U.S. warns of al-Qaida attack in Pakistan
Network reportedly planning aerial hit on
consulate in Karachi

Posted: May 2, 2003
2:30 p.m. Eastern



© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

The U.S. has issued a warning about a possible
al-Qaida aerial attack on the U.S. Consulate in
Karachi, Pakistan, Reuters reports.

An advisory from the Department of Homeland
Security warns pilots and airports the terrorist
network was in the final stages of planning the
attack.

"Recent reliable reporting indicates that al-Qaida
was in the late stages of planning an aerial
suicide attack against the U.S. Consulate in
Karachi," the advisory dated yesterday said,
according to Reuters.

"Operatives were planning to pack a small
fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter with explosives
and crash it into the consulate."

The information was based on an analysis from the
new Terrorist Integration Center, which opened
just yesterday.

"This plot and a similar plot last year to fly a
small explosive-laden aircraft into a U.S. warship
in the Persian Gulf demonstrate al-Qaida´s
continued fixation with using explosive-laden
small aircraft in attacks," the DHS advisory said.


According to the Reuters report, a spokeswoman at
the Department of Homeland Security said the
warning in part was meant to alert people in the
aviation industry to beware of suspicious attempts
to charter small planes.

Meanwhile, Reuters also reports a renewed travel
warning issued for Saudi Arabia is based on
"credible" information gathered by U.S.
intelligence that al-Qaida is planning attacks on
American targets inside the kingdom.

"It is certainly credible," an unidentified
official told Reuters. According to the report,
the information was not specific about when, other
than soon, where or how the attack would be
carried out.

"The fact that they are trying to do something is
solid," the official told Reuters. "They want to
hit targets that are important to Americans."

Yesterday, the U.S. State Department renewed a
travel advisory for Saudi Arabia: "Information
indicates that terrorist groups may be in the
final phases of planning attacks against U.S.
interests in Saudi Arabia."

An American civilian working for a contractor to
Saudi Arabia´s navy was shot at a naval base there
yesterday. The man is said to be in good
condition, according to Arab News. No motive for
the attack has been reported.