Alert Warns of Attacks Using Hijacked Cargo Jets

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security warned government and industry officials last night to be on guard against al Qaeda operatives hijacking cargo jets in Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean and then flying them into this country to attack nuclear plants and other critical infrastructure. The warning is based on information from a single individual, and a U.S. official familiar with his reports said: “We haven’t had the opportunity to fully judge his credibility.” But intelligence officers deemed the information believable enough to justify the strengthened security warning, the official said. Last night’s advisory from the two federal agencies follows yesterday’s decision to temporarily close the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia because of fears of an imminent attack. But officials said the two warnings are unrelated. While U.S. officials are gravely concerned about attacks in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere overseas, “attacks in the U.S. cannot be ruled out,” last night’s bulletin said. Full Story