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FBI BULLETIN
posted 10 Oct 2002
FBI NATIONAL PRESS OFFICE IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(202) 324-3691 October 9, 2002
The following information was distributed through NLETS earlier tonight to
state and local law enforcement:
Recent statements, apparently by al-Qa'ida leaders, threaten attacks against
US economic interests. An audio message from Usama bin Laden, (taped on an
undetermined date), broadcast by al-Jazeera on Sunday, refers to al-Qaeda
targeting key sectors of the US economy. Another senior leader (bin Ladin's
senior deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri) reiterated the threat in the closing line
of an audio taped interview released Tuesday.
The coordinated release of these statements, coupled with our knowledge of
ongoing plotting by al-Qaeda members and threat information described by
detainees, strengthens previous assessments that al-Qaeda continues to plan
major attacks against US interests. The statements suggest that an attack
may have been approved, while the specific timing is left to operatives in
the field. Our concerns are heightened by comments from al-Qaeda detainees
who are independently interpreting these taped remarks as a sign of attack.
In 1998, al-Qaeda issued a fatwa (religious ruling) calling for attacks
against Americans worldwide, apparently presaging the August 7, 1998 East
Africa embassy bombings.
The content of the statements and the context surrounding these threats
reinforces our view that they may signal an attack. One senior detainee
maintains that al Qaeda would only release such a statement after approving
a specific plan for an attack. At this time, we have no information on a
specific time, date or location of an attack.
Other aspects of the statements reflect what we know of bin Laden and
al-Qaeda strategy. In addition, other recent appeals in extremist circles,
some purporting to be from bin Laden, urge Muslim youth to strike US forces
in Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain. The al-Qaeda organization, which has
lost its safe haven in Afghanistan and many of its leaders, is attempting to
manipulate the broader Islamic extremist community to attack the United
States at home and abroad.
The focus on economic targets is consistent with al-Qaeda's stated
ideological goals and longstanding strategy. The September 11 attacks and
commentary on these attacks by bin Laden and others indicate how central
economic targets are to this strategy: The group's leaders have said that
they aim to undermine what they see as the backbone of US power, the
economy. Our adversary is trying to portray American influence as based on
economic might and therefore seeks to strike and economic target prominent
enough for economic and symbolic reasons that it would have immediate
resonance around the world.
In view of the above information, the FBI urges recipients to review and
implement additional prudent steps to detect, disrupt, deter and defend
against potential attacks against our nation's critical infrastructure and
installations at home and abroad. Due to the lack of specificity of method,
target, and timing, the Homeland Security Advisory System Threat Level will
remain at Yellow-Elevated, at this time.
State and local law enforcement are encouraged to discuss appropriate
measures for their respective communities with their designated Joint
Terrorism Task Force.
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10 October 2002
