November 2003 Security News

TURKEY / SYRIA VOA 30 Nov 2003 -- Syrian authorities on Sunday handed over to Turkey 22 people suspected of involvement in a wave of suicide bomb attacks in the country's largest city, Istanbul. The suspects include a key figure in the blasts that claimed over 60 lives.
TURKEY/TERRORISTS VOA 29 Nov 2003 -- A suspect in the suicide bomb attack against a synagogue in Turkey's commercial capital, Istanbul, has been charged with seeking to overthrow Turkey's constitutional order through violent means. Under Turkish law the offense amounts to treason and is therefore punishable by life imprisonment.
TURKEY/TERRORISM VOA 29 Nov 2003 -- Turkish police say they have arrested a man suspected of ordering one of four suicide bomb attacks that shook the nation's commercial capital, Istanbul, in recent days. The suspect, whom police declined to identify, was detained as he tried to cross the border into neighboring Iran.
U.S. Praises New Zealand's Efforts to Enhance Cargo Security Washington File 28 Nov 2003 -- The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency issued a press release November 28 congratulating New Zealand on its efforts to make its sea cargo containers more secure.
EUROPE/TERROR VOA 28 Nov 2003 -- British police and forensic specialists searched more houses in Gloucester Friday, following the arrest of a 24-year-old man on suspicion of having links with the al-Qaida terror organization. Police raids in Italy, Germany and Britain since Thursday have led to the arrests of six terror suspects.
KENYA/TERRORISM TRIAL VOA 28 Nov 2003 -- A court in Kenya has dropped murder charges against five of the nine suspects on trial for their alleged role in the suicide bombing of a hotel near the coastal town of Mombasa one year ago. Three of the five were charged with conspiracy instead, and two were released.
ASIA / TERRORISM / POLICE VOA 28 Nov 2003 -- Police chiefs from 21 South Pacific countries are meeting in Australia to share ideas about responding to terrorism. Fear of terrorism is now driving the Australian government's foreign policy agenda in the South Pacific. This week the powerful National Security Committee in Canberra approved a plan to send 300 police officers to help restore law and order in Papua New Guinea.
BRITAIN /TERROR VOA 27 Nov 2003 -- Britain has arrested two men, one of whom is believed to have connections to the al-Qaida terrorist network.
F-B-I SURVEILLANCE VOA 27 Nov 2003 -- A recent report that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has begun surveillance of domestic anti-Iraq war protests is causing a good deal of consternation in many newspapers.
Harrison Says Educational Exchanges Can Help Fight Terrorism Washington File 26 Nov 2003 -- International educational exchange programs can play an important role in the war against global terrorism by providing young people with the educational tools they need "to succeed, to become contributors to society, builders of communities," says a senior State Department official.
Homeland Security Cites University-Based Research Initiative Washington File 26 Nov 2003 -- A November 25 fact sheet says the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will establish university-based Centers of Excellence to support research by the nation's best and brightest academic scholars in pursuit of homeland security-related disciplines, such as agro-bioterrorism countermeasures and behavioral research on terrorism.
ARGENTINA TERROR WARNING VOA 26 Nov 2003 -- Security agencies in Argentina are on high-alert for a possible terrorist attack. Officials who issued the warning say U-S and European interests could be targeted.
U.K.: Judge Issues Harsh Condemnation Of U.S. Guantanamo Prison Camp RFE/RL 26 Nov 2003 -- One of Britain's most senior judges has issued a harsh criticism of the United States for holding terrorist suspects without charge at the Guantanamo Bay base in Cuba. Law Lord Johan Steyn called the U.S. policy a "monstrous failure of justice." This public condemnation, coming from such a prominent figure, once again raises questions about the Guantanamo Bay camp and this aspect of the U.S. war on terrorism.
EDITORIAL: TERRORISM'S WORLDWIDE THREAT VOA 26 Nov 2003 -- September 11th, 2001, was one of the most horrific days in history. The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon that caused the deaths of more than three-thousand people from over ninety countries were more than assaults on civilians. They were attacks on civilization itself.
