US

Possible Mail Bomb Terror Plot Threatens U.S. Religious Institutions

WASHINGTON – A package containing explosive materials was intercepted in Dubai on its way from Yemen to a Chicago Jewish institution, and authorities in London were investigating a suspicious package in England as part of a terror probe that spanned three continents, officials said Friday.

U.S. officials said they were increasingly confident that the packages were part of a plot by Yemen’s al-Qaida branch, the same group responsible for an attempted bombing of a U.S.-bound airliner last Christmas.

Intelligence officials have been monitoring the suspected plot for days, an official said. The packages were discovered in England and Dubai late Thursday after a foreign intelligence service picked up information related to Yemen and passed it on to the U.S., one official said.

An official United Arab Emirates security source said the package discovered there was a device containing explosive materials.

No explosives have been found in the U.S. Items continued to be tested in England.

U.S. national security officials alerted President Barack Obama to a “potential terrorist threat,” the White House said. Obama planned a public statement on the developments later Friday.

The two packages were addressed to Chicago religious sites, Chicago FBI spokesman Ross Rice said. Both were sent from the same address in Yemen to Jewish organizations in Chicago, U.S. officials said. Other than Rice, all the officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation.

The package in England, discovered aboard a plane in East Midlands, north of London, contained a printer toner cartridge with wires and powder. It was found during routine screening of cargo in England, prompting authorities to scour three planes and a truck in the United States on Friday, U.S. officials said.

“The president directed U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies and the Department of Homeland Security to take steps to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and to determine whether these threats are a part of any additional terrorist plotting,” the White House said in a statement.

Yemeni officials said they had launched a terrorism investigation, and Scotland Yard said its investigators were testing a number of items seized from the plane in East Midlands.

In the U.S., searches were conducted in Philadelphia, Newark, N.J., and New York City. Local officials said all of the suspicious items and planes that were searched had been given the “all clear.”

“As a precaution, DHS has taken a number of steps to enhance security,” the Homeland Security Department said in a statement. “Some of these security measures will be visible while others will not.”

Since the failed Christmas bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner, Yemen has been a focus for U.S. counterterrorism officials. Before that attack, the U.S. regarded al-Qaida’s branch in Yemen as primarily a threat in the region, not to the United States.

The Yemen branch known as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula has since become a leading source of terrorist propaganda and recruiting. Authorities believe about 300 al-Qaida members or cells operate in Yemen.

The Yemeni government has stepped up counterterrorism operations, with help from the U.S. military and intelligence officials. Mohammed Shayba, general-director of the state airline’s cargo department, said the government is conducting an investigation.

“Those in charge are in constant meetings and they are investigating and taking the issue seriously,” he told The Associated Press.

Comments (71)

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  • JohnDoe
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 6:00pm

    You Can’t Fix Stupid – but you Can Vote ‘Em Out !!!

    Our great country was founded by and for the citizens of the thirteen colonies. It was designed to insure that a central government was controlled and limited by representatives of those citizens. It was given a limited amount of power, with many checks and balances, to secure the rights and freedoms for its citizens. They were making sure that an American Government would and could not become as Britian had. England enacted laws and taxes on their American subjects, but without allowing the colonies a say in their government. Ignoring the will of the people of America, they bullied and took away what limited rights they had and tried to force them to comply. Sound familiar? Yes, we don’t have to look far across the Atlantic at a despotic leader, we have only to look at the Oval Office in Washington, D. C. and to those whom we had entrusted the liberties of the people and the country. Our representatives, Senate and the House, are there to represent the will of the people. Instead, they have consistently lied to their constituents, both during campaigns and when in office. They have consistently robbed the American people, not only of their money, but also by stealing their liberties, little by little. The incumbent office holders allow themselves to be above the law, they allow themselves to steal by back-room corrupt deals and the like. They ignore the very people who put them in office, they even resort to passing laws, under cover of darkness. They hide laws and corrupt deals in the midst of thousand of pages of laws. This has always been a trick of unethical lawyers. Their mindset is to bog down any opposition by inudating them with mountains of paperwork. Then, they laugh and call the people stupid and ignorant, or worse! No doubt, I could go on and on. Their lack of character, morals and ethics makes them unfit to be employed anywhere, let alone entrusted with the security, freedom, and economic growth of this great country. They have taken your freedom to worship, especially targeting Christianity. They have tried to rewrite the American history, to further their agendas, just like the Moslems continue to do with Israel.

