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Khorasan: US officials admit different Syrian terror group may be bigger threat than Isis Khorasan: US officials warn Syrian terror group may be bigger threat than Isis
(about 1 hour later)
American intelligence officials claimed over the weekend another Syrian group could pose a greater threat than Isis to Europe and the United States. A shadowy group of extremists with links to Al-Qaeda is as big a threat as the Islamic State and just as likely to launch a terror attack against Western targets, US intelligence officials have warned.
United States officials said the group called Khorasan, led by senior al-Qaeda figure Muhsin al-Fadhli, has emerged as a cell in Syria that may be the most intent on launching a terror attack on America. The Khorasan is led by a former Al-Qaeda commander and officials have warned that the group's expertise in making bombs coupled with the presence of jihadist fighters with Western passports in its ranks make it a significant threat to homeland security.
Al-Fadhli, 33, was a close associate of Osama Bin Laden and one of the few with advance knowledge of the 9/11 attacks. James Clapper, the US Director of national intelligence, said: “In terms of threat to the homeland, Khorasan may pose as much of a danger as the Islamic State.”
U.S. Director of national intelligence James Clapper said on Thursday, “in terms of threat to the homeland, Khorasan may pose as much of a danger as the Islamic State.” According to the New York Times, the group is described by several intelligence, law enforcement and military officials as being made up of al-Qaeda operatives from across the Middle East, South Asia and north Africa.
There is almost no public information about the shadowy organisation. According to the New York Times, it was described by several intelligence, law enforcement and military officials as being made up of al-Qaeda operatives from across the Middle East, South Asia and north Africa. Longtime al-Qaeda operative Muhsin al-Fadhli is thought to be the leader of the Khorasan The man thought to lead the group, Muhsin al-Fadhli, was involved in the 11 September terror attacks and was one of Osama bin Laden's top commanders. Beyond that, little is known about the group.
U.S. Director of national intelligence James Clapper has warned of threat posed by Khorasan Four days ago CBS reported that at least two dozen American airports were under enhanced security screening as U.S. intelligence agencies believe the Khorasan organisation in Syria may be targeting the airline industry by recruiting Western fighters to carry bombs back. Last week, CBS reported that at least two dozen US airports were subjected to enhanced security screenings over fears that Khorasan were targeting the airline industry by recruiting Western fighters to carry bombs back into the country.
According to CBS these bombs have been constructed under technicians trained by al-Qaeda bomb-maker Ibrahim al-Asiri. According to CBS, they were built by experts trained by al-Qaeda bomb-maker Ibrahim al-Asiri.
U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan said said al-Asiri was a "very dangerous individual" earlier this year. John U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan said al-Asiri was a "very dangerous individual" earlier this year.
According to former deputy director of the CIA Mike Morrell this is what makes the group dangerous.According to former deputy director of the CIA Mike Morrell this is what makes the group dangerous.
"That is very worrisome because that brings together two pieces of a potential plot in the West," said Morell to CBS This Morning. "It brings together Western fighters who have gone to Syria to fight - so capable of carrying out operations in the West - with this bomb technology that Asiri brings to the table. You put those things together, you have a serious threat." "That is very worrisome because that brings together two pieces of a potential plot in the West," Morell told CBS This Morning. "It brings together Western fighters who have gone to Syria to fight - so capable of carrying out operations in the West - with this bomb technology that Asiri brings to the table. You put those things together, you have a serious threat."
However, it is unclear – apart from al-Fadhli – who is part of the Khorasan organisation.
Al-Fadhli has been under the surveillance of American intelligence agencies for nearly a decade. After fleeing Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11 attacks, he lived in Iran as part of a small number of al-Qaeda members, supposedly under house arrest.
Two years ago he was identified as the head of al-Qaeda in Iran, with a $7 million reward offered for information leading to his capture.
Yesterday American president Barack Obama stated: “Our intelligence community has not yet detected specific ISIL [Isis] plots against America,” in a Tampa Bay newspaper opinion piece.
An Foreign Office spokesperson said they did not comment on intelligence matters.An Foreign Office spokesperson said they did not comment on intelligence matters.