Al Qaida plots White House says were foiled

The Associated Press

President George W. Bush referred in speech Thursday to 10 alQaida plots foiled by the U.S. and its allies in the past four years. These are the plots as described by the White House:

• The West Coast Airliner Plot: In mid2002, the U.S. disrupted a plot to attack targets on the West Coast of the United States using hijacked airplanes. The plotters included at least one major operational planner involved in planning the events of 9/11.
• The East Coast Airliner Plot: In mid2003 the U.S. and a partner disrupted a plot to attack targets on the East Coast of the United States using hijacked commercial airplanes.
• The Jose Padilla Plot: In May 2002, the U.S. disrupted a plot that involved blowing up apartment buildings in the United States. One of the plotters, Jose Padilla, also discussed the possibility of using a “dirty bomb” in the U.S.
• The 2004 U.K. Urban Targets Plot: In mid2004 the U.S. and partners disrupted a plot that involved urban targets in the United Kingdom. These plots involved using explosives against a variety of sites.
• The 2003 Karachi Plot: In the spring of 2003, the U.S. and a partner disrupted a plot to attack Westerners at several targets in Karachi, Pakistan.
• The Heathrow Airport Plot: In 2003, the U.S. and several partners disrupted a plot to attack Heathrow Airport using hijacked commercial airliners. The planning for this attack was undertaken by a major 9/11 operational figure.
• The 2004 U.K. Plot: In the spring of 2004, the U.S. and partners, using a combination of law enforcement and intelligence resources, disrupted a plot to conduct largescale bombings in the U.K.
• The 2002 Arabian Gulf Shipping Plot: In late 2002 and 2003, the U.S. and a partner nation disrupted a plot by alQaida operatives to attack ships in the Arabian Gulf.
• The 2002 Straits of Hormuz Plot: In 2002, the U.S. and partners disrupted a plot to attack ships transiting the Straits of Hormuz.
• The 2003 Tourist Site Plot: In 2003, the U.S. and a partner nation disrupted a plot to attack a tourist site outside the United States.

The White House also listed what it call five “casings and infiltrations":

• The U.S. Government and Tourist Sites Tasking: In 2003 and 2004, an individual was tasked by alQaida to case important U.S. government and tourist targets within the United States.
• The Gas Station Tasking: In approximately 2003, an individual was tasked to collect targeting information on U.S. gas stations and their support mechanisms on behalf of a senior alQaida planner.
• Iyman Faris and the Brooklyn Bridge: In 2003, and in conjunction with a partner nation, the U.S. government arrested and prosecuted Iyman Faris, who was exploring the destruction of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Faris ultimately pleaded guilty to providing material support to alQaida and is now in a federal correctional institution.
• 2001 Tasking: In 2001, alQaida sent an individual to facilitate postSept. 11 attacks in the U.S. U.S. law enforcement authorities arrested the individual.
• 2003 Tasking: In 2003, an individual was tasked by an alQaida leader to conduct reconnaissance on populated areas in the U.S.