A story in today’s London Telegraph reports that 45 Muslim doctors were planning terrorist attacks in the United States in Internet chat rooms.
A group of 45 Muslim doctors threatened to use car bombs and rocket grenades in terrorist attacks in the United States during discussions on an extremist internet chat site. Police found details of the discussions on a site run by one of a three-strong “cyber-terrorist” gang. They were discovered at the home of Younis Tsouli, 23, Woolwich Crown Court in south-east London heard.
One message read: “We are 45 doctors and we are determined to undertake jihad and take the battle inside America. The first target which will be penetrated by nine brothers is the naval base which gives shelter to the ship Kennedy.” This is thought to have been a reference to the USS John F Kennedy, which is often at Mayport Naval Base in Jacksonville, Florida. The message discussed targets at the base, adding: “These are clubs for naked women which are opposite the First and Third units.” It also referred to using six Chevrolet GT vehicles and three fishing boats and blowing up petrol tanks with rocket propelled grenades.
Investigators have found no link between the Tsouli chat room and the group of doctors and medics currently in custody over attempted car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow. However, sources said it was “definitely spooky” that the use of doctors for terrorist purposes was being discussed in jihadi terrorist circles up to three years ago.
Part of the inquiry into the London and Glasgow incidents will focus on whether al-Qa’eda has recruited doctors or other medical professionals because they are less likely to attract suspicion and can move easily around the western world.
The three “cyber terrorists” – a British national and two who had been given the right to live in Britain – are facing lengthy jail sentences after admitting using the internet to spread al-Qa’eda propaganda inciting Muslims to a violent holy war and to murder non-believers. They had close links with al-Qa’eda in Iraq and believed they had to fight jihad against a global conspiracy by kuffars, or non-believers, to wipe out Islam.
It’s unclear from the report exactly how detailed the planning was or how successful they were at inciting terrorism. Were these just yahoos who fantacized about being jihadists while actually leading less dangerous lives? Or were they actual terrorist masterminds?
As a side note, calling these men “cyber terrorists” is bizarre. Typically, that label refers to people who use the Internet to create havok within networked systems, whether by spreading computer viruses, hacking into sensitive information, or disrupting infrastructure. Using electronic means to plan traditional terrorism is something else entirely.