    Soon after deciding what sort of Government America was to become, that very question was asked of Benjamin Franklin. In reply Franklin said, “A Republic….if we can keep it”. This is a question that should be upon the lips of all true American patriots. If we can’t or more correctly, if we won’t, then we don’t deserve it. The choice is up to us, the American people, and the answer should be and must be yes we will!

    You’re probably asking how do we insure that we will keep this nation a free Republic. Oh, we voted for only those who promised no more taxes, no more spending, etc., etc. Of course they all were proven to be liars again (or should I have said they were just not quite forthcoming or perhaps they were a little disingenuious?). Then we did the “best of the two evils” choice. This was no different than the “Magician’s Choice” trick! We now know that there is no difference between Republicans and the Democrats when it comes to which is telling the truth. Neither has the best interest of America at heart, probably not even in mind! Their goal is simply to acquire power, money, more power and more money while doing and saying anything to remain in office.

    So what is the answer? They don’t listen when the people, overwhelmingly, protest and tries to voice their opposition. So the American people need to get their UNDIVIDED attention. How? WE THE PEOPLE, must vote any and all incumbents out of office. It doesn’t matter if they are better than most. If they haven’t been part of the solution, then they are part of the problem. THEY MUST KNOW AND WE MUST LET THEM KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT WILL NO LONGER BE RUN BY ROUGUE LAWYERS AND OPPORTUNISTS, PROGRESSIVES (AKA SOCIALISTS), ETC. THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN MODERN-DAY CARPETBAGGERS OR WANNA-BE DICTATORS. THEY MUST BE EDUCATED TO THE FACT THAT THEY WILL BE VOTED OUT AGAIN AND AGAIN, UNTIL THEY LEARN THAT OUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO RUN THEIR OWN VERISON OF CRIME, INC.
    AND THOSE THAT ARE ELECTED TO OFFICE, BUT CONTINUE TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT WILL SOON LEARN THEY WILL HAVE ONLY ONE TERM IN OFFICE.

    We, the people, need to lobby our newly elected representatives to enact new laws to insure ALL our freedoms, our security, etc. Enact laws that ethical or criminal behavior of representatives will be prosecuted swiftly and severly, with no possibility of any pardon…not by a state Governor nor by a President! Enact laws or amendments to limit a President to one term only, ensuring that any damage to our country will not be as damaging as is obvious with this Government. Further limit the terms of our Representatives, both in the Senate and the House. Imperative to limit the term of all Supreme Court Justices to no more than an eight year term and make an amendment that the justices can no longer re-interpret the Constitution, but uphold the laws as it was written and intended by the original framers.

    So, the bottom line is this: unless the American people get the undivided attention of those in government…when you and your family members are homeless and hungry or at the very least jobless…remember, you have only yourselves to blame.

    THE ONLY WAY TO INSURE THAT YOUR FUTURE REPRESENTATIVES WILL LISTEN TO ITS CONSTITUENTS IS VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS!!! FROM THAT POINT ON, EACH REPRESENTATIVE MUST KNOW WE WILL VOTE THEM OUT AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL WE HAVE RESPONSIBLE REPRESENTATIVES THAT UNDERSTAND THEY ARE THERE FOR THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

    You Can’t Fix Stupid – but you Can Vote ‘Em Out !!!

    Report Post »  
    • I Love Section 8 Housing
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 6:08pm

      Yay Obama! Keepin’ us safe again and again. Not like Bush.

      hey guy above me, congrats on your middle school essay but no need to paste it into every comments section. I can ignore it just fine from here.

      Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  
  • hamptonsurfer
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 5:52pm

    when are we going to turn yemen into a barren wasteland already?

    Report Post »  
  • Morningbird
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 5:45pm

    Not sure why they have to mail bombs when they can just walk across our borders. Of course, it’s just before election so maybe this had something to do with it. Like reading a good book here‘s one cause it’s about what could happen. It’s a thriller & I like to read.
    booksbyoliver.com

    Report Post »  
  • felina g
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 5:45pm

    http://www.infowars.com/obama-issues-fake-terror-alert-on-eve-of-elections-2/

    Report Post »  
  • roberja
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 5:37pm

    Remember the president said America could absorb a terrorist hit. Is this his October surprise? No way will America rally under obama’s wing. We’re too smart for that. Get out and vote!

