“A new al-Qaeda propaganda publication urges Muslims everywhere to ‘target’ the United States, and it includes an article highlighting the vulnerability of maritime chokepoints through which the bulk of world energy supplies are shipped.
‘Even if a single supertanker (or even an ordinary westbound cargo-vessel) were to be attacked in one of the chokepoints or hijacked and scuttled in one of these narrow sea lanes, the consequences would be phenomenal: a spike in oil prices, an increase in shipping rates, more expensive maritime insurance, and increased military spending to ensure the safety of these sea passages,’ it says.
‘Simultaneous attacks on western shipping or western oil tankers (a sea-based version of the cargo plane bomb plot) in more than one chokepoint would bring international shipping to a halt and create a crisis in the energy market.’”
A DHS/FBI Joint Intelligence Bulletin highlighted the issue for U.S. law enforcement and security personnel.
“A Resurgence feature article—written by core al-Qa‘ida’s American spokesman Adam Gadahn—promotes “economic warfare” against the West through the sabotage of oil wells, supertankers, and oil rigs in Muslim-majority countries, and by encouraging the boycotting of US companies. Resurgence also recommends targeting global oil production and shipping nodes to damage the international economy and US military strength.”
Source: Al-Qaeda Urges Attacks on ‘Achilles Heel of Western Economies’ | CNS News
