Latest News

Bin Laden closely managed al Qaida from hideout

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-07 10:43

WASHINGTON - Materials recovered by US commandos from Osama bin Laden's hide-out in Pakistan show that before his death, the militant leader was still closely involved in activities of al Qaida militants, according to three US government officials.

They said initial analyses of the materials, including documents, computers and cellphones recovered from the al Qaida leader's compound, present strong evidence that bin Laden was still involved in directing al Qaida's activities, even though he had largely avoided the public spotlight for years.

Special Coverage:  US kills bin Laden

One official said evidence analyzed so far indicates that, while modern communications gear was found in his hide-out, it is unclear whether bin Laden himself ever used it.

During the months-long operation which the CIA and other US security agencies conducted to locate and watch bin Laden's residence, communications from the compound were monitored and pictures were taken of its inhabitants. But bin Laden himself was neither seen nor heard, the official said.

Nevertheless, materials seized from the hide-out "are clearly showing that bin Laden was still an active leader of his organization, providing strategic, operational and tactical guidance," said one of the officials, who asked for anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for the record.

Another official said that the evidence analyzed so far indicated that bin Laden and his followers were still very interested in mounting attacks on "infrastructure targets" inside the United States.

On Thursday, the Homeland Security Department issued an intelligence bulletin warning of a possible al Qaida plot to attack US trains on September 11, 2011, the tenth anniversary of the group's attacks on New York and Washington.

Officials said the warning was generated by evidence taken from bin Laden's hide-out indicating such a plot had been discussed. However, they said that the evidence itself dated back to February 2010, and that there was no sign that such a plot was ever put into operation.

There was additional evidence of other "aspirational" discussions and planning for possible attacks on the United States, but no evidence so far has emerged of any plotting of threat that are considered "imminent," the officials said.

One of the officials said that looking for intelligence on immediate or near-term threats in the bin Laden hide-out material is the highest priority of a task force which the CIA has assembled to pore through captured data.

A senior law enforcement official in New York City said so far federal authorities have only notified local law enforcement agencies about intelligence suggesting aspirational plots against rail facilities and other transportation related targets.

The official said law enforcement agencies along the northeast corridor rail route between New York and Washington have been bolstering counter-terrorism security measures for years.