SAUDI / YEMEN VOA 26 Nov 2003 -- Saudi officials said Tuesday they foiled a planned terrorist attack and killed two suspected militants. And, in Yemen security forces arrested a top al-Qaida fugitive
TURKEY: 2ND WAVE OF BOMBINGS REITERATES 'VICIOUS' MESSAGE US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign media Reaction November 25, 2003
White House Hails Drop in Coca Cultivation in Bolivia, Peru Washington File 25 Nov 2003 -- New figures released by the U.S. government that show an overall drop in coca cultivation in Bolivia and Peru since 2002, combined with a drop in Colombian coca cultivation during the same period, demonstrate that "substantial progress" is being made within the Andean region to stop production of the crop used to make cocaine, says the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
U.S. Travel Documents Redesigned to Prevent Counterfeit Washington File 25 Nov 2003 -- The U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is announcing a new travel document redesigned to prevent counterfeit and enhance security.
YEMEN / ARREST VOA 25 Nov 2003 -- The government of Yemen says it has arrested a key suspect in the terrorist attack on an American warship three years ago that killed 17 Americans. The F-B-I is in the process of verifying the identity of a man described by Yemen as a top leader of al-Qaida.
U.S. and Australia Announce Agreements on Guantanamo Detainees 25 Nov 2003 -- The United States and Australian governments announced today that they agree the military commission process provides for a full and fair trial for any charged Australian detainees held at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station.
Four Pakistanis at Guantanamo Bay face trial - daily IRNA 25 Nov 2003 -- The American authorities are believed to have decided to try four Pakistani prisoners at Guantanamo Bay prison camp in special military courts, a local daily reported Tuesday.
TURKEY BOMBINGS VOA 24 Nov 2003 -- Turkish police have taken 15 alleged accomplices of the four Istanbul suicide bombers to a state security court for questioning by prosecutors specializing in terrorist cases. Germany's foreign minister arrived in Ankara to express solidarity with Turkey over the attacks that killed at least 55 people.
KYRGYZSTAN: New law criminalises torture IRIN 24 Nov 2003 -- Torture has become a crime in Kyrgyzstan under a new law that took effect on 21 November with a possible three to five years of imprisonment for those convicted of breaking it.
Bioterrorism and Agricultural Imports VOA 24 Nov 2003 -- The Bioterrorism Act passed by Congress last year as part of the Homeland Security effort will go into effect next month. It imposes stringent new requirements for inspection and record-keeping on food imported into the United States. As the deadline approaches, farmers, shippers and importers are rushing to come into compliance with the law. But some worry the new regulations will cut into their business, without delivering on safety.
Turkey: Can Al-Qaeda's Alleged Links To Recent Terror Bombings Be Proven? RFE/RL 24 Nov 2003 -- U.S., British, and Turkish leaders have been quick to pin tentative blame on Al-Qaeda for the recent bombings in Istanbul that killed more than 50 people and wounded hundreds at two synagogues, the British Consulate, and a branch of a London-based bank.
Saudi Arabia detains 600 terrorists: Envoy IRNA 24 Nov 2003 -- Saudi Arabia`s Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Awadh Asseri has said that his country has so far arrested over 600 terrorists, according to local press reports on Monday.
Libyan to serve `at least 27 years` for Lockerbie bombing IRNA 24 Nov 2003 -- Former Libyan intelligence officer Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi must serve at least 27 years in jail for the 1988 Lockerbie air disaster, three judges at the High Court in Glasgow ruled Monday.
Lockheed Martin Achieves Five Milestones for Coast Guard's Ports and Waterways Safety System Lockheed Martin 24 Nov 2003 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) completed key milestones for the U.S. Coast Guard's Ports and Waterways Safety System (PAWSS), enhancing safety in New York Harbor and other major waterways.
Transfer of Guantanamo Detainees Complete 24 Nov 2003 -- The Department of Defense announced today that it transferred 20 detainees for release from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to their home countries on Nov. 21. Additionally, approximately 20 detainees arrived at Guantanamo from the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on Nov. 23, so that the number of detainees at GTMO is approximately 660.
LOCKERBIE-SENTENCE VOA 24 Nov 2003 -- A Scottish court has ruled that a Libyan national convicted for his role in the 1988 bombing a of U-S airliner, Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, will have to spend at least 27 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.
SENEGAL / IMAM VOA 24 Nov 2003 -- Authorities in Senegal are closely monitoring a controversial Senegalese imam who was recently expelled from Italy over suspected links with international terrorists. But the imam denies any such connection.
