WASHINGTON – The next big Al Qaeda attack could be initiated with the political assassination of a U.S. or foreign leader, The Washington Times reported Wednesday.
Quoting U.S. intelligence officials, the newspaper said the assassination likely would be triggered by a new message from Usama bin Laden (search). The newspaper said intelligence reports indicated a new tape from bin Laden may surface soon but officials also acknowledged there was no confirmation a tape existed.
The planned Al Qaeda attack involves "multiple targets in multiple venues" across the United States, one official was quoted as saying. "The goal of the next attack is twofold: to damage the U.S. economy and to undermine the U.S. election," the official told the newspaper.
Details of the plot were found on a laptop computer belonging to Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan (search), a captured Al Qaeda suspect, the newspaper reported.
Information from Khan, a computer expert, led to the new security alert for financial institutions in Washington, New York and New Jersey and prompted the arrest of a dozen Al Qaeda suspects in Britain.
FOX News has been unable to confirm the Washington Times story. To read the original story, click here.
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