Bin-Laden’s Son Would Like UN Job

The son of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, Omar, has told a British magazine that he would like to promote peace and work for the United Nations.

“I do not believe that I would be a good politician – I have a habit of speaking the truth, even when it does not serve me well. But I would like to be in a position to promote peace. I believe that the United Nations would be ideal for me,” said Omar Bin-Laden.

Last year in November, Omar requested asylum in Spain, but his application was refused.

He was traveling on a Saudi Arabian passport and was detained at Madrid’s Barajas Airport after arriving on a flight from Egypt.

Source

FEMA Conducting Preparedness Drill At Nuclear Plant

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency will evaluate a Biennial Emergency Preparedness Exercise at the Limerick Generating Station in Montgomery County. The week-long exercise, which began on November 16, will test the ability of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to respond to an emergency at the nuclear facility.

Held every other year, these drills test government’s ability to protect public health and safety. FEMA will evaluate state and local emergency response capabilities within the 10-mile emergency-planning zone of the nuclear facility.

Within 90 days, FEMA will send its evaluation to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for use in licensing decisions. The final report will be available to the public about 120 days after the exercise.

FEMA will present preliminary findings of the exercise in a public briefing at 11:00 a.m. on November 20 at the Courtyard by Marriott, 150 Park Road, Reading, Pa. Scheduled speakers include representatives from FEMA, NRC, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

via FEMA: FEMA To Evaluate Commonwealth’s Readiness.

FBI Suspects Terrorists Are Exploring Cyber Attacks

According to a WSJ report today, The FBI is looking at groups suspected of having links to al Qaeda who have shown an interest in mounting an attack on computer systems that control critical U.S. infrastructure.

While there is no evidence that terrorist groups have developed sophisticated cyber-attack capabilities yet, a lack of security protections in U.S. computer software increases the likelihood that terrorists could execute attacks in the future, an official warned.

If terrorists were to amass such capabilities, they would be wielded with “destructive and deadly intent,” Steven Chabinsky, deputy assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, told the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday.

“The FBI is aware of and investigating individuals who are affiliated with or sympathetic to al Qaeda who have recognized and discussed the vulnerabilities of the U.S. infrastructure to cyber-attack,” Mr. Chabinsky told the committee, without providing details.

Such infrastructure could include power grids and transportation systems.

The control systems of U.S. infrastructure as well as money transfers are now connected directly or indirectly to the Internet. Hackers have been able to penetrate computer systems running components of the U.S. electric grid as well as divert bank transfers.

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DHS Seeks Partnerships to Increase Information Sharing

In  an increased effort to identify and help reduce possible acts of terrorism, The Department of Homeland Security is seeking to identify communities of interest that don’t fit the normal models found in local government and the private sector (hey, this sounds like us).  The goal is to improve lines of communication between ethnic and faith-based communities and respond to terror threats by adopting procedures used by the Secure Community Network (SCN). The department’s goal is to mimic the SCN platform for national security and preparedness and use it as a means to decrease the number of acts of terrorism by increasing both communications and information sharing.

The DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate Office of Infrastructure Protection (IP) focuses on protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR). The IP works to reduce terror threats and to strengthen national preparedness and response and recovery times, largely through public-private partnerships because most of the national CIKR is privately owned.

William F. Flynn, the IP’s acting assistant secretary, shares that DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano wants to identify “communities of interest that don’t fit that normal model where we have outreach, like through local government and the private sector. She’s taken a personal interest in expanding this initiative.”

SCN is one such group. Because the Jewish community is often a target for terrorists, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations created SCN four years ago to address heightened security concerns. The organization has two purposes: to share information in crisis situations quickly and to improve security awareness of Jewish organizations to protect against terrorism and other threats.

SCN’s national director, Paul Goldenberg, notes, “Our community has seen an unprecedented number of attacks during recent years. DHS recognized that our community was vulnerable and that they should establish formal ties with the Jewish community. They felt training civilians to understand terror threats would help create eyes on the ground for DHS and local law enforcement.”

DHS and SCN have collaborated for four years, with DHS providing “tons of services” to the Jewish community, Goldenberg says.

Flynn adds, “SCN has a great platform to reach a broad audience. They have a pipeline, a technical means of broadly reaching their partners and constituents. That’s very valuable to help push out information. [DHS] has leveraged that relationship. We’ve sponsored security clearances for some of their staff; we’ve provided Web-based training and done webinars for them.”

