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US missed Chattanooga attack but foiled 'over 60' Isis-linked plots: security chair US missed Chattanooga attack but foiled 'over 60' Isis-linked plots: security chair
(about 1 hour later)
Three days after four marines and a sailor were killed by a gunman with Middle Eastern roots and a father who was once on the terrorism watch list, the chairman of the House homeland security committee heralded US successes against “over 60” would-be terrorist attacks by “Isis followers” in the last year.Three days after four marines and a sailor were killed by a gunman with Middle Eastern roots and a father who was once on the terrorism watch list, the chairman of the House homeland security committee heralded US successes against “over 60” would-be terrorist attacks by “Isis followers” in the last year.
Related: Chattanooga gunman: foreign links of 'a new generation of terrorist' investigatedRelated: Chattanooga gunman: foreign links of 'a new generation of terrorist' investigated
Of the attack in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Michael McCaul said: “What keeps us up at night are really the ones that we don’t know about and I’m afraid that this case really falls into that category.”Of the attack in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Michael McCaul said: “What keeps us up at night are really the ones that we don’t know about and I’m afraid that this case really falls into that category.”
The suspect in the Chattanooga shooting was Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, a 24-year-old Kuwaiti-born naturalised US citizen with Palestinian parents who had travelled to Jordan. He was shot dead by police. The suspect in the Chattanooga shooting was Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez, a 24-year-old Kuwaiti-born naturalised US citizen with Palestinian parents who had travelled to Jordan. He was shot dead by police.
The fifth victim of the attack, 26-year-old sailor Randall Smith, died of his wounds on Saturday. The marines who died on Thursday were Thomas Sullivan, Carson Holmquist, Skip Wells and David Wyatt. Two other men were injured.The fifth victim of the attack, 26-year-old sailor Randall Smith, died of his wounds on Saturday. The marines who died on Thursday were Thomas Sullivan, Carson Holmquist, Skip Wells and David Wyatt. Two other men were injured.
On Saturday, it was reported that shortly before the attack, Abdulazeez sent to a close friend a text message quoting an Islamic verse concerning a “declaration of war”.On Saturday, it was reported that shortly before the attack, Abdulazeez sent to a close friend a text message quoting an Islamic verse concerning a “declaration of war”.
The suspect’s family released a statement, in which they said: “The person who committed this horrible crime was not the son we knew and loved. For many years our son suffered from depression. It grieves us beyond belief to know that his pain found its expression in this heinous act of violence.”The suspect’s family released a statement, in which they said: “The person who committed this horrible crime was not the son we knew and loved. For many years our son suffered from depression. It grieves us beyond belief to know that his pain found its expression in this heinous act of violence.”
On Sunday, appearing on ABC, McCaul said the FBI was examining Abdulazeez’s computer and cellphone and investigating his trips abroad.On Sunday, appearing on ABC, McCaul said the FBI was examining Abdulazeez’s computer and cellphone and investigating his trips abroad.
Asked why Abdulazeez had been able to buy guns online and then open fire on a joint military recruiting centre and a naval reserve centre, the Texas Republican said: “Twenty-twenty is hindsight. I commend the FBI for stopping so many terrorist plots in the United States. But we will be examining this case.”Asked why Abdulazeez had been able to buy guns online and then open fire on a joint military recruiting centre and a naval reserve centre, the Texas Republican said: “Twenty-twenty is hindsight. I commend the FBI for stopping so many terrorist plots in the United States. But we will be examining this case.”
McCaul had previously called the attack “Isis-inspired”, referring to the Islamic State militant group. The FBI has not confirmed that it considers the Chattanooga shooting a terrorist act.McCaul had previously called the attack “Isis-inspired”, referring to the Islamic State militant group. The FBI has not confirmed that it considers the Chattanooga shooting a terrorist act.
McCaul heralded FBI successes in stopping plots he said were instigated by “a new generation of terrorists” who followed “internet directives out of Syria from the cyber command, if you will, to activate people in the United States to attack.McCaul heralded FBI successes in stopping plots he said were instigated by “a new generation of terrorists” who followed “internet directives out of Syria from the cyber command, if you will, to activate people in the United States to attack.
“What they are saying is to attack military installations and attack police officers and what we saw was one of the most deadliest attacks on US soil, against the marines and the American sailor.”“What they are saying is to attack military installations and attack police officers and what we saw was one of the most deadliest attacks on US soil, against the marines and the American sailor.”
“But this is, again, the new threat that’s out there over the internet that’s very hard to stop,” he added. “We have 200,000 Isis tweets per day that hit the United States. The chatter is so loud and the volume is so high that it’s a problem. It’s very hard to stop and disrupt in this country and it’s something we’ve been warning about this last year.“But this is, again, the new threat that’s out there over the internet that’s very hard to stop,” he added. “We have 200,000 Isis tweets per day that hit the United States. The chatter is so loud and the volume is so high that it’s a problem. It’s very hard to stop and disrupt in this country and it’s something we’ve been warning about this last year.
“Unfortunately we saw it happen in Chattanooga. If it can happen in Chattanooga, it can happen anywhere, anytime, any place and that’s our biggest fear.”“Unfortunately we saw it happen in Chattanooga. If it can happen in Chattanooga, it can happen anywhere, anytime, any place and that’s our biggest fear.”
McCaul was asked why lessons had not been learned from the case of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who in 2013, despite being known to authorities, carried out with his younger brother the Boston Marathon bombing, killing three people and injuring more than 260.McCaul was asked why lessons had not been learned from the case of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who in 2013, despite being known to authorities, carried out with his younger brother the Boston Marathon bombing, killing three people and injuring more than 260.
McCaul said: “I was one of the biggest critics of how it was handled, and that particular case, we saw it fall through the cracks.”McCaul said: “I was one of the biggest critics of how it was handled, and that particular case, we saw it fall through the cracks.”
He added: “We’ll be conducting oversight and discussing what happened. But again, when we stopped the Fourth of July plot, it was imminent to blow up military and Fourth of July parades. We stopped Garland.”He added: “We’ll be conducting oversight and discussing what happened. But again, when we stopped the Fourth of July plot, it was imminent to blow up military and Fourth of July parades. We stopped Garland.”
Authorities warned of imminent attacks on the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Such attacks did not materialise, prompting accusations in some quarters of scare tactics.Authorities warned of imminent attacks on the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Such attacks did not materialise, prompting accusations in some quarters of scare tactics.
In Garland, Texas, in May, two men opened fire on a convention centre which was hosting a “Draw the Prophet Muhammad” competition hosted by a rightwing group. The two attackers were shot dead by police, without causing injury themselves.In Garland, Texas, in May, two men opened fire on a convention centre which was hosting a “Draw the Prophet Muhammad” competition hosted by a rightwing group. The two attackers were shot dead by police, without causing injury themselves.
McCaul also advocated “taking the war” to what he called “cyber commanders” of terrorist groups overseas.McCaul also advocated “taking the war” to what he called “cyber commanders” of terrorist groups overseas.
“I’ve met with the generals who conduct the war on terror,” he said, “and you know what, I think we need to take the war over there a little stronger.“I’ve met with the generals who conduct the war on terror,” he said, “and you know what, I think we need to take the war over there a little stronger.
“We need to hit these guys, these cyber commanders who are sending these internet directives out to attack, attack, attack in the United States. We need to identify them and take them out.”“We need to hit these guys, these cyber commanders who are sending these internet directives out to attack, attack, attack in the United States. We need to identify them and take them out.”