Foriegn Spies Told To Leave Dubai Within A Week

According to Newsweek’s Declassified Blog, police in the Persian Gulf emirate of Dubai have advised all foreign spies to get out of town—and preferably out of the region—within a week. Although it is widely known in international spy circles, news of the expulsion threat has received little circulation beyond media in the Arab world. However, Gulf News, a newspaper based in Dubai, said the demand that foreign spies leave the area was confirmed to it by Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai's police chief and leader of the investigation into the Mahmoud al-Mabhouh murder.

“Those spies that are currently present in the Gulf must leave the region within one week. If not, then we will cross that bridge when we come to it,” Tamim reportedly said. When asked whether the spies he was talking about were holders of European passports, Tamim said “Europeans and others,” but offered no further details.

A Gulf newspaper, Al-Khaleej, quoted Tamim saying foreign spies had better depart the emirate “or they will face extreme measures,” according to a report from the Alarabiya.net Web site. The report does not indicate whether the police official outlined any specific measures to be taken against spies who remained after the ban takes effect.

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Green Prince – Son of Hamas Founder Spied for Israel

The son of one of Hamas’s founding members was a spy in the service of Israel for more than a decade, helping to prevent dozens of Islamist suicide bombers from finding their targets, it emerged yesterday.

Codenamed the “Green Prince” by Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of the Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef, supplied key intelligence almost daily from 1996. He tracked down suicide bombers and their handlers from his father’s organization, the Haaretz newspaper said.

Information supplied by him led to the arrests of some of the most- wanted men by Israeli forces, including Marwan Barghouti, a Fatah leader tipped as a potential president, who was convicted of masterminding terrorist attacks, along with one of Hamas’s top bomb-makers, Abdullah Barghouti, who is no relation of the jailed Fatah chief.

via Read Full Article.

Explosives Wash Up On In Barrels On Israeli Beaches

Two barrels filled with explosives washed up on beaches in Israel on Monday, according to Israeli authorities.

Authorities disposed of both without injury.

Islamic Jihad, the Fatah Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and the Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades issued a leaflet in Gaza claiming responsibility for sending three explosive devices to Ashkelon and Ashdod.

A large barrel filled with explosives was found on a beach in the Ashkelon area Monday morning. The beach was closed.

Policemen and bomb disposal experts neutralized the explosives, according to police spokesman Miki Rosenfeld.

A second barrel filled with explosives was discovered later in the day on the shore of the city of Ashdod.

Authorities conducted a controlled explosion on the second barrel. Police were combing the beaches, and nearby areas were closed to the public. Authorities have not discussed a third device.

via Explosives wash up on Israeli beaches – CNN.com.

Osama bin Laden Takes Credit For Christmas Terror Plot

IntelCenter: Could be indicator of upcoming plot.

In a new audio tape Osama bin Laden reportedly has taken credit for a thwarted attempt to bring down Detroit-bound flight 253 on Christmas Day.

Speaking in an audio recording released after Britain raised its terror threat level, the al-Qaeda terror chief also threatened fresh attacks against American targets.

He praised Umar Farouq Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian who tried to blow up a Delta Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit with explosives concealed in his underpants, as “a hero”.

Although he did not claim direct responsibility for the attack, bin Laden said that Abdulmutallab’s mission was intended to “re-affirm” the message sent to the United States on September 11, 2001.

One U.S. intelligence official in Washington said there is “no evidence whatsoever” that bin Laden had any involvement on the Christmas Day attack or even knew about it beforehand. The tape message suggests the bin Laden wants to appear as though he is in direct command of al Qaeda’s affiliates around the world at a time when many analysts say he is primarily a figurehead. Source

The one-minute recording, which bin Laden directed personally to President Barack Obama, sought once again to draw a direct link between al-Qaeda’s terror campaign and US support for Israel.

“America will never dream of living in peace unless we live it in Palestine,” bin Laden is heard to say in the recording, which was broadcast by al-Jazeera television in Qatar. “It is unfair that you enjoy a safe life while our brothers in Gaza suffer greatly.”

Osama bin Laden claims credit for Detroit terror attack – Telegraph.

Osama bin Laden’s word choice in the latest audio message attributed to him is seen as a “possible indicator” of an upcoming attack by his Al-Qaeda network, a US monitoring group warned Sunday.

IntelCenter, a US group that monitors Islamist websites, also said that manner of the release and the content of the message showed it was “credible” that it was a new release from the Saudi extremist. Source

Radical Groups May Be Plotting Major Gaza Attacks

A new report by a pro-Israel think tank warns that radical groups in Gaza may execute a major attack to secure an alliance with Al Qaeda. But a full-blown franchise is unlikely.

