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Terrorists could target
America this festive season: US security officials
Washington, Dec 22 : US security officials
have warned that America could come under the purview of
terrorist attacks this festive season.
ABC News quoted Secretary of Homeland Security Janet
Napolitano, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper,
and Chief Counter terrorism Advisor John Brennan, as saying
that though are not too sure of it, there are enough warning
signs to keep them on alert. |
""There is a lot of chatter in the intel world
... that references the holidays. We know that things have
already happened in Europe, and we're watching that very
closely as well. But yes, there is increased chatter in the
system. And there are increased efforts undertaken now by ...
homeland security," Napolitano said.
On Christmas Day a year ago, Nigerian-born al-Qaeda operative
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly attempted to destroy a
Northwest Airlines flight. He succeeded in boarding an
aircraft with explosives concealed in his underwear, despite
being on a terror watch list, and attempts by his father to
alert U.S. officials that he was a danger. However, his fellow
passengers managed to prevent him from detonating the device.
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Officials say that a year later, new security measures
would have prevented Abdulmutallab's attempted attack.
"We would prevent him from getting on that plane from
Amsterdam to Detroit. That's more international
protocols put in place ... new international aviation
requirements," Napolitano added.
However, the group acknowledged that the U.S. still has
plenty of work to do, particularly overseas, where a
radical message often takes root and terrorists can find
their safe breathing ground.
Earlier, US Attorney General Eric Holder had warned that
although the country was ready to thwart attacks,
Americans should be aware that threat of home-grown
terror activities are "real and consistent".
--ANI
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