TURKEY BOMBINGS VOA 23 Nov 2003 -- Turkey's prime minister says he cannot be 100-percent sure that the al-Qaida terrorist network was involved in a week of suicide bombings that left more than 55 people dead in Istanbul. Turkey is trying to recover from the attacks by Islamic radicals.
Doubts cast on UK trials of Camp X-Ray prisoners IRNA 22 Nov 2003 -- The government`s independent adviser on miscarriages of justice added to the dilemma faced by Prime Minister Tony Blair over the 9 British Muslims held by the US in Guantanamo Bay by suggesting Friday they could not be convicted under UK law.
Row rages on over British minister`s Islamophobic outburst IRNA 22 Nov 2003 -- A bitter row over an Islamophobic speech made by Foreign Office Minister Denis MacShane continued Saturday after the minister insisted on only partially toned down his provocative remarks.
UK denies plans to close embassies IRNA 22 Nov 2003 -- The Foreign Office Saturday denied plans to follow the US in closing dozens of British embassies around the world in response to security concerns following the targeting of UK targets in Istanbul.
TURKEY/BOMBS VOA 22 Nov 2003 -- Turkey's prime minister says the four suicide bombers who staged attacks over the past week against British interests and Jewish synagogues in Istanbul were Turkish citizens. Anti-terrorist police are convinced that the men had links to foreign terrorists.
U.S. More Secure than Ever, Ridge Says Washington File 21 Nov 2003 -- Tough measures taken since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have made the United States safer than ever before, according to Tom Ridge, the secretary of Homeland Security.
U-S/TERRORIST WARNING VOA 21 Nov 2003 -- The United States has warned that attacks on American soil and U-S interests abroad are more likely as terrorist violence increases and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan ends.
BUSH / TURKEY VOA 21 Nov 2003 -- President Bush says Turkey is now a major front in the war on terrorism, and says he is willing to help Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The president spoke while on a visit to British Prime Minister Tony Blair's home district in northeastern England.
CONGRESS/SAUDI VOA 21 Nov 2003 -- The Bush administration's nominee to be U-S ambassador to Saudi Arabia says he will not hesitate to confront the government in Riyadh on difficult bilateral issues. James Oberwetter appeared (Friday) before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which must confirm his nomination.
W-T-C / SUBPOENA VOA 21 Nov 2003 -- New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he will seek a court's ruling before he will agree to hand over tapes and transcripts of calls made to emergency services during the September 11, 2001, attack on the city.
TURKEY REACT VOA 21 Nov 2003 -- Twice in one week, the sprawling city of Istanbul has been devastated by multiple suicide bomb attacks that killed a total of more than 50 people.
Turkey: Analysts Say Terrorists Strike Istanbul Over Israel, Liberalism RFE/RL 21 Nov 2003 -- Suddenly Turkey has become a target of terrorist bombings. First there were the 15 November attacks on two synagogues in Istanbul that killed 23 people. And yesterday (20 November), suicide bombers struck the British Consulate and a British bank in the same city, killing 27 people and wounding hundreds.
U.K.: Istanbul Attacks Overshadow Final Day Of Bush's State Visit To Britain RFE/RL 21 Nov 2003 -- U.S. President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, left Buckingham Palace in London today and arrived in northeastern England, where British Prime Minister Tony Blair is giving them a tour of his home constituency.
Crackdown against banned groups underway in Pakistan IRNA 21 Nov 2003 -- Following the Thursday`s ban on three more religious outfits, Pakistani authorities have started crackdown against their leaders, sealing their offices and confiscating printed material.
Straw denies links between Iraq war and Istanbul bombings IRNA 21 Nov 2003 -- Foreign Secretary denied Friday that the bombing of British targets in Istanbul were linked with the Iraq war and played down the coincidence that the attacks being carried out during US President George W. Bush`s state visit to the UK.
PAKISTAN/RELIGION/TERRORISM VOA 21 Nov 2003 -- In a fresh effort to stem religious extremism, Pakistan this week moved to ban six alleged militant Islamic organizations under the country's anti-terrorism law. The crackdown has also targeted groups banned in January last year, but re-emerged under new names.
BRITAIN / TERROR VOA 21 Nov 2003 -- Britain's senior police chief says the country will remain on a high-level terrorist alert for the foreseeable future, following Thursday's bombings of British targets in Istanbul.
