constructed of several feet of heavily reinforced concrete, and was surrounded by barbed-war and security fences. HUMINTEL (Human intelligence) sources have reported that the building had been guarded by armed troops and certain portions of the building were compartmentalized to provide protection against chemical weapons.

A Chicago based anti-terrorist analyst reported that he believes that Saddam Hussein is using the Baghdad bunker incident as "black propaganda" in a campaign to incite fundementalist Moslem groups to riot in Coalition partners and to prompt insurgent operatives to action. "An independent analysis of the number of casualties would indicate that there were far fewer civilians involved in the incident than are reported, and that Hussein may have purposely `arranged' the `martyrdom' of these innocent people", said Clark Staten of the Emergency Response and Research Institute of Chicago (ERRI).

"Hussein has been using `Human Shields' since the beginning of this conflict....it is not unreasonable that he allowed them to be used as targets in an elaborate propaganda campaign", Staten continued. "More interesting is the fact that no source has reported any military casualties in the incident....a reasonable and prudent observer would suggest that this is most unusual", the analyst said. "To suggest otherwise is to disregard the history and threats of Saddam Hussein", Staten concluded.

Reportedly, "spontaneous demonstrations" occured in Iraq, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as a consequence to the alleged targeting of the "civilian bunker". According to CNN's Peter Arnett, numerous Iraqis were marching through the streets and firing weapons. He also reported that the crowd was calling for revenge for the bombing of the bunker in Baghdad. The Associated Press and Rueters both reported that the Baghdad bunker incident has caused increasing unrest among fundementalist Moslems in other Middle-Eastern cities.

In a related story, the U. S. Embassy in Bonn, German received automatic weapons fire from a position that was located fifty (50) meters from the Embassy buildings. According to German police sources, a note was left behind in which the "Red Army Faction" claimed responsibility fro the attack. Embassy officials report that there were no injuries, but that at least fifteen (15) rounds did strike the building. A note left nearby, with the emblem of the groups, stated that this attack was in retribution for the conflict in the Persian Gulf.

On Thursday, least three separate explosions occured in Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece. Police sources reported that two separate incidents, which occured twenty (20) minutes apart, were beleived related to an unnamed terrorist organization that had "infiltrated" Greece and has perpetrated at least fourteen (14) individual incidents since the start of the Persian Gulf war.

Also early on Thursday morning, Israeli time, Igal Carnon of the Prime Minister Shamir's office issued a warning that, "we can expect a big increase in terrorist activities in the next few weeks". He also called for increased surveillance of embassies and government related buildings. Mr. Carnon reported that the movement of "revolutionary operatives" was noted and that guerilla radio communications had increased in the vicinity of the Israeli/Lebanese border.