FBI warns of 'spectacular' attack to damage economy
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Your support makes all the difference.The FBI has issued a fresh warning that al-Qa'ida may be planning a "spectacular" attack designed to inflict widespread casualties and damage the US economy.
The alert, which was not initially made public, is one of many that have been issued since the attacks of 11 September. But the severity of the language contained in the latest warning makes it stand out from others.
"Sources suggest al-Qa'ida may favour spectacular attacks that meet several criteria: High symbolic value, mass casualties, severe damage to the US economy and maximum psychological trauma," the warning says.
The intelligence community has noticed an increase in the "chatter" it has received in recent weeks threatening possible attacks. Such a rise was detected prior to the attacks on New York and Washington.
This, added to the newly released broadcast of Osama bin Laden threatening strikes against Western targets, including Britain, has led officials to release the alert even though they say they have no specific information.
"We continue to be on high levels of alert, we continue to take additional precautions," a White House spokesman said.
The National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice, said the warning had no new information and was a "summary of intelligence as we know it".
The warning added: "Target vulnerability and likelihood of success may be as important to a weakened al-Qa'ida as the target's prominence. Thus, al-Qa'ida's next attack may rely on conventional explosives and low-technology platforms such as truck bombs, commercial or private aircraft, small watercraft, or explosives."
The US said one of the top two-dozen al-Qa'ida leaders had been captured, but declined to name the suspect.
* The White House has approved establishment of an independent commission to investigate the circumstances of the 11 September attacks.
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