TURKEY/EXPLOSIONS VOA 21 Nov 2003 -- Turkey says it has made several arrests in connection with the deadly bombings Thursday of the British consulate general and a branch of a London-based bank in Istanbul. Twenty-seven people died, and more than 400 were wounded in the blasts. Western governments are warning that Turkey could be in for still more terrorist attacks.
NATO Statements Condemn Nov. 20 Bombings in Istanbul Washington File 20 Nov 2003 -- NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson, the North Atlantic Council (NAC), and the NATO-Russia Council have all condemned as outrageous the November 20 terrorist attacks on the British Consulate and a British-based bank in Istanbul.
U.S., Britain Share Determination to Defeat Terrorism Washington File 20 Nov 2003 -- Deploring the November 15 and November 20 terrorist bombings in Istanbul, President Bush told reporters in London November 20 that "Great Britain, America and other free nations are united today in our grief, and united in our determination to fight and defeat this evil, wherever it is found."
U.S. Strongly Condemns Nov. 20 Terrorist Attacks in Istanbul Washington File 20 Nov 2003 -- The United States strongly condemned the latest wave of terrorist attacks against British interests in Istanbul November 20, and extended its deepest sympathy and condolences to all victims and their families and offered any assistance necessary to find the perpetrators.
U.N. Security Council Condemns Istanbul Terrorist Bombings Washington File 20 Nov 2003 -- Prompted by the November 15 and November 20 terrorist bombings in Istanbul, Turkey, the U.N. Security Council November 20 unanimously adopted a resolution expressing its "reinforced determination to combat all forms of terrorism."
U.S. to Require Advance Info on All Cross-Border Shipments Washington File 20 Nov 2003 -- Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has announced new rules concerning advance cargo information intended primarily to prevent terrorist from using cross-border shipments to smuggle weapons and operatives into the United States.
U.S., EU Initial Container Security Agreement Washington File 20 Nov 2003 -- The United States and the European Union (EU) have agreed to cooperate on preventing cargo containers from being used to mount terrorist attacks, the U.S. Mission to the EU said.
UN/ISTANBUL ATTACK VOA 20 Nov 2003 -- The U-N Security Council has condemned the suicide bombings in Istanbul. The Council unanimously adopted a resolution urging all nations to cooperate in bringing terrorists to justice.
Annan strongly condemns latest terrorist bombings in Turkey UN News Centre 20 Nov 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General today strongly condemned the latest terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Turkey, on the British consulate and the HSBC headquarters in which at least 26 people were killed.
Terrorists Will Not Drive Wedge Between U.S.-Turkey AFPS 20 Nov 2003 -- Terrorist attacks in Istanbul will not drive a wedge between the United States and Turkey, but will draw them closer together, said Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz today.
Bush, Blair Pledge Solidarity in Wake of Terror Bombings in Turkey AFPS 20 Nov 2003 -- The leaders of the United States and Great Britain today pledged to stand fast in Iraq and continue their unified fight against world terrorism as yet another apparent terrorist bombing rocked Istanbul, Turkey.
TURKEY / BLASTS / SCENE VOA 20 Nov 2003 -- At least 27 people were killed and nearly 500 wounded in Istanbul Thursday when bomb laden trucks slammed into the British Consulate and a branch of a London-based bank. The attacks come just five days after suicide bombers attacked two synagogues in the city, killing at least 26 people and wounding 200 more.
Turkey: Twin Bomb Attacks In Istanbul Kill At Least 26, Injure Hundreds RFE/RL 20 Nov 2003 -- At least 26 people have been killed and more than 400 others injured in twin bomb attacks on British interests in Istanbul.
U.S.: Experts Cite Agriculture As Possible Terror Target RFE/RL 20 Nov 2003 -- America's food supplies are vulnerable to terrorist attacks. That's the assessment of a U.S. congressional panel and experts who testified before it.
Turkey: After Istanbul Blasts, World Leaders Pledge To Intensify Antiterror Fight RFE/RL 20 Nov 2003 -- World leaders condemned today's bombings in Turkey and said the attacks that killed more than two dozen people increase their determination to resist terrorism.
Straw blames al-Qaeda for attacks on UK targets in Istanbul IRNA 20 Nov 2003 -- The al-Qaeda terror network London, Nov. 20, IRNA - Foreign Secretary Jack Straw suggested Thursday that the al-Qaeda network was behind the bombing of two British targets in Istanbul, in which at least 15 people are thought to have been killed.
