Al-Qaeda May Be Planning Terror Attack in Texas, Chronicle Says
June 24 (Bloomberg) -- The al-Qaeda terrorist network may be planning an attack on energy facilities in the Houston area sometime during the July 4 weekend, the Houston Chronicle reported, citing unidentified federal officials.
That would confirm a report published in Newsweek magazine that said intelligence operatives had listened to an Internet conversation in which a suspected al-Qaeda member said an attack was planned for early July and that terrorists in the U.S. were awaiting the go-ahead from ``the Sheik,'' the newspaper said.
The Department of Homeland Security passed the information, on to Texas, the paper said, citing an unidentified department official. The information didn't specify a target, time or type of attack.
Tela Mange, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, acknowledged the threat, though she declined to give further details. Texas is particularly concerned about gas and oil facilities and pipelines, the paper said. Homeland Security recently pledged $30 million in grants to upgrade security at ports in Houston and Beaumont, the paper said.
(HC 2-27)
Last Updated: June 24, 2003 11:29 EDT
