On October 23, the FBI
distributed through the NLETS communications system,
an intelligence update warning state and local law enforcement
of recent
reporting that al-Qa'ida is targeting the U.S. railway
sector. Information from
debriefings of al-Qa'ida detainees as of mid-October
indicates that the group
has considered directly targeting U.S. passenger trains,
possibly using
operatives who have a Western appearance.
This threat communication
followed one issued on October 9, by the FBI, the
Office of Homeland Security and other federal agencies,
warning of heightened
operational intensity on the part of al-Qa'ida and loosely
affiliated terrorist
organizations.
The U.S. Intelligence
Community continues to assess that al-Qa'ida plans to
attack targets that they believe would be readily recognized
as representing
U.S. economic interests. Additional information suggests
operatives may try a
variety of other attack strategies, such as destroying
key rail bridges and
sections of track to cause derailments or targeting
hazardous material
containers. Recently captured al-Qa'ida photographs
of U.S. railroad engines,
cars, and crossings heighten the intelligence community's
concern of this
threat.
The attack of the French
oil tanker off the coast of Yemen and additional
information from al-Qa'ida detainees suggest plans exist
to continue attacks
against the global petroleum sector. According
to this information, al-Qa'ida
plans to weaken the petroleum industry by conducting
additional sea based
attacks against large oil tankers and that such attacks
may be a part of more
extensive operations against port facilities and other
energy-related targets
including oil facilities and nuclear power plants.
In addition, the U.S.
Intelligence Community continues to receive general
threat reporting on such sectors as, the airline and
maritime industries,
financial sector and government facilities and installations.
The United States Government,
working with state and local law enforcement,
the railway industry, and other sectors, has begun the
immediate implementation
of additional protective measures including increased
presence of law
enforcement officers, increased surveillance of critical
areas and improved
physical protections.
The Department of Transportation
security staff, the TSA and the Federal
Railroad Administration have worked closely with the
American Association of
Railroads (AAR) to review the current threat data for
rails and to implement
enhanced rail security measures. AAR represents
North American freight rails as
well as Amtrak. On Tuesday, AAR and DOT held a security
briefing for members'
law enforcement chiefs about the current threat information
and coordinated
implementation of enhanced security measures. Amtrak
has increased patrolling of
its facilities and trains and all freight rails implemented
additional security
measures. Other DOT components, including the
United States Coast Guard,
Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety
Administration have implemented additional security
measures as well.
The FBI Counterterrorism
Division has urged state and local law enforcement
to discuss appropriate measures for their respective
communities with their
designated joint terrorism task force and to continue
to take all prudent steps
to detect, disrupt, deter, and defend against potential
attacks against critical
infrastructure and installations.
The National Infrastructure
Protection Center of the FBI has contacted the
private sector Information Sharing and Analysis Centers
(ISACs) that represent
various sectors of the economy. A primary NIPC
mission is to issue warnings
regarding threat conditions to private sector ISACs
and the owners and operators
along with appropriate guidance on additional protection
measures to be taken.
The Department of Energy's
Office of Energy Assurance has contacted key
energy infrastructure facilities and is working with
them to enhance the
security environment to deter and/or disrupt potential
attacks.
The Environmental Protection
Agency has contacted the American Chemistry
Council, Chlorine Institute, American Petroleum Institute,
Synthetic Organic
Chemical Manufactures Association, National Association
of Chemical
Distributors, the Fertilizer Institute and CropLife
America. These
organizations are communicating with their members and
recommending additional
security precautions.
Due to the lack of specificity
of method, location, and timing, the
Homeland Security Advisory System threat level will
remain at yellow (elevated),
at this time.