Onus on Blair to secure the return of Camp X-Ray prisoners IRNA 20 Nov 2003 -- Prime Minister Tony Blair was under pressure during his talks with President George W. Bush Thursday to secure the return of nine British Muslims held illegally by the US among over 650 foreign prisoners at its naval base in Guantanamo Bay.
Al-Qaeda recruits Iraq fighters in Germany: secret service IRNA 20 Nov 2003 -- The al-Qaeda terror network is recruiting radical Islamists in Germany and other European countries for anti-US attacks in Iraq, the media quoted Wednesday the head of Germany`s foreign intelligence service BND, August Hanning, as saying.
BRITAIN / TURKEY BLASTS VOA 20 Nov 2003 -- Britain says the explosions in Istanbul appear to be al-Qaida-style attacks that have claimed a number of British diplomats among the casualties. The attacks on the British Consulate and a branch of the British bank H-S-B-C came during a state visit to Britain by President Bush.
Turkey: High Death Toll Feared In Istanbul Blasts RFE/RL 20 Nov 2003 -- A series of major blasts occured today at several places in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
TURKEY/BLASTS VOA 20 Nov 2003 -- A series of explosions rocked the city Istanbul Thursday. The blasts have reportedly killed at least six people and injured at least 100 others.
BUSH TERROR VOA 20 Nov 2003 -- President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have condemned the latest terrorist attacks in Istanbul. White House Correspondent Paula Wolfson reports from London they have vowed to stand firm in combating terror.
BUSH-BLAIR WRAP VOA 20 Nov 2003 -- President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have condemned the Istanbul bombings, and have vowed to stand together in the war on terror.
U.S. Expanding Capacity to Rapidly Respond to Food Terrorism Washington File 19 Nov 2003 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is developing the capacity to rapidly respond to and recover from a foodborne terrorist attack, FDA Deputy Commissioner Lester Crawford says.
W-T-C / MEMORIAL VOA 20 Nov 2003 -- Eight final designs for a memorial to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were announced today in New York City. Correspondent Jenny Falcon reports from New York that the designs incorporate light, gardens, water and inscribed names to honor the more than three thousand victims of the attacks.
N-Y/INTERPOL TECHNOLOGY VOA 20 Nov 2003 -- Police from around the world are meeting in New York this week to plan ways to fight terrorism by sharing criminal information. As Kerry Sheridan reports from V-O-A's New York Bureau, new technologies will make it possible for a police officer to determine if the person he is arresting is wanted for a crime in another country.
CONGRESS / AGROTERRORISM VOA 19 Nov 2003 -- A panel of experts is warning members of Congress that more needs to be done to protect the nation's agriculture industry and food supply from terrorists.
ITALY/TERROR VOA 19 Nov 2003 -- Italy has ordered the expulsion of seven North Africans accused of being connected to militant Islamic groups. The decision follows the interior ministry announcement that it was deporting a Senegalese Islamic spiritual leader who has publicly supported Osama Bin Laden.
Guantanamo Bay Appeal VOA 19 Nov 2003 -- Last week, the U-S Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal to lower-court rulings affirming the government's right to hold more than 650 foreign terrorist suspects. Their indefinite detention at the U-S Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has outraged civil-liberties groups and the families of the men -- mostly Muslim -- who are being held virtually incommunicado.
ISTANBUL BOMBINGS: AL-QAIDA AGAIN DECLARES 'WAR ON THE FREE WORLD' US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign media Reaction November 18, 2003
U.S. Plan Urges New Measures for Air Cargo Security Washington File 18 Nov 2003 -- The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has published a plan that calls for new measures to prevent terrorists from using the cargo holds of passenger planes and all-cargo planes to launch attacks in the United States.
U.S. to Require Inspections of Foreign Cargo Planes Washington File 18 Nov 2003 -- The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says that domestic and foreign commercial planes carrying cargo will be subject to random inspections on flights within, into and out of the United States as part of a broader plan to prevent terrorist from using the air transportation system to mount attacks on the United States.
TURKEY / BOMBINGS VOA 18 Nov 2003 -- Turkey's foreign minster, Abdullah Gul, says the men who carried out Saturday's attacks against two Istanbul synagogues were likely Turkish nationals who sympathized with the al-Qaida terror network.
