http://www.nypostonline.com/news/19914.htm

FEDS PRAY BORDER BUST HAS DERAILED Y2K BOMB ATTACK By NILES LATHEM

The feds have unearthed a possible terror plot for a New Year's Eve bombing at Seattle's famed Space Needle, where tens of thousands are expected to ring in the millennium.

U.S. Customs and Immigration agents discovered the nightmare plan with the arrest this week of a French-speaking Algerian trying to enter the country from Canada in a car packed with explosive materials.

The man identified himself as Canadian citizen Benni Norris. Authorities determined his real name is Ahmed Ressam, 32, an Algerian.

They think he's part of a larger Middle Eastern terrorist cell, whose members may have already entered the country, federal law-enforcement officials said last night.

Ressam was arrested Wednesday night while trying to enter the country from the Port Angeles ferry, which originates in Vancouver.

Customs agents found hidden in the spare tire compartment of his rental car a series of bomb-making materials, including two jars of nitroglycerin, 100 pounds of urea, four timing devices using a 9-volt battery connector and a Casio watch, sources said.

Nitroglycerin and urea were also used in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.

Someone had reserved a room in the name of Benni Norris at a Best Western Loyal Motor Inn a few blocks from the Space Needle at Seattle Center -- the site of a large planned millennium celebration.

Stunned law-enforcement officials strongly suspect the Space Needle bash was the target and have launched a massive manhunt in the area for possible accomplices.

"It's very concerning on the face of it and we're taking it very seriously," Jesse Chester, spokesman for the Seattle office of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, told reporters.

"This is the real deal and evidence that we are reaching a critical mass as the millennium approaches in this country and overseas," added Harvey Kushner, a terrorism expert at Long Island University.

The arrest comes at a time when the State Department has issued a worldwide alert warning Americans to be careful during the holidays.

The alert was issued after a series of arrests in Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt of operatives of Saudi terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, whom U.S. authorities believe is trying to launch a multiple series of coordinated strikes at Americans to coincide with the millennium and the Muslim holy month Ramadan, which ends Jan. 7.

Ressam was being held on charges of unlawful entry into the U.S. and giving a false name and using false documents.

-- Uncle Bob (UNCLB0B@AOL.COM), December 18, 1999

Answers

Smoke and mirrors Uncle Bob...

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 18, 1999.

Seattle has been in the news lately.

-- lynch (bill@gates.coming), December 18, 1999.

Uncle Bob, this story has already been posted on numerous threads. sorry to be the one to inform you of your general redundancy.

-- Daniel Roberts (daniel roberts@anon.anon), December 18, 1999.

As if the USA doesn't have enough y2k wackos already, now Canada is exporting them to us. This is still more proof (as if we needed anything more) that the y2k wackos know that nothing's going to happen unless they make it happen. They've predicted death and destruction, so they're going to do it themselves. They don't care how many people have to be sacrificed to make their dreams come true.

-- prepare for (trouble@lert.com), December 18, 1999.

An orbiting mind control laser caused prepare for (trouble@lert.com) to write:

********************* As if the USA doesn't have enough y2k wackos already, now Canada is exporting them to us. This is still more proof (as if we needed anything more) that the y2k wackos know that nothing's going to happen unless they make it happen. They've predicted death and destruction, so they're going to do it themselves. They don't care how many people have to be sacrificed to make their dreams come true.

***************************

Oh yeah, lots of us Algerian Y2K doomers here.

You really ought to try thinking before posting. --

-- LM (latemarch@usa.net), December 18, 1999.

More from ERRI. Be sure to read Clark Staten's comments at the end.

http://www.emergency.com/1999/mil-mad2.htm

ERRI DAILY INTELLIGENCE REPORT-ERRI Risk Assessment Services-Tuesday, December 14, 1999-Vol. 5, No. 348-08:30CST

UNITED STATES

Terrorist Cell Planning Attack On U.S. Interests; Arrested In Middle East

U.S. officials said on Monday night that members of a suspected terrorist cell have been arrested in an unidentified Middle Eastern country, accused of planning attacks against Americans. The unnamed official source 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 U.S. State Department warning to Americans overseas during the holiday season.

The U.S. 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 master terrorist Usama bin Laden. The official saidthe arrests were made because the group was believed to be connected to a threat against Americans that officials already had deemed "credible."

ABC News reported on Monday that possible targets for the attacks were "Christian sites on New Year's Eve," mentioning sites in Jerusalem and even the Vatican as possible targets. However, officials familiar with the investigation could not confirm this, saying information on potential targets was "not all that specific."

ERRI senior national security analyst Clark Staten observed: "Reports of the arrest of several suspects for their involvement in plots to carry out terrorist attacks during the transition to the year 2000 would seem to validate our (ERRI) previously issued 13 Nov 1999 terrorism advisory."

"But, our most current analysis, however, would suggest that these arrests are not the end of this story," Staten continued. He added: "While yesterday's arrests are certainly commendable and may have prevented some of the potential carnage, we still have reason to believe that there will be further attempts to carry out multiple terrorist attacks on multiple targets, set to coincide with millennium celebrations, simultaneously."

Staten also said, "It remains our belief that those associated with terror master-mind Usama Bin laden have chosen the month of Ramadan, and the end of this century, as a significant time to carry out attacks on America and her allies throughout the world. We would urge great caution and preparedness on the part of American citizens, embassies, military bases, and corporations closely associated with the United States, as this century draws to a close and the new one begins."

-- (peelthose@eyes.kids), December 18, 1999.

Heh, thank goodness that dude procrastinated in crossing the border! Way to go border patrol!

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 18, 1999.

Something odd appears in the article. It states that nitroglycerin and urea were used in the Oklahoma City bomb. Everything I have read and heard about that bomb is that it was AMFO--ammonium nitrate and fuel oil. Why mention such an error here?

-- Pete (phytorx@lanset.com), December 18, 1999.

Oops an that that last ref. AMFO used at World Trade Center. Pete

-- Pete (phytorx@lanset.com), December 18, 1999.