Al Qaeda Plot To Bomb The Vatican Uncovered

Daily Mail: Italian police hunting Osama Bin Laden's former bodyguards and 16 other Pakistani extremists reveal Al Qaeda militants plotted terror attack on the Vatican

* Ongoing terror raids have largely focused on the Italian island of Sardinia
* Jihadis are suspected of plotting attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan
* Two of them are thought to have previously worked for late Al Qaeda leader
* Investigators have also linked terror cell to planned attack on the Vatican
* Suicide bomber arrived in Rome in 2010 but mysteriously left shortly after

Islamic extremists suspected of killing more than 100 people by bombing a Pakistani market also planned an attack against the Vatican in 2010 that was never carried out, Italian prosecutors say.

Wiretaps collected as part of investigation into an Islamic terror network operating in Italy gave 'signals of some preparation for a possible attack' in the Vatican City, Mauro Mura revealed.

More News On Reports That An Al Qaeda Plot Targeting The Vatican Has Been Uncovered

Suspected Al-Qaeda militants arrested in Italy for Vatican plot -- Reuters
Al-Qaeda cell planned suicide attack on Vatican -- USA Today
Italy Targets Al Qaeda-Inspired Network Plotting Attacks On Vatican, US Forces In Afghanistan -- IBTimes
Italian police round up terror suspects in failed Vatican plot, deadly Pakistan attack -- FOX News
Italy terror sweep: Alleged Al Qaeda cell said to have targeted Vatican -- CSM
Italy Targets Terrorists in Sweeping Police Raids -- VOA
Italian authorities say suspects planned Vatican attack -- Al Jazeera
Bin Laden-linked terror cell planned Vatican attack – prosecutor -- RT
Bin Laden Aides Plotted Attack on Vatican from Old U.S. Navy Base -- Daily Beast

Islamic extremists planned 'kamikaze' attack at the Vatican -- Mashable

Al Qaeda Magazine Hints Of Looming Attack

Al Qaeda Magazine Hints Of Looming Attack; Urges Bombing Of Vegas, Military Targets -- FOX News

A new English-language Al Qaeda magazine features a how-to article on making car bombs and suggests terror targets in the United States, including casinos in Las Vegas, oil tankers and military colleges, and implies that an attack is imminent.

The online publication, called “Palestine-Betrayal of the Guilty Conscience Al-Malahem” and put out by the media arm of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, calls for Muslims around the world to follow “the recipe” provided to set off car bombs in crowded venues. It includes a timeline of "selected jihadi operations" that the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), which first flagged the slickly-produced latest edition of the terror publication, finds chilling.

Read more ....

My Comment: We have heard these threats many times before .... nothing new here. But if it is true .... so much for the White House line that Al Qaeda is on the run.

Possible Terror Plot By Bin Laden Successor

Feds: Zawahiri Launched Al Qaeda Terror Plot for 9/11 Anniversary -- ABC News

Three Sought in Possible Plot Launched by Bin Laden Successor

U.S. authorities are scrambling to sort through information that the CIA developed in the past 24 hours indicating that at least three individuals entered the U.S. in August by air with the intent to launch a vehicle-borne attack against Washington, D.C. or New York around the anniversary of 9/11, according to intelligence officials.

Officials say the alleged terror plot was initiated by new al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's successor, who had pledged to avenge bin Laden's death earlier this year in a U.S. raid.

Read more ....

More News On Possible Terror Plots For This Weekend's 9/11 Anniversary

Security Increased as Biden Describes 9/11 Bomb Threat -- New York Times
Biden on Terror Threat: Credible Source But No 'Smoking Gun' -- ABC News
9/11: Clinton says Al-Qaeda behind New York threat -- BBC
New York and D.C. alert as US warns of 'credible' terrorist threat -- Christian Science Monitor
U.S. Sees 'Credible' 9/11 Terror Threat -- Wall Street Journal
US Investigates 9/11 Anniversary Threat -- Voice of America
With "credible" 9/11 threat, NY mounts major operation -- Reuters
NY City Police Search Trucks on 9/11 Threat -- Bloomberg
Amid new threat, Obama sticking with 9/11 plans -- AP

Mumbai Style Terror Plots Across Europe Discovered By Western Intelligence Agencies

Drone Attacks since 2004. Image from Express Tribune

Terror Plot Against Britain Thwarted By Drone Strike -- The Telegraph

An al-Qaeda plot to attack Britain in a Mumbai-style attack has been thwarted by a drone strike in Pakistan.

British Muslims training with al-Qaeda were planning an armed rampage through London as part of a terrorist spectacular aimed at European capitals, sources told the Daily Telegraph.

It is thought that the group was in the final stages of its preparations for attacks, thought to be on the capital cities of Britain, France and Germany.

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Update #1: Drones Target Terror Plot: CIA Strikes Intensify in Pakistan Amid Heightened Threats in Europe -- Wall Street Journal
Update #2: Some drone strikes tied to terror plot -- AP
Update #3: Drone attacks hit all-time high -- The Express Tribune

My Comment: Sometimes I am right .... sometimes I am wrong. This time I was right.

Tribal Rivalry 'Limits Al-Qa'eda Terror Plans'

From the Telegraph:

The mountainous region of Pakistan where al-Qa'eda's core leaders are believed to have regrouped is so riven by tribal conflict that it cannot be an effective base for waging global terrorism, according to a new study.

Al-Qa'eda's central figures, possibly including Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, his Egyptian deputy, are thought to have taken refuge in North and South Waziristan.

The tribal areas on Pakistan's north-west frontier have complete autonomy and a long history of Islamist militancy. Western governments believe they have become havens for "core al-Qa'eda", allowing them to regroup and prepare more attacks.

Read more ....

Update: A story that contradicts the Telegraph is from Newsweek: The Rise Of Jihadistan

My Comment: Hmmmm ...... if it is such a lousy place to put a base ...... why are they there?