ECONOMIC COST OF TERRORISM VOA 18 Nov 2003 -- A recent report by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade documents the threat terrorism poses to the world economy, and in particular to the developing world. The report goes on to say that counter-terrorism costs should be viewed as investments that will pay for themselves over the long run. But many developing countries still see the threat of terrorism as something that doesn't concern them.
Istanbul Bombings Show True Nature of Al Qaeda, Bush Says Washington File 17 Nov 2003 -- President Bush told reporters at the White House November 17 that he had had "a good talk" over the weekend with Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following November 15 bombing attacks at two Istanbul synagogues that killed a reported 24 persons.
IMMIGRATION LAW / PROTEST VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- Dozens of demonstrators in New York are calling on the Bush administration to repeal a program that requires male immigrants from 25 nations to register with the U-S government. Correspondent Jenny Falcon reports from New York that the protest marked the first anniversary of the registration policy.
TERROR SUSPECT/ APPEAL VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- Federal prosecutors and lawyers arguing on behalf of a terror suspect faced off before a panel of three Appeals Court judges in New York today (Monday) over whether the President can designate a U-S citizen as an "enemy combatant.
TURKEY / BOMBS VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- Turkish investigators began probing claims that the al-Qaida terrorist network was responsible for twin blasts that rocked two Istanbul synagogues Saturday, killing at least 24 people and wounding more than 300 others.
Northrop Grumman Continues Work for Centers for Disease Control With $501 Million Contract Northrop Grumman 17 Nov 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has again been selected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide advanced information technology and public health informatics solutions and services to support the CDC's public health mission and research activities.
BRITAIN / BUSH SECURITY VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- London police are mounting their biggest-ever security operation as President Bush prepares to arrive Tuesday for a state visit.
JAPAN/ TERROR THREAT VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- purported threat toward Tokyo from a group associated with the al Qaida terror network is causing some nervousness in Japan. Steve Herman reports from the Japanese capital that officials are trying to gauge the authenticity of the threat, which promises further bombings against the United States and its allies.
KENYA/ANTI-TERRORISM VOA 17 Nov 2003 -- A group of human-rights organizations in Kenya has begun a planned week-long campaign against the government's proposed anti-terrorism legislation.
TURKEY BOMB VOA 16 Nov 2003 -- Turkish and Israeli experts are investigating the bombings of two Istanbul synagogues, amid mounting evidence that the attacks may have been organized by international terrorist groups such as al-Qaida. Meanwhile, Turkish officials say 23 people were killed by the blasts that wounded more than 300 people.
ISRAEL-TURKEY-REACT VOA 16 Nov 2003 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says the bombing of two Istanbul synagogues on Saturday shows that "terrorism knows no bounds". He also expressed confidence that Turkish authorities would arrest those responsible for the blasts which killed at least 22 people and injured 242.
PAKISTAN TERRORISM VOA 16 Nov 2003 -- Pakistan is cracking down on four religious groups accused of having links to terrorism. The groups had earlier been banned and reorganized under new names. One opposition group is already are talking about challenging the move.
IAEA/DIRTY BOMBS VOA 16 Nov 2003 -- As the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna was concluding a conference on how to make radioactive waste globally secure, Czech police were arresting two men for trying to sell enough material to make a massive so-called "dirty bomb".
DoD Statement on News Reports of al-Qaida and Iraq Connections 15 Nov 2003 -- News reports that the Defense Department recently confirmed new information with respect to contacts between al-Qaida and Iraq in a letter to the Senate Intelligence Committee are inaccurate.
ISTANBUL BOMBS VOA 15 Nov 2003 -- Suicide car bombers attacked two synagogues in Istanbul at almost the same time Saturday, killing at least 16 people and injuring many others.
TURKEY BLASTS VOA 15 Nov 2003 -- Car bombs have exploded outside two synagogues in Turkey's largest city, Istanbul.There are conflicting reports about the number of dead.
RIYADH BOMBING: 'BLIND FANATICISM' BEHIND 'HEINOUS ACT' CONDEMNED US Dept. of State IIP, Foreign media Reaction November 14, 2003
U.S. Suspends Tax-Exempt Status of Terrorist-Linked Charities Washington File 14 Nov 2003 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury has suspended the tax-exempt status of three charities because of their links to terrorist networks.
