Bin Laden 'behind latest Europe terror plot'

Senior al-Qaida leaders, including Osama bin Laden, are involved in the latest terror plot against European cities, say US officials.

The multi-pronged scope of the emerging plan – which was to launch co-ordinated shooting sprees or attacks in Britain, France and Germany – is an-al Qaida hallmark.

One US intelligence official added, however, that the details of how the plan was directed or co-ordinated by the group’s core leaders is not yet clear.

Bin Laden and his top lieutenants are believed to be in hiding in Pakistan.

Several officials spoke on condition they were not named.