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-11-16

• RT @ntarc Suspicious White Powder Sent to 3 U.N. Missions : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/2j8TIr #
• House Passes Terrorist-Proof Chemicals Legislation : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/1OeWo8 #
• Homeland Security May Expand Preparedness In Virtual World : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/DqniE #
• DHS Urged To Explore FM Alert System For Cell Phones : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/31wa1F #
• Thx @alonis- Possible Hostage Situation in Jefferson City : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/2vSnxt #
• Just curious… Are any of our followers at #pubcon ? #
• @GirlLuvzSciFi They are if the read our site regularly. in reply to GirlLuvzSciFi #
• John Allen Muhammad, Beltway Sniper Executed : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/2NtjP0 #
• Please RT Man Charged With Terrorist Threats In Mall Incident : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/3VZMOM #
• India Warns of Possible Terror Attacks In 5 Cities : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/1Zbebg #
• Safe Banking Systems ID’s Terror Suspects : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/7i7AF #
• Man Arrested At B.C. Border With Terrorist Resources : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/Gumyg #
• Please RT Live – World Response Conference on Global Outbreak #h1n1 http://bit.ly/XNMgC #
• Homeland Security To Investigate Sewer Smuggling : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/rchUP #
• Authorities To Seize Properties Of Group With Alleged Iran Ties : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/2iqUMq #
• L.A. Port Launches Surprise Inspections http://bit.ly/3YJgeC #
• Five Sept. 11 Suspects to Face Trial in New York : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/1oENCV #
• Man Runs Down Pedestrians In Rochester : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/2BV4SV #
• How To Survive A Dirty Bomb Attack – Tonight On National Geographic Channel : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/4zfnaK #
• How To Survive A Dirty Bomb Attack – Tonight On National Geographic Channel : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/4zfnaK #
• Is American The Missing Link In Mumbai Terror Attack? : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/zvo2W #
• How To Survive A Pandemic or Chemical Attack – Surviving Disaster : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/15qisv #
• Terror In Mumbai Documentary To Premiere On HBO : Homeland Security News http://bit.ly/W1gBh #

Terror Networks Are Nations Biggest Threat – Obama

President Obama today told Chinese students that he believes terror networks such as al Qaeda are the greatest threat to the United States. Obama said that although the terror groups are small in number they present a great danger because they have no conscience. He explained to the students that although they may be small in number, armed with nuclear or biological weapons, just a few individuals could still kill hundreds of thousands of people.

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Ill. Prison Could Be Used For Terror Suspects

A White House official says the Obama administration could buy a prison in northwestern Illinois. to house a limited number of terror suspects from Guantanamo Bay.
The maximum security Thomson Correctional Center is located about 150 miles west of Chicago. It was completed in 2001 but has remained nearly empty due to state budget issues.

Ill. Gov. Quinn issued a statement Saturday saying only that members of the Obama administration will visit to see if Thomson can be put to better use by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Quinn is expected to talk about the matter Sunday.

via Ill. prison could be used for terror suspects – 11/14/09 – Chicago News – abc7chicago.com.

How To Survive A Pandemic or Chemical Attack – Surviving Disaster

According to the US government, a biological or chemical terrorist attack is highly likely to occur within the next four years. Will you be prepared?
This week on Surviving Disaster, a double feature, the world is under attack from terrorists with deadly nerve gas and a global pandemic threatens to kills millions.
Host Cade Courtley shows you how to survive.

The full length video is available this week online.

You can watch it here.

Each full episode of this show is available for on week after its on-air premiere. Episodes are added immediately following their premiere date. After one full week of online availability each episode is taken down for one month. After the month has gone by the episode returns and is available for you to watch indefinitely.

Please be aware that selected full episodes and clips are only available for viewing on our site by users located within the United States and Canada.

Watch Video.

Is American The Missing Link In Mumbai Terror Attack?

With the passport of David Headley now apparently confirming his nine visits to India, investigators are now focusing on whether he is the missing answer to last year’s Mumbai terror attacks. Headley was placed under arrest in Chicago last week by the FBI for allegedly conspiring with Lashkar-e-Toiba to launch terrorist attacks in India. Lashkar-e-Toiba is the group blamed for the terrorist attacks in Mumbai last year.

News sources reported on Sunday that Headley was a guest at several of the hotels targeted in the the Mumbai attack and also reportedly pretended to be Jewish, staying at the Chabad center prior to the deadly attack. These reports have not yet been confirmed by U.S. authorities.

The American and Indian authorities are questioning an American citizen of Pakistani descent on suspicion of involvement in last year’s Mumbai terror attacks. Indian media reported on Sunday that the suspect pretended to be Jewish, stayed at the Chabad center and prepared the ground for the lethal attack.

