Email terror threats discovered on al-Qaida suspect's computer

Plans for new terror attacks against Britain and the United States were found on a computer seized during the arrest of a Pakistani al-Qaida suspect wanted for the 1998 twin US embassy bombings in east Africa, it emerged today.

The plans were found by intelligence agents in e-mails on the computer of a Tanzanian man arrested on July 25 after a 12-hour gun battle in the eastern Pakistani city of Gujrat, a senior government minister said in Islamabad today.

The minister said authorities had also arrested another top al-Qaida suspect believed to be a computer and communications expert in a separate raid.

Pakistani Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said: "We got a few e-mails from the computer about (plans for) attacks in the US and UK," he said.

Ahmed would not confirm whether the information prompted US Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to issue a warning about a possible al-Qaida attack on prominent financial institutions in New York, Washington and Newark, New Jersey,

Ridge specifically thanked Pakistan for its help in the war on terror during a press conference yesterday.

In Washington, a US counter-terrorism official said yesterday's warning stemmed in large part from the capture of a Pakistani.

He said the CIA provided information that led to the arrest .

The man’s arrest led to the discovery of documentary information – obtained during a successful CIA counter-terrorism operation – about the extensive surveillance of the five US buildings.

Based on clues found within the information, the official said the scouting was going on before and after September 11, 2001, but it was unclear how recently it took place.

That information was also discovered in Pakistan. Ridge would not comment on specific sources of the intelligence, but he credited strong partnerships with allies around the world, specifically citing Pakistan.

Ahmed said the other arrested al-Qaida suspect was cooperating with investigators.

“He is a very wanted man, but I cannot say his name now,” Ahmed said.

He said that Pakistani forces were still acting on the information he was supplying, and that it was an ongoing investigation.

An intelligence official confirmed the arrest of a computer engineer who would send messages using code words to al-Qaida suspects. Pakistani television reported that his name was Noor Mohammed, but the official said that was just an alias.

News of the break came as police combed through evidence from an assassination attempt against Pakistan’s prime minister-designate believed orchestrated by al-Qaida. Police were questioning a tailor they believe made the clothes for the suicide bomber who blew himself up on Friday.

His target, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, was unharmed, but nine other people were killed. Aziz is expected to take over as prime minister later this year.

Ahmed said the investigation into Ghailani had revealed that he was training terrorists in Pakistan to commit suicide attacks, though it was not clear if there was a direct connection between him and the attempt on Aziz.

Pakistani Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayyat confirmed that the n arrested man was sharing "vital" information, but he would not comment on what it was.

“He has given us vital information, but we cannot share specifics,” Hayyat said and added that the man remained in Pakistani custody.

The Home Office in London had no immediate comment on the computer seizure.

An intelligence official said the information about a US attack appeared to be centred on New York.

Two AK-47 rifles, plastic chemicals, two computers, computer diskettes, and a “large amount” of foreign currency were recovered from the home in Gujrat where the man was seized. More than a dozen others, including the man's wife and several children, were also arrested in that raid.

Officials believe the group was making plans to flee Pakistan on false passports. Gujrat is a centre for document forgers and human smugglers in Pakistan.