Militant Islamist groups in Gaza seeking an alliance with Al Qaeda may be planning to carry out a large-scale attack in order to boost their credentials, warns a report released today by the pro-Israel Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP)

“Al Qaeda-inspired groups in Gaza ‘think big’ and are regularly plotting large-scale attacks,” says the report, coauthored by a former deputy director of Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence service. It also quotes an anonymous member of one of these groups as saying his operatives are “waiting to carry out a big jihadist operation dedicated to Sheikh Osama Bin Laden.”

Mr. Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda organization, now believed to be hiding along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, has long used the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a cause célèbre for their fight against the West. But it has yet to establish authoritative operations in either the West Bank or Gaza, where both Hamas – the Islamist organization that rules the coastal territory – and its militant rivals are focused more on Israel than the vision of global jihad symbolized by Bin Laden.

Up next: ‘Al Qaeda in Palestine’? / The Christian Science Monitor – CSMonitor.com.

Unipass Biometric System Deployed At Israel Airport

The Jerusalem Post reports Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport has launched Unipass, a new biometric security system for outbound airline passengers.

The Unipass Airport Management System, developed by the Israel Airports Authority, is initially being tested on El Al Matmid Frequent Flyer Club members, before being gradually expanded to include, within two years, all departing passengers who voluntarily register, the IAA said.

The IAA said the timing of the biometric security program's launch, amid heightened international air travel security following the Al-Qaeda terrorist plot to blow up a US airliner over Detroit last month, was purely coincidental.

The IAA refused to address the issue of passenger profiling, saying instead that the Unipass system will offer improved service and security, and an identical screening process for all passengers.

“This is the first system of its kind in the world. Interest has been expressed by other international airports,” an IAA spokeswoman said.

It was too soon say how much time the new arrangement will save, the spokeswoman added, but once it becomes fully operational, the system is expected to significantly speed up the security and check-in processes.

In the first stage, passengers will arrive at a registration desk, where a machine will scan their passports, and take fingerprint and facial imaging samples to create a biometric signature.

The information will then be stored on personal smart card that will be issued to each passenger. The registration is a one-time process. Equipped with their smart cards, passengers can then proceed to the first security stand, where they will be asked to swipe their cards and passports through the machine. As the computer confirms a biometric match, a touch screen panel will present the passengers with a series of security questions that until now were asked by airport personnel.

Guards will stand next to the stands to help anyone who runs into difficulties, the IAA said. “We¹re not giving up on human interaction,” the spokeswoman said.

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Israeli Intelligence Company Monitors Radical Websites

ABC News reports details on an Israeli intelligence company that monitored jihadist web discussions  about plane bombing tactics weeks before the Detroit attack.

Most of the analysts at Terrogence are former Israeli intelligence operatives. From a converted chicken coop in a village in central Israel they monitor Islamic internet sites devoted to global jihad and terrorism. Their mission is to identify new and credible threats against western targets.

According to Terrogence founder Gadi Aviran the online discussion ran to 25 pages and continued until a critical posting in late November by a known extremist with a proven track record in explosives. This individual has been monitored for several years and is widely respected by participants in the forums.  His posting in Arabic read:

“You can ignite a detonator using a medical capsule and put concentrated sulphuric acid into it, and then put it over the explosive materials.”

They believe the “medical capsule” mentioned in the post could easily refer to a syringe as used in the attack on North West Flight 253.

Earlier, activists had detailed debates about how much chemical to use to avoid detection in airports and which liquids work best as a detonator.

After this posting Terrogence sent warnings to their clients around the world which include so-called “Western governmental agencies.”

Source

U.S. Space Researcher Arrested on Spy Charges

There are not a lot of details yet in the report of a top U.S. space researcher who was arrested in an FBI sting Monday and charged with attempting to spy for Israel.

Stewart Nozette, 52 years old, of Chevy Chase, Md., is a former government physicist who worked for agencies ranging from the Defense Department to the White House.

In exchange for thousands of dollars in cash and an Israeli passport, Mr. Nozette attempted to pass on U.S. top secret nuclear and space secrets to an FBI agent who was posing as an Israeli intelligence operative, according to an FBI affidavit filed with the criminal complaint in the case.

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Nozette, 52, was arrested shortly after 4:00 p.m. at the Mayflower Hotel in downtown Washington by counterespionage agents from the FBI’s Washington field office after he believed he was meeting with agents from the Mossad to pass information to them in exchange for money, the Justice Department said.

Israel Intercepts Plane Flying Near Nuclear Reactor

Few details gave been released today after the Israeli air force scrambled fighter jets after a small aircraft flew into restricted air space over its nuclear reactor in the southern Negev desert, near Dimona, officials said.

The warplanes intercepted the aircraft and forced it to land at a nearby airstrip, where the pilot were handed over to civilian authorities for investigation, an army spokeswoman said.