U.S. Says Kurdistan Party PKK/KADEK Remains Terrorist Organization Washington File 14 Nov 2003 -- The State Department said November 14 that the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), now known as the Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK), remains a terrorist organization and that its leaders are still subject to arrest.
SAUDI ARABIA/BOMBINGS VOA 14 Nov 2003 -- In the wake of last week's bomb attack against a mostly Arab-neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia says it will fight Islamic extremists on its soil with an "iron fist." The U-S Embassy in the Saudi capital, which had closed a day before the attack for security concerns, is resuming business.
PENTAGON/PAN-SAHEL VOA 14 Nov 2003 -- A special U-S counterterrorism training program for West Africa is at last under way -- a year after it was announced.
U-S / SAUDI MISSIONS VOA 14 Nov 2003 -- The State Department says U-S diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia will reopen Saturday after closing for security reasons November 7th, the day before a deadly car bombing in Riyadh that killed 17 people. The Saudi government meanwhile is vowing an all-out drive against terrorism.
Al-Qaeda suspect held in Pakistan IRNA 14 Nov 2003 -- Pakistan law-enforcing and intelligence agencies detained an Arab national in the northern city of Peshawar on suspicion of links to Al-Qaeda, reports said Friday.
Homeland Security Chief Cites Progress with Mexico on Border Issues Washington File 13 Nov 2003 -- U.S.-Mexican efforts to protect border infrastructure and secure the flow of goods and people across the border have gained momentum in the past six months, says Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge.
Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee Chairman Calls for More Cooperation Washington File 13 Nov 2003 -- The head of the U.N. Security Council Sanctions Committee on al-Qaeda and the Taliban November 12 called for more cooperation from nations in identifying members and seizing all assets of the terrorist organizations.
EDITORIAL: TERROR IN RIYADH VOA 13 Nov 2003 -- Suicide bombers destroyed a housing compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 8th. Seventeen men, women, and children were killed and more than one-hundred twenty were wounded. Those killed included citizens of Lebanon, Egypt, and Sudan as well as Saudi Arabia. The al-Qaida terrorist group has reportedly claimed responsibility for the bombing.
BRITAIN / IRAN / ARGENTINA VOA 13 Nov 2003 -- Britain has rejected a request to extradite a former Iranian diplomat to Argentina to stand trial as the accused mastermind of the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center that killed 85 people.
INDONESIA TERROR VOA 13 Nov 2003 -- Police and security analysts in Indonesia have warned that terrorists are planning more attacks in the country. The news media have released a list of potential targets that includes international schools, offices and shopping areas.
Germany's Search for 9-11 Terrorists VOA 13 Nov 2003 -- Following the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11th, 2001, Hamburg, Germany emerged as the place where the hijackers spearheaded the operation.
U.S. Names 15 Members of Italian Al Qaida Cell as Terrorists Washington File 12 Nov 2003 -- The U.S. Treasury Department says it has designated 15 persons as terrorists for their involvement in Al Qaida terrorist cells in three Italian cities - Milan, Cremona and Parma.
UN/Al-Qaida/Taleban Sanction VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- The head of the U-N's Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Committee says the measures are doing little to curb the groups' activities. The Security Council is considering moves to toughen the sanctions regime.
SAUDI/BLASTS VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- Saudi Arabia is denying media reports that its security forces have arrested suspects in Saturday's suicide bombing of a Riyadh housing complex, which left at least 17 people dead and about 120 injured. Meanwhile, a top Saudi religious figure is calling the attack a flagrant aggression against Islam.
INDONESIA TERROR SUSPECT VOA 12 Nov 2003 -- The Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah has suffered another blow. As Tim Johnston reports from the Indonesian capital Jakarta, a captured member has admitted that he was the financier behind one of the group's most important training camps and has started naming the trainees.
Saudi Arabia: Attacks Suggest Change In Al-Qaeda Strategy RFE/RL 11 Nov 2003 -- There have been no terrorist attacks in the United States since 11 September 2001. But attacks attributed to Al-Qaeda have been mounted elsewhere, notably in Kenya, Indonesia, and, more recently, in Saudi Arabia. This raises the question of whether the terror network may have shifted its focus from the U.S. and, perhaps, made the Saudis their primary victims.
