From the National Desk
Published 5/13/2002 9:13
AM
View
printer-friendly version
WASHINGTON, May 13 (UPI) -- U.S. officials were checking reports that nuclear power plants in the country could be targets of terrorist attacks during the July 4 holiday, the Washington Times reported Monday, citing unnamed intelligence sources.
The newspaper said the threats came shortly after officials received reports that two members of al Qaida, the suspected terrorist group linked to Osama bin Laden, would carry out attacks in the United States using radioactive material in a conventional bomb.
The Times said the threats were being taken seriously, even if the source of the information was not necessarily wholly reliable. The information on the targeting of nuclear plants allegedly came from Abu Zabaydah, a former key aide to bin Laden, the suspected mastermind behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
Zabaydah, captured March 28 after he was wounded in a gun battle with Pakistani police, reportedly told interrogators an American and an African national were planning an attack involving a device with radioactive material, the Times said.
Original reports had the attacks on nuclear power plants to obtain the radioactive material to occur May 1. Those have been changed to say July 4 is the expected attack date. One of the sites of the attacks was thought to be the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania.
The newspaper, however, added some officials doubt Zabaydah's information and quoted one familiar with reports from Zabaydah as saying: "He seems to be supplying some good information to enhance his credibility. On the other hand, it could be part of a larger deception effort."
Copyright © 2002 United Press InternationalTHE END
==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bUrHhl.bVKZIr Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
