IT is only “a matter of time” before terrorist groups launch a chemical or biological attack against civilian populations, a south-east Asia terrorism expert said yesterday.

THE man accused of being al-Qaida’s operations chief in South-east Asia was planning an attack on a summit in October attended by US President Bush when he was arrested, officials said yesterday.

THE September 11 attacks were given the code name ‘Operation Holy Tuesday’ and precisely planned at an al-Qaida meeting in Malaysia chaired by terror mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, it has emerged.

Bali

Indonesia’s defence minister today blamed al-Qaida and its extremist allies for the massive bomb attack that killed more than 180 people at a nightclub on the resort island of Bali.

JOHN WALKER LINDH was last night ready to accept a 20-year prison term at his sentencing hearing, a deal struck in return for his information on former Taliban colleagues, Islamic extremists and future possible al-Qaida attacks.

JOHN WALKER LINDH was last night sentenced to a 20-year prison term at his sentencing hearing, a deal struck in return for his information on former Taliban colleagues, Islamic extremists and future possible al-Qaida attacks.

John Walker Lindh and other al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners told US interrogators that the September 11 hijackings were supposed to be the first of three increasingly severe attacks against Americans. Their claims have not been corroborated, government officials said.

A book about al Qaida produced by a British academic is on the best-seller list in the US.

Terror mastermind Osama bin Laden is alive and recruiting fresh support in Britain and Europe, according to an expert on al Qaida.