Terrorists Up to Dangerous New Tricks Next 5 Years: US

Report predicts increase in homegrown terrorists, growing danger of biological attack
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 26, 2008 2:23 AM CST
Terrorists Up to Dangerous New Tricks Next 5 Years: US
US Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff delivers a lecture entitled 'Managing Risk: A Global Imperative' to an audience of students in London earlier this month.   (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

The number of homegrown Islamic militants in the US is expected to increase sharply over the next 5 years, according to a Homeland Security assessment obtained by AP.  A pool of "terrorist wannabes" will be recruited online and used to carry out attacks, including sophisticated cyberattacks for which al-Qaeda currently lacks the expertise, experts believe.

The assessment warns that foreign terrorists may also seek to enter the US by posing as refugees. The threat of chemical, biological and nuclear attacks remains the department's highest priority, and officials predict that the danger will increase as terrorists gain expertise. "The other side is going to continue to learn more about doing things," director Michael Chertoff warned earlier this month.
(More Homeland Security stories.)

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