Al Qaeda Calls For WMD Attack Against Americans

Groups that monitor Islamic Web sites say al Qaeda in a new video will urge jihadists to use biological, chemical and nuclear weapons to attack the West, the FBI said. There was no evidence of a direct threat or that the group had obtained weapons of mass destruction, U.S. intelligence officials said. Spokesman Richard Kolko said the FBI sent out an alert to U.S. law enforcement agencies about the video, expected in the next 24 hours. "We got information the tape is coming," said Kolko. "We sent out an alert to law enforcement to let them know the tape was coming." The alert was a routine precaution sent to 1,800 U.S. law enforcement agencies, he said.There is no sign that al Qaeda has acquired the capability to use weapons of mass destruction, a U.S. intelligence official said. "At this point there isn't evidence they've obtained it," the official said on condition of anonymity. "But it's clearly their intent and it's something we need to be aware of and concerned about." The official declined comment on the FBI alert. The al Qaeda report prompted the dollar to dip slightly against the euro and Swiss franc. Kolko said the information about the al Qaeda call to jihadists was gleaned from organizations that monitor Islamic militant Web sites. Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda are linked to the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington that killed around 3,000 people, and the October 12, 2002, bombing on the tourist island of Bali when 202 people died.