New Terror Alert FBI Warns of Possible Attack
Against American Interests
Feb. 11 — The FBI has alerted law enforcement officials at home and abroad that terrorists may be planning an attack against the United States or U.S. interests overseas, possibly as early as Tuesday.
In a warning issued tonight, the FBI urged law enforcement and the American public to be on the lookout for a Yemeni man and several associates who might be plotting a terrorist attack. It said the warning was based on information obtained in Afghanistan and from detainees at the U.S. Navy base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where several al Qaeda and Taliban soldiers are being held.
"As a result of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and ongoing interviews of detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, information has become available regarding threats to U.S. interests," the FBI said in an alert to 18,000 law enforcement agencies. "Recent information indicates a planned attack may occur in the United States or against U.S. interests in the country of Yemen on or around 02/12/02. One or more operatives may be involved in the attack."
The alert identified one possible operative as Fawaz Wahya al-Rabeei, a Yemeni national born in Saudi Arabia in 1979. It listed about a dozen alleged associates of al-Rabeei. The FBI asked police "to stop and detain" any of the individuals named in the alert and warned they should be considered "extremely dangerous."
Specific Date Mentioned
Senior law enforcement officials told ABCNEWS the U.S. military received a document in Afghanistan that allegedly belonged to al-Rabeei. Within the last 24 hours, investigators matched the document's information with information picked up from at least one Guantanamo detainee.
The information, officials said, cited a specific date for a possible attack and also identified al-Rabeei. FBI officials do not know al-Rabeei's whereabouts. They believe he could be anywhere in the world and may be traveling with a Yemeni passport.
Yemen was the site of the bombing of the USS Cole on Oct. 12, 2000. The Navy destroyer was attacked during a refueling stop at the port of Aden. Seventeen U.S. sailors were killed.
Threats Taken Seriously
Intelligence officials are taking the latest threat very seriously, the FBI said.
The agency's warning is the latest of several the government has issued since the Sept. 11 attacks. It comes more than a month after federal authorities extended the national terror alert issued on Dec. 3 to March 11.
Government officials have said that a continuous flow of daily intelligence about nonspecific threats of another attack have prompted them to urge law enforcement authorities to remain on high alert. The Dec. 3 warning was initially intended to last only through the Christmas holidays, but was extended.
The government also issued alerts on Oct. 29 and on Oct. 11.
In the last month, the FBI also has warned nuclear power plant operators and Web site masters to be aware of threats and possible attacks.
ABCNEWS' Pierre Thomas contributed to this report.
FBI Alert to Law Enforcement
The FBI issued the folowing alert to law enforcement officials nationwide and worldwide:
As a result of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and ongoing interviews of detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, information has become available regarding threats to U.S. interests. Recent information indicates a planned attack may occur in the United States or against U.S. interests in the country of Yemen on or around 02/12/02. One or more operatives may be involved in the attack, including Fawaz Yahya al-Rabeei, also known as (aka) Furqan. Al-Rabeei is believed to be a Yemeni national born in Saudi Arabia in 1979. He may be traveling on Yemeni passport 00452004. Other al-Rabeei aka's include Fawaz Yahia Hassan Aribii, Fawaz al-Fubai, Fawaz Yehia Hassan al-Rabie, Fawaz Yahya Hasan al-Rabi'i, Fawaz Yahya al-Ribi (al-Ruba'i, al-Rabia'i, al-Rabi'i), Forqan al-Tajiki, Furqan al-Tajiki, Furgan al-Tajiki, Furqan the Chechen, Faris al-Baraq, Sa'id, Musharraf, and Salem al-Farhan.
Al-Rabeei's current whereabouts are unknown.
No physical descriptors for al-Rabeei are available at this time.
Below are known associates of al-Rabeei.
Currently, no physical descriptors are known.
Name/POB, Year/Nationality
Issam Ahmad Dibwan al-Makhlafi, aka Akrama/Saudi Arabia, 1977 /Yemeni.
Ahmad al-Akhader Nasser Albidani/Yemen, 1977/Yemeni.
Alyan Muhammad Ali al-Wa'eli/Yemen, 1970/Yemeni.
Bashir Ali Nasser al-Sharari/Yemen, 1970/Yemeni.
Bassam Abdullah Bin Bushar al-Nahdi/Saudi Arabia, 1976/Yemeni.
Abdulaziz Muhammad Saleh Bin Otash/Saudi Arabia, 1975/Yemeni.
Mustafa Abdulkader Aabed al-Ansari/Saudi Arabia, Unknown/Saudi.
Omar Ahmad Omar al-Hubishi/Saudi Arabia, 1969/Yemeni.
Ammar Abadah Nasser al-Wa'eli/Yemen, 1977/Yemeni.
Shuhour Abdullah Mukbil al-Sabri/Saudi Arabia, 1976/Yemeni.
Samir Abduh Sa'id al-Maktawi/Saudi Arabia, 1968/Yemeni.
Abdulrab Muhammad Muhammad Ali al-Sayfi/Unknown/Yemeni.
Other associates, with no photo available, include the following individuals:
Name/POB, Year/Nationality
Abu Nasr al-Tunisi/Unknown/Unknown (Possibly Tunisian).
Abu Mu'az al-Jeddawi/Unknown/Unknown (Possibly Saudi).
Riyadh Shikawi Aka Shakawi/Unknown/Yemeni.
Amin Saad Muhammad al-Zumari/Saudi Arabia Or Yemen, 1968/Yemeni. |
