Thaindian News

Washington, Oct 27(ANI): American Al-Qaeda militants are even more dangerous than foreign fighters, as they know the United States’ psyche and its soft targets, and its local recruits can often move about the country freely, top government officials have said.

According to ABC News, Americans have risen high in Al-Qaeda’s leadership and are now helping shape strategy for attacks on the U.S.

“The stark reality that I shared with Congress recently - and that I’m sharing with you today - is that we at the Department of Homeland Security, and I venture to say the FBI as well, are operating under the premise that individuals prepared to carry out terrorist acts are already in the country, and may carry out these acts of violence with little or no warning,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said.

Sources also claimed that the terror organization wants to carry out another attack in the country before the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

They also said that Yemeni-American cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki and permanent resident Adnan Shukrijumah are both actively plotting attacks.

Awlaki has ties to the Fort Hood shooter, and is believed to be a key figure behind the Christmas plot to blow-up an airplane over Detroit.

Shukrijumah, who lived in Florida, is believed to be a top Al-Qaeda operational leader, and had helped plan a failed plot on the New York City subway system last year.

Meanwhile, Former FBI official Brad Garrett said that that American Al-Qaeda are urgently pushing for its followers to launch attacks similar to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

“We would be just as traumatized if someone walked into a mall or train station then if you had another 9/11,” Garrett said. (ANI)