David Coleman Headly (49) was arrested last month at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport while on his way to Philadelphia, and from there to Pakistan. The American Federal Bureau of Investigations suspected he was involved in a plot to carry out an attack in Denmark following the publication of the controversial Prophet Muhammad caricatures.

A deeper look, however, revealed that he was also involved in the Mumbai attacks in November 2008, in which at least 173 people were killed.

Since Headley’s arrest, the US has been investigating his actions along with the Indian authorities. Over the weekend Headley’s role became clear: Indian security sources reported that he was the one who scanned the Chabad center for the Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is believed to be responsible for the attacks.

Source

From IBN

CNN-IBN has learnt this after accessing Headley’s passport, which he acquired in March 2006 after allegedly joining the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the group blamed for the terrorist attacks in Mumbai last year.

The passport shows that Headley visited New Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Agra between 2006-2009–trips investigators suspect were recces for terrorist attack conspiracies.

Headley, while visiting Mumbai in March 2006, listed Hotel Trident as a place of residence. He stayed at guesthouse near the CST Railway Terminus and he booked a room at the Taj Hotel. The Trident, the Taj, and the CST terminus were three main targets of terrorists during the November 2008 attacks.

Headley visited New Delhi in March 2009 and stayed in two hotels in Paharganj, close to the railway station in the national capital’s historic area. Records show he stayed at Anand Hotel and De Holiday International for three days.

via Source.

Al-Qaeda Sleeper Agent In Marion Federal Prison

KFVS reports a man the U.S. government considers a terrorist with ties to Al-Qaeda is now being held at the Marion, Illinois federal prison. Ali Al-Marri, 43, is serving an eight year sentence for being a so called “sleeper agent.” He has admitted to training in Al-Qaeda camps and having contact with the alleged planner of the September 11th attacks.

via Source.

U.S. Extends Alert Over German al Qaeda Threat

U.S. officials extended a travel alert in Germany and urged Americans to remain wary after terrorist organization al Qaeda posted messages in recent months threatening attacks in the country.

The alert issued Thursday will remain in effect until February 10. It replaces one issued in September that expired Wednesday, a news statement said.

It urged Americans in Germany to keep up with news reports and to consider the security procedures in place when they visit hotels, restaurants, and other entertainment and recreation venues.

“Over the past few months, al Qaeda has released videos threatening to conduct terrorist attacks against German interests,” the statement said. “While these threats initially mentioned the German federal elections in September, al Qaeda continues to threaten Germany.”

Germany is investigating all threats, the U.S. State Department said.

via U.S. alert over German al Qaeda threat – CNN.com.

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• Four arrested over alleged Australia terror plot (msnbc.msn.com)

Five Sept. 11 Suspects to Face Trial in New York

Self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees will be sent to New York to face trial in a civilian federal court, an Obama administration official said Friday.

Attorney General Eric Holder plans to announce the decision later in the morning.

President Obama, speaking in Tokyo, said he will insist that Mohammed be subject to “the most exacting demands of justice” and called the move both a prosecutorial and a national security decision.

“I’m absolutely convinced that Khalid Sheik Mohammad will be subject to the most exacting demands of justice. The American people insist on it. My administration will insist on it,” he said.

via Read Full Article.

Authorities To Seize Properties Of Group With Alleged Iran Ties

Federal prosecutors in New York took legal steps on Thursday to seize four mosques and a Fifth Avenue skyscraper from a Muslim group suspected of having ties to the Iranian government.

The US government, which has accused Iran of financing terrorism and trying to get hold of nuclear weapons, filed a civil complaint in federal court seeking the forfeiture of more than $500 million (£301 million) in assets controlled by a Shia Muslim charity called the Alavi Foundation.

The assets include Islamic centres in New York, Maryland, California and Houston, more than 100 acres of land in Virginia, and a 36-storey office tower in Manhattan.

Prosecutors claimed that the Alavi Foundation and a front company called Assa Corporation illegally funnelled millions of dollars in rental income back to the state-owned Bank Melli in Iran.

The US Treasury has accused Bank Melli of financing Iran’s nuclear programme and it is illegal in America to do business with the bank.

It is very rare for the US government to seize places of worship, but officials have long suspected the foundation was a front for the Iranian government.

The 97-page complaint claimed several very senior Iranian officials, including the deputy prime minister, have been involved in the charity’s business.

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Homeland Security To Investigate Sewer Smuggling

Hidalgo – Channel 5 News reports that it has learned that representatives from Border Patrol, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the International Boundary and Water Commission will be meeting with police to discuss a maze of sewage tunnels being used for smuggling.

The meeting is scheduled for sometime next week.

For now the Border Patrol has increased it’s presense in Hidalgo.

Source

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