U.S.: Supreme Court To Hear Appeals From Guantanamo Bay Prisoners RFE/RL 11 Nov 2003 -- The United States Supreme Court has agreed to weigh in on a key debate between personal liberty and national security. America's highest court said yesterday it will consider whether foreign prisoners held since the war in Afghanistan by U.S. forces at a Navy base in Cuba can challenge their imprisonment in U.S. courts.
BRITAIN / TERRORISM VOA 11 Nov 2003 -- A new report on security risks in 2004 compiled by independent analysts concludes that, while al-Qaida's leadership has been dispersed, other Islamic terrorist networks have become more active and harder to find.
SAUDI/ARRESTS VOA 11 Nov 2003 -- Saudi Arabia's security forces have arrested several suspects in Saturday's suicide attack on a Riyadh housing complex. The kingdom says it will deal harshly with suspected Muslim militants involved in such crimes.
U.S. Praises Saudi Efforts to Fight Terrorism Washington File 10 Nov 2003 -- State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher praised Saudi authorities for making an "excellent effort" against terrorism since a May 12 suicide bomb attack in Riyadh.
U-S-SUDAN THREAT VOA 10 Nov 2003 -- The U-S Embassy in Khartoum is closing down for the rest of the week because of what State Department officials say is a "credible and specific" threat to U-S interests in the Sudanese capital. The move follows a similar closure of U-S diplomatic posts in Saudi Arabia last Friday.
SCOTUS GUANTANAMO VOA 10 Nov 2003 -- The Supreme Court has decided to hear an appeal on whether Afghan war detainees being held at a U-S military base in Cuba should have access to American courts.
U-S/SAUDI/TERROR VOA 10 Nov 2003 -- The United States is offering to expand anti-terrorism cooperation with Saudi Arabia, following the car bomb attack Saturday in Riyadh that U-S officials say bore the hallmarks of the al-Qaida terror organization. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage made the offer in talks in Riyadh with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah.
NY CATASTROPHE CENTER VOA 10 Nov 2003 -- A Pentagon emergency expert will head the first federally-funded center in New York dedicated to preparing the city for massive terrorist attacks.
Saudi Arabia: Clues, Motives Elusive In Car-Bomb Wreckage RFE/RL 10 Nov 2003 -- The 8 November car-bomb attack in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, was a strong reminder that Al-Qaeda -- or terrorist groups using Al-Qaeda techniques -- remain a potent threat, despite a recent crackdown on militants in the country. This time, the target was a housing complex for mostly non-Saudi Arabs, leaving many to ponder the ultimate goal of such attacks. What purpose does killing innocent Muslims serve?
PAKISTAN/EMBASSY SECURITY VOA 10 Nov 2003 -- Pakistan says it is improving security at its diplomatic posts around the world, following allegations that Britain illegally planted listening devices at the Pakistani embassy in London. The Pakistani government has yet to receive an explanation from the British government.
SAUDI BLASTS VOA 10 Nov 2003 -- Saudi authorities say the death toll from Saturday's bombing at a Riyadh housing complex has risen to at least 17, including five children. The Kingdom's interior ministry has promised to catch those responsible for the bombings, thought to be the work of the al-Qaida terror network. A senior U-S official, in Riyadh for talks focused on terrorism, accused the suicide bombers of trying to bring down says the Saudi royal family.
Iran condemns terrorist attack in Riyadh IRNA 09 Nov 2003 -- Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi on Sunday strongly condemned the terrorist attack against a residential compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan condemns Riyadh bomb attacks IRNA 09 Nov 2003 -- Pakistan on Sunday condemned bomb explosions in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and said the terrorist have targeted civilians.
SAUDI/BLASTS VOA 09 Nov 2003 -- Reports from Saudi Arabia say at least 11 people were killed when a suicide car bomb exploded and tore through a residential compound west of the capital, Riyadh. Saudi authorities are blaming the al-Qaida terror network for the attack. The attack followed renewed terror alerts from western nations, including the United States.
U-S / SAUDI BLAST REACT VOA 09 Nov 2003 -- An influential U-S senator says the deadly suicide bombing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was not unexpected and appears to be the work of al-Qaida terrorist network.
SAUDI/EXPLOSIONS VOA 08 Nov 2003 -- Saudi Arabia says terrorists are responsible for explosions at a residential compound