Terrorist cell members arrested

Tuesday, 14 December 1999 1:04 (GMT)

(UPI Focus)

Terrorist cell members arrested

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 (UPI) - Members of a suspected terrorist cell have been arrested in an unidentified Middle Eastern country, accused of planning attacks against Americans, U.S. officials said Monday night.

An administration official, who asked not to be identified, said the investigation is still ongoing, and further details would compromise operations. But the official said the alleged attack was intended to coincide with New Year's celebrations overseas and prompted a State Department warning to Americans overseas during the holiday season.

Though the official and others would not say how many people had been arrested as part of the operation, the cell members apprehended were said to be connected to Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden.

The official said the arrests were made because the group was believed to be connected to a threat against Americans that officials already had deemed "credible."

The revelation follows the Saturday warning to Americans overseas of possible holiday attacks by terrorists. The State Department warned Americans abroad to take extra security precautions from now through the first week of January.

On Sunday, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright did not identify what groups U.S. officials were concerned about, other than the fugitive bin Laden, who has been charged with conspiracy and murder in the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which killed more than 200 people.

Bin Laden is believed to be living in Afghanistan under the protection of its ruling Taliban militia, and the United States and international community have been turning up the pressure to get him expelled. Albright said, "We are concerned, obviously, because there are a lot of activities going, and I think there are more specific indications."

The State Department said the United States had "credible information that terrorists are planning attacks specifically targeting Americans during the period of time leading up to and through the beginning of New Year."

The public move was significant, as scores of Americans are planning millennium celebrations both at home and abroad.

-- ====================================== End

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), December 13, 1999

Answers

I can hardly believe that UPI put this story out...it is a "friend of a friend" type of report!
"unidentified Middle Eastern country..."
"who asked not to be identified..."
"would not say how many people had been arrested..."

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), December 13, 1999.

A more recent report on CNN cnn.com/ 1999/US/12/13/terror.arrests/index.html indicates that the terrorists were aiming at Christians (rather than Americans)...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), December 13, 1999.

Yeah right, and the bombing of the Sudanese pharmaceutical factory was also based on "Credible Evidence". It is becoming progressively more difficult to say "Clinton Admin. State Dept." and "credible" in the same sentence.

-- Jack (mercer@usa.net), December 13, 1999.