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About Barry Zell
Barry Zell is an intelligence analyst from New England and the
National Director of the United American Civil Taskforce, Anti-Terrorism
Division. |
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Sweden
Terror Attack Warned of Two Days Prior |
Barry Zell
Sweden Terror Attack Warned of Two Days Prior
December 17, 2010
Sweden suffered it's First Suicide Bombing in the form of a terrorist attack on
Saturday December 11th in Stockholm, killing the bomber "Taimur Abdulwahab al-Abdaly”
and injuring two bystanders. It was predicted (in a sense) by an alert released
two days earlier on Thursday December 9th by the
Institute on Terrorism
Research and Response. The warning came in the form of what is called a
"TAM-C Alert”; TAM-C meaning "Targeted Actionable Monitoring Center”, which is
ITRR's intelligence unit. The alert was classified as "Moderate (level 3)".
TAM-C alerts are released by the Institute whenever they obtain intelligence
that, after analyzed, warns of the possibility of a potential or pending
terrorist attack or other event where the alerts assist in placing law
enforcement agencies, first responders, the intelligence community and others in
becoming extra vigilant. At times the alerts have proven to be paramount in
helping to avert terrorist attacks.
The incident (in Stockholm) began when a car burst into flames near a busy
street in the city's shopping center, followed by explosions inside the car,
which police said were caused by gas canisters. The second explosion, about a
thousand feet away and around ten minutes later, killed the bomber and wounded
two people who were in the area.
A warning was given (likely by the bomber) a short time before the attacks in
the form of an e-mail to the Swedish news agency TT promising attacks because of
Sweden's presence in Afghanistan, where it has 500 troops with the US led NATO
force, and caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad drawn three years ago by Swedish
cartoonist Lars Vilks.
ITRR analysts noted that prior jihadist communications that they had intercepted
and identified by the TAM-C on November 23, 2010, included a video statement
from a Swedish mujahid in Somalia, indicating the intent to carry out operations
in Sweden as a result of the Vilks cartoon. The jihadist statements included the
threat, "No matter where you are. If not today then tomorrow. We have not
forgotten you and we will reach you and slaughter you."
Prior to the Stockholm attack, the Arabic Language analysts at ITRR noted that
previously intercepted jihadist communications indicated that jihadists have
"already planned a series of operations against the Swedish enemy" and "the main
targets for the future attack have already been selected”. The communiqué stated
that "there is no other option for Al-Qaeda but to speak through blood and by
doing so they will be understood." This was information the TAM-C alert had
released prior to the attacks, which means their source (the intercept) was
impeccable which is usually the case with intelligence received or collected by
ITRR.
The TAM-C is continuing to identify information from its on-the-ground resources
(Ground Truth Network) and monitored communications and have extended the
potential threat of additional attacks in Sweden into early 2011 by lone wolf or
small cell actions unless jihadists demands are met by punishing Vilks and
removing Swedish troops from Afghanistan.
Terrorist attacks and attempts have increased globally with numerous potential
attacks averted in the US this year alone thanks to good investigative work by
federal and other law enforcement agencies and departments. But from all
indications according to activity on jihadists forums and websites, that numbers
likely won't decrease as long as Al Qaeda and jihadists are adamant on
destroying the Western way of democracy with emphasis on Israel and the United
States, and continue to try and force their brand of Islamic (sharia) ideology
on the rest of the world.
The only barrier at this point in time is continued cooperation between
International law enforcement, increased investigations by US federal law
enforcement and other agencies and the continued flow of pertinent intelligence
from those like ITRR and others within the intelligence community, through
communications intercepts and other means. And the continued support and
vigilance by the civilian sector.
Also of great importance is education of civilians along with monitoring and
stopping stealth jihad and creeping sharia within the US in order to avoid the
infiltration of law enforcement agencies and political offices by jihadists who
are willing to give their lives to "one day see the Islamic flag flying over the
White House” (radical Islamist's words, not mine) |
