“Attacks in the U.S. Cannot Be Ruled Out.” By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Al Qaeda attacks against American and Western targets are “likely” and “attacks in the U.S. cannot be ruled out,” the FBI said in a special edition of its bulletin to law enforcement agencies throughout the country.
In the bulletin, issued on Friday, the FBI said last week’s homicide car bombings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, indicate “further refinement in Al Qaeda operational capabilities.’'
“The May 12 bombings in Saudi Arabia indicate that the Al Qaeda network remains active and highly capable,” the FBI said. “The U.S. Intelligence Community assesses that attacks against U.S. and Western targets overseas are likely; attacks in the United States cannot be ruled out.’'
President Bush said on Monday that the United States is slowly but surely dismantling Al Qaeda, despite a wave of attacks in Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Israel. He pledged to pursue Mideast peace but acknowledged it’s “going to be a bumpy road.”
Speaking hours after the latest homicide bombing in Israel, the president joined with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (search) to recommit the United States and its allies to fighting terrorism across the globe.
“This is still a dangerous world we live in, and clearly the attack in Saudi Arabia means we have to be alert here at home,” Bush said.
The FBI, in its bulletin, said “state and local law enforcement agencies” should remain vigilant to potential indicators of pre-operational planning, such as target surveillance and acquisition of explosives material.
“The Al Qaeda network and other international terrorist groups have demonstrated the ability to plan and carry out complex, simultaneous attacks against multiple targets.”
The bulletin describes the Riyadh bombings in detail and lists similarities between the attacks on the compounds:
. The use of two vehicles, including a sedan-type passenger automobile followed by a larger sport-utility-type vehicle or small truck capable of carrying a VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device), as well as additional armed operatives.
. The use of “dismounted’’ gunmen to engage guards and penetrate security countermeasures.
. pre-operational planning and surveillance
. targeting of “soft’’ or lightly-secured sites
. a focus on causing mass casualties
“Further, these attacks suggest that Al Qaeda may be deterred by enhanced security and changes in the security countermeasures adopted by potential targets,” the FBI says. “Al Qaeda operatives will adapt their targeting to maximize the likelihood of operational success, selecting softer targets if more hardened sites are considered too difficult to attack successfully.’'
The FBI states that the attack “reflected a high degree of planning, pre-operational surveillance and coordination among teams -- traditional hallmarks of Al Qaeda operations. It also reflected a highly refined approach to suicide bombings that may have incorporated lessons learned from the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings (search) (in Africa) and other attacks.’'
Fox News’ Anna Stolley and The Associated Press contributed to this report.