U.S. counterterrorism officials see no specific
threat tied to next week's one-year anniversary of the killing of Osama
bin Laden. But they're concerned about violence from al-Qaida's
affiliate in Yemen because of increased intelligence chatter in the past
six months, The Associated Press has learned.
The Yemen group, known as al-Qaida in the Arabian
Peninsula, or AQAP, has been a persistent concern since 2009, when one
of its adherents nearly brought down a jetliner over Detroit on
Christmas. In the past six months, counterterrorism officials have seen
what they consider an increase in intelligence about potential threats
from the group, according to an intelligence official speaking on
condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.
Officials are worried that the terror group "intends
to advance plots along multiple fronts, including renewed efforts to
target Western aviation," according to a joint intelligence bulletin
circulated Wednesday from U.S. Northern Command, the FBI and Department
of Homeland Security. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the
bulletin.
The terror group has twice tried to attack
U.S.-bound flights and is considered the most active al-Qaida affiliate,
recruiting Westerners.
Other al-Qaida affiliates, including the group
al-Shabab in Somalia, have pledged to avenge bin Laden's death. But
intelligence officials have not seen signs of current plots against the
U.S. Still, officials urged law enforcement to be on the watch.
"We remain concerned that terrorists not yet
identified by the intelligence community and law enforcement could seek
to advance or execute attacks with little or no warning on or about the
anniversary of bin Laden's death," the intelligence bulletin said.
Bin Laden was killed last year in a May 2 raid by
the U.S. military. The terror leader was living in a compound in one of
Pakistan's suburbs, having evaded capture for nearly 10 years.
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