Perilous Times
Al-Qaeda Smuggling Explosives In Christmas Toys Timed To Go Off During
The Holidays
Al Qaeda's chief bomb maker al-Asiri is understood to be planting
explosives in Britain-bound gifts
November 9,2010
By James Fielding: Exclusive
The Express UK
AL QAEDA'S chief bomb maker Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri is understood to be
planting explosives in gifts bound for Britain, Europe and the US. They
would be timed to explode once the toys are in stores.
Intelligence chiefs believe Al Qaeda warlords in Yemen plan to smuggle
in their deadly cargo aboard freight ships after airport security was
tightened following the failed ink cartridge bomb attacks 10 days ago.
British surveillance experts in Afghanistan and their American
colleagues uncovered the latest threat last week.
They intercepted conversations between terrorists from Al Qaeda in the
Arabian Peninsula, the group responsible for the ink bombs, revealing
they were planning a spectacular hit for the festive season. Its
leader, American- born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, and his right-hand man
al-Asiri are aiming to use sea ports because they believe security
there is more relaxed.
With so much Christmas stock arriving in the UK, they are confident
their toy bombs can remain undetected.
An MI5 officer told the Sunday Express: “Al Qaeda in the Arabian
Peninsula see the festive season as their ideal time to strike because
of its importance in the Christian calendar.
“The bombs found at East Midlands Airport and Dubai escaped scrutiny
until the last moment. It would be much easier to plant a similar bomb
inside a Christmas toy.”
The Metropolitan Police have plans to deal with terror attacks but a
spokesman said yesterday: “We never discuss matters of security.”
Al Qaeda is rumoured to have control of at least 23 ships, nicknamed
“Osama bin Laden’s navy”, registered in the names of companies that
support the terror group. MI5 and MI6 agents fear the vessels could be
used to ferry toys filled with the same powerful explosive used in the
ink bombs and last year’s failed Christmas Day underpants bomb plot on
an airliner.
Meanwhile, it emerged last night that security chiefs are using
sophisticated surveillance techniques to try to track Al Qaeda-trained
terrorists involved with the ink bombs plot whom they believe have
returned to Britain from the Middle East.