Police had no immediate comment but Israeli media reported that the pilot, who was flying from Rishon Letzion outside of Tel Aviv to the town of Arad near the Dead Sea, said that he lost his way.

Aircraft are forbidden from flying over the reactor near the desert town of Dimona.

Source

Iran Tests Shahab 3 Long Range Missile

One day after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards test-fired short and medium range missiles, Iran has test-fired a long-range Shahab-3 missile,according to state TV. The Shahab-3 has a range of up to 1,240 miles, placing Israel and American bases in the Gulf region within range, according to analysts.

From Reuters

Israel Strikes Back At Jihadists In Gaza City – Video

On Friday, September 25th, An Israel Air Force air-craft targeted and identified hitting three terrorists east of Gaza City who were on their way to fire rockets at Israel’s southern communities.

In the following video an Unmanned Air Vehicle captures two Islamic Jihad terrorists exiting a structure, carrying rockets east of Gaza City. As the two reach their launch zone, a third terrorist joins them to prepare for the attack. Subsequently, IAF forces bomb the site leading Islamic Jihad’s missiles to misfire from secondary explosions.

The three terrorists hit were part of a terrorist cell that has been firing rockets into Israel for the past few weeks, including rockets that hit the city of Sderot during the holiday of Rosh HaShana (the Jewish New Year) a week ago.

Video Link

Warning: Terror Group Planning Attacks On Israelis In India

Israel’s Counter Terrorism Bureau issued a severe travel warning on Thursday over fears that terrorist groups may try to attack Israelis across India. The warning comes just as the Chabad houses across India plan numerous events for the celebration of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. Last year, a large scale terror attack in Mumbai targeted a Chabad house, among other targets.

According to the Counter Terrorist Bureau, the same organization that orchestrated last year’s Mumbai attacks was planning to carry out several attacks across India, including areas frequented by Western and particularly Israeli tourists.

The travel warning is based on a concrete and very serious threat to Israelis. The Counter Terrorism Bureau has recommended to Israelis currently in India to avoid crowded areas, especially tourist areas, which have no apparent armed security.

In addition, due to reports of potential terror attacks across the entire country, Israeli travelers are advised to take precautions and remain alert.

Source

IAEA Denies Report Iran Has Ability To Create Nuclear Bomb

The U.N. nuclear agency has no proof that Iran has or once had a covert atomic bomb program, it said on Thursday, dismissing a report that it had concluded Iran was on its way to producing nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency reaffirmed IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei’s September 9 comment that allegations the agency was sitting on evidence of Iranian bomb work were “politically motivated and baseless.”

“With respect to a recent media report, the IAEA reiterates that it has no concrete proof that there is or has been a nuclear weapons program in Iran,” an IAEA statement said.

The IAEA received information from a variety of sources that might be relevant to verifying that a state was not hiding nuclear bomb research or development, it said.

All information on Iran that the IAEA had vetted has already been shared with its 35-nation Board of Governors in reports by ElBaradei.

Diplomats close to the IAEA have told Reuters it has no “smoking gun” evidence of Iran currently trying to apply nuclear technology to its ballistic missile program. Two diplomats repeated that position after Thursday’s media report.

via IAEA denies report it is sure Iran seeking atom bomb | International | Reuters.

However… There Is This Story

Experts at the IAEA are in agreement that Teheran has the ability to make a nuclear bomb and is on the way to developing a missile system able to carry an atomic warhead, according to a secret report seen by The Associated Press on Thursday.

The document drafted by senior officials at the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency is the clearest indication yet that the agency’s leaders share Washington’s views on Iran’s weapon-making capabilities. It appears to be the so-called “secret annex” on Teheran’s nuclear program that Washington says is being withheld by the IAEA’s chief.

According to the document, the Islamic republic has “sufficient information” to build a bomb. Iran is likely to “overcome problems” on developing a delivery system, according to the report.

Source

Pakistani Police – 13 Militants Arrested, Terror Plots Foiled

Pakistani police say they thwarted multiple terror plots by arresting 13 militants with links to al-Qaida or the Taliban during raids in southern and eastern Pakistan.

Police said Monday they seized seven men, suicide vests and explosives during a raid in the southern city of Karachi. Authorities said the men belong to the banned al-Qaida-linked Sunni extremist group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

The group has previously been suspected of plotting to assassinate government officials, as well as masterminding last year's bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad and the bombing of a Shi'ite mosque in 2003.

And police in eastern Pakistan say they captured six suspected Taliban militants in Punjab province. Senior police officer Usman Anwar says the suspected militants had planned to attack foreign targets and places of worship.

Authorities in both cases say the arrests foiled militants' plans to stage terror attacks.

Source

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