[Nasional-e] German intelligence chief sees growing attack danger to his country

[nasional-e@polarhome.com]

Sat, Nov 09, 2002-11-09

German intelligence chief sees growing attack danger to his country

BERLIN - Germany's foreign intelligence chief said Tuesday he sees a
growing danger of terrorist attacks in his country following a warning to U.S.
allies last month that apparently was made by Osama bin Laden deputy.

August Hanning, head of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service, told ZDF
television that "the fear is very concrete" that al-Qaida could carry out another
major attack. He said he sees an "increased danger also in Germany," a U.S.
ally in the fight against terrorism and the country where three of the Sept. 11
suicide pilots lived and plotted.

Hanning said there is "a new dimension since the statements by bin Laden's
deputy (Ayman) al-Zawahiri," referring to a taped interview circulated last
month in which a speaker said to be al-Zawahiri issued a warning to U.S.
allies to get out of the Muslim world, specifically referring to Germany and
France.

A May 8 attack on a bus in Pakistan killed 11 French engineers and an April
11 blast at a synagogue in Tunisia killed 16 people, including 11 Germans.
Both attacks have been linked to al-Qaida.

Six Germans also were killed in the Oct. 12 bombings on the Indonesian
resort island of Bali.

He said there has been "more and more information in recent months that
tourist centers are threatened, that tourist centers are indeed being
reconnoitered," naming Indonesia, southern Thailand and the Philippines as
potentially threatened areas.

On the Bali attacks, Hanning said "the impression we have is that regional
groups acted there - but obviously with professional guidance." He did not
elaborate.

Asked whether more major attacks should be feared soon, Hanning replied:
"Yes, we have heard that from our colleagues in the United States. We share
this view."

"If you look at the timing of previous attacks, if you look at the time that has
passed since Sept. 11, indeed the fear is very concrete that we must expect
a new attack, possibly a large-scale attack," he added.

Hanning said he couldn't rule out the possibility that al-Qaida has developed a
radioactive "dirty bomb."

He said Monday that bin Laden and al-Zawahiri are suspected of hiding in the
Afghan-Pakistani border area southeast of the Afghan capital Kabul. Speaking
at a Berlin conference, he also said bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network still
recruits followers in Europe.