    Report Post »  
  • James Daly
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 5:35pm

    FBI has a lead on these ‘explosive devices’. They originate in Sudan, but they each have a vanity return address sticker to a “Barry Soweto”. Authorities are working to track this person down.

    Report Post » James Daly  
  • bobby535
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 5:15pm

    HAHAHA I don’t know what to think about this anymore…maybe a set up (wouldn’t be surprised to find out)…..maybe not. Maybe a dry run…maybe not….but the one thing I am not, is terrified….For some strange reason this makes me laugh, and my gut tells me it’s nothing to worry about.

    All week I have been waiting for something crazy to happen the closer we get to election day. I seriously hope its not a set up….or maybe I do to a certain extent. But really I have been waiting for something to come up, I have felt that something crazy is going to happen, and so far everything has been pretty weak. I was not expecting this, but crazy none the less.

    That being said, I think it would be foolish to just assume this is a set up to play with elections, but it should not be taken off the table.

    Report Post »  
  • YoungAndReckless
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:30pm

    Why is it that Islam is the only religion on the face of the planet that ACTIVELY encourages its followers to maim and kill others? Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Jews… sure there have been isolated incidents of violence with every religion, but Islam is the only one that I hear about EVERY DAY that involves one of its followers blowing themselves or someone else up! And as far as the “moderate” muslims in the U.S. and other countries go, who preach non-violence, guess what? The main leaders of your religion in the Middle East, which is coincidentally where it has the most followers, ARE CALLING YOU INFIDELS TOO! Can’t you see? The leaders of your religion don’t want you; you are the black sheep of Islam because you refuse to preach or commit violence. You would be shunned in your ancestral homelands for not believing in jihad. If these so-called “moderate muslims” are truly against jihad and violence, THEN COME OUT AND SAY IT! CONDEMN THE IMAMS AND THE FOLLOWERS OF VIOLENT ISLAM, AS WELL AS THE COUNTRIES WHO SUPPORT IT!! But will we ever hear ANY muslims do this? NO, because they are either afraid or they secretly agree with the violence. Your silence is consent, and THAT is why we look at ALL of you with suspicion at the airport. There. I feel better.

    Report Post »  
    • rick
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:39pm

      Agree’d , yet we also have to be careful and listen closely to weed out the scare tactics from the truths. Yes ?

      Report Post » rick  
    • rfycom
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:47pm

      Good point, but all religion leads to bloodshed. It starts with a grown ass man thinking it is ok to put his big ass foot on a tiny, young woman’s head. Then ask her to apologize. Then other Christians believe it was all her fault too. Yea that’s how it starts for us Christians.

      Report Post »  
    • sWampy
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 5:04pm

      Because it isn’t a religion, but a form of government without borders designed to disguise it self as a religion.

      Report Post »  
    • felina g
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 5:21pm

      Ya….PLUS….her wig was dislodged ! Cruel. Don`t mess with a community organizer`s wig !

      Report Post »  
  • luvtheright
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:30pm

    Hey, HOW ABOUT CLOSING OUR SOUTHERN BORDERS? If anything like this happens, WE THE PEOPLE know who should be held responsible!

    Report Post »  
    • Polwatcher
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:46pm

      Obama did that. He posted signs 70 miles on our side of the border telling us to go away.

      Report Post »  
  • TNgirly
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:29pm

    I wonder if the moms and dads, wives and husbands, brothers and sisters, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, friends of those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan think Al Qaeda think they’re not a threat

    Report Post »  
  • aqualung
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:23pm

    The only religious building left will be the mosque at GZ

    Report Post »  
  • LadyIzShy
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:23pm

    They have gotten the info they need for today lets watch next week or nxt month. we can NOT let our guard down EVER.. Terrorism is REAL no matter what the FOOLS in DC say

    VOTE and then DEMAND term limits

    Report Post » LadyIzShy  
  • dantom
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:21pm

    Send this to the democrat congresswoman from Minnessota she said al queda is not a threat.

    Report Post »  
  • grayhaired vet
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:18pm

    Democrat representative Betty McCollum earlier this week stated, ” Al Quieda is no longer a threat to the American people.” In addition, the chairman of British Airlines recently stated that “America’s current airport security screening is excessive and unwarranted.” Don’t you just love it, when these folks are proven the fools they really are?

    Report Post »  
  • OklahomaBound
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:05pm

    WTF moderator, why does writting (They sh0uld h@ve wr1tten retur n to send er ) nee d to be chec ked ou t befor e it ca n be poste d?

    Report Post » OklahomaBound  
    • mcellu
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:12pm

      b/c they don’t want morons posting to the site

      Report Post »  
    • JDPickle
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:17pm

      Don‘t think it’s really a moderator issue. More of an issue with maintaining traffic on a busy network. A little patience please. May be some kind of virus scanning going on as well. Everyone’s gotta take their precautions…

      Report Post »  
  • HippoNips
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:03pm

    There has been NO BOMB FOUND, anywhere.
    The international community is having a back and forth about airline security. They want to loosen it and not follow the US’s lead anymore.
    This hoax non-bomb is about that , not any real threats.
    All the packages in the US have been found to NOT be any threat. NONE ZIP ZERO
    Don’t let this prevent you from voting.

    Report Post »  
    • S_Malc13
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:17pm

      People will still vote no doubt. Not only will they vote but it will help the Republican vote because whether people want to believe it or not, Repubs have the correct strategy against terrorism.

      Report Post » S_Malc13  
  • JDPickle
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:03pm

    Those that are in charge are in constant meetings. Nice. I wish I could go to a meeting when the crap hit the fan at work. Where is the supervision on the front lines?

    Report Post »  
    • felina g
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:12pm

      ……..running for those underground bunkers.

      Report Post »  
  • Will NV
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:02pm

    This sounds like a liberal setup to affect the elections.
    The FBI needs to investigate this thoroughly.
    The Muslim-in-Chief is the real threat.

    Report Post »  
    • Polwatcher
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:32pm

      If this is their setup it will backfire on them.

      Report Post »  
    • rick
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:36pm

      BINGO !!!!!!!!! thank you !!!!!

      Report Post » rick  
    • rfycom
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:43pm

      I spit my beer out when I read that one. Jesus Christ clean your brain out. Stop listening to the damn political preachers. No the Liberals did not do this. They call them radical rag heads.

      Report Post »  
  • OklahomaBound
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:02pm

    Return to sender.

    Report Post » OklahomaBound  
  • OklahomaBound
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:01pm

    They should have just written “Return to sender” on them.

    Report Post » OklahomaBound  
  • OklahomaBound
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:00pm

    They should have just wrote, “Return to sender” on them.

    Report Post » OklahomaBound  
  • poverty.sucks
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 3:59pm

    All of these defensive measures are appreciated, however, it’s time to take offensive measures and eliminate the threat.

    Report Post » poverty.sucks  
  • tower7femacamp
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 3:59pm

    Now we can put the Naked body scanners at the doors of our Churches.
    I will volunteer to run the machines.

    Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • rfycom
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:40pm

      You and me both tower. Nothing like naked church ladies with all that pent up passion. Geeeeazzzzzzz

      Report Post »  
    • Bot
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:50pm

      All the studies confirm that the “church ladies”, i.e., those who attend church regularly have better s-x than the agnostics and atheists. Young men – go to church!

      Report Post » Bot  
  • Marylou7
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 3:56pm

    I’m sure they will keep trying until something gets through security.

    Report Post » Marylou7  
  • felina g
    Posted on October 29, 2010 at 3:55pm

    Where is the President, Dude ?

    Report Post »  
    • OneMansOpinion
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:35pm

      He’s campaigning, actually he has never stopped.

      Report Post »  
    • rfycom
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:37pm

      Do you want him to hold you little hand?

      Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:44pm

      @Felina G

      Most likely hiding deep in his bunker under the White House, or out on the golf course where he will be safe while the country explodes about his ears.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • 2
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:55pm

      Hey Dude,
      We are 5 days away from fundamentally
      ‘ Restoring The United States of America ’

      Report Post »  
    • Timmtamm
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 4:59pm

      No, this is nothing… Nothing to see here… No, terrorists do not exist! Keep moving.

      Report Post » Timmtamm  
    • 911
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 5:22pm

      Muslims want to kill jews

      Report Post »  
    • pajamash
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 6:38pm

      I’m sure Obama will try to use this to his advantage over the next few days! “See how good our administration is?! We were able to thwart this plan! Do you think the Republicans would have uncovered this plot!?”

      Report Post »  
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