US Fears al-Qaeda Bioattack From Mexico

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 3, 2009 1:52 PM CDT
US Fears al-Qaeda Bioattack From Mexico
A US Border and Customs Protection officer searches under a car at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego.   (AP Photo)

US counterterrorism officials are worried that al-Qaeda may mount a biological attack from Mexico and could even seek to collaborate with domestic terrorists, the Washington Times reports. The fears are bolstered by a February video from Kuwait al-Qaeda recruiter Abdullah al-Nafisi. In the video, Nafisi boasted that anthrax “carried by a fighter through tunnels from Mexico into the US” would “kill 330,000 Americans.”

“9/11 will be small change in comparison,” Nafisi continued. “There is no need for airplanes, conspiracies, timings and so on. One person, with the courage to carry 4 pounds of anthrax.” The US believes Hezbollah is already in league with Mexican drug traffickers, entering the country to raise money. “It should not be viewed lightly,” one official said, “as the money raised can be used against the US or assets in future operations.” (More Mexico stories.)

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