Plot to bomb US buildings, disrupt World Cup

ponder

ponder

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http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20091011085002653C456708

Plot to bomb US buildings, disrupt World Cup

October 11 2009 at 09:58AM

By Makhudu Sefara and Peter Fabricius

Tired of fighting, and largely losing, against the US in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia, a group of Somali terrorists devised a strategy to take on the superpower in South Africa.

The Sunday Tribune can reveal that the US's closure of its offices in the country was because of intercepted cellphone communication detailing planned attacks on American interests here. It is unclear whether American interests necessarily include a possible visit by US President Barack Obama for the official opening of the World Cup.

Intelligence officers, according to two sources, intercepted a call made in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, to a group based in Somalia, and the conversation confirmed a plot to blow up American interests in South Africa last month.

A source said US intelligence agents, South Africa's National Intelligence Agency and SAPS Crime Intelligence operatives launched a surveillance operation on the Cape-based group, gathering crucial information before the operation was thrown into disarray.

NIA spokeswoman Lorna Daniels refused to comment yesterday, threatening legal action.

As the embassies were closed just before Heritage Day, National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele went on TV to say the country's intelligence structures were on top of the situation.

This, it was established, led to the group discarding the SIM cards and the phones they had used, to cover their tracks.

The source said: "What has been established is that the Cape guys are linked to al-Qaeda cells in Somalia, who are connected to the group in Afghanistan. We have established that most al-Qaeda operatives are relocating from Afghanistan to Pakistan, attracted by increased lawlessness in Pakistan.

"Our information is that there is a trail that links Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and, most interestingly, Mozambique, where Somalis have formed an anti-US cell already.

"The interception revealed that these people plan to move en masse from Mozambique to here (South Africa) in 2010 to attack American interests. Their point is that South Africa is not a target, but if South Africans are caught in the crossfire, then that would be unfortunate.".

US embassy spokeswoman Sharon Hudson-Dean said: "We don't comment on intelligence matters."

An NIA official said yesterday: "This is classified information. If you publish it, this will jeopardise an operation already under way".

The source said this was untrue because Cele had already said publicly that intelligence officers were on the trail of the extremists - which is why they changed phones and went to ground without arrests.

"The US was right to take these people seriously because we now know that these people have links with shady characters who have access to old military hardware in Eastern Europe," said the source.

Rich Mkhondo, the chief communications officer for the Fifa 2010 World Cup Organising Committee South Africa, said security for the event was provided by the state.

The Mozambican embassy could not be reached yesterday.
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Wow that's crazy :mad: I hope they catch these asses. Imagine the negative effects a terrorist attack in SA during the world cup would have :sick:. Not to mention if some high ranking foreigners were to be injured.

Did Cele's public announcement compromise the tracking operation or was he authorized to break the news? Also, how on earth can you intercept a call in khayalitsha, do they tap our phones here in SA :erm:
 
Blue said:
Wow that's crazy :mad: I hope they catch these asses. Imagine the negative effects a terrorist attack in SA during the world cup would have :sick:. Not to mention if some high ranking foreigners were to be injured.

Did Cele's public announcement compromise the tracking operation or was he authorized to break the news? Also, how on earth can you intercept a call in khayalitsha, do they tap our phones here in SA :erm:
Click to expand...

Do you really think the Govt doesnt tap calls/ read emais etc etc.. Where do you think the 'Secret Zuma tapes' come from (Although I think those tapes are a myth and have never existed)

in this case, I think the Destination phone was tapped and it was traced to SA.

What you think RICA/FICA/Whatever was implemented for.
 
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waynegohl said:
ha ha ha true i think i should make a couple of calls today.
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Mention kill Malema :D

But on another note, if Government in South Africa were actively monitoring discussions, wouldn't a few people on this forum have been taken in for questioning already ?
 
i see enigma is also on the list and SABC (i can understand someone putting out a hit on them), but i don't see Aqua lung unless your real name is Bubba.
 
NIA spokeswoman Lorna Daniels refused to comment yesterday, threatening legal action.

As the embassies were closed just before Heritage Day, National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele went on TV to say the country's intelligence structures were on top of the situation.
Click to expand...

An NIA official said yesterday: "This is classified information. If you publish it, this will jeopardise an operation already under way".
Click to expand...


Love those two excerpts from the article.. makes our NIA look like the bunch of useless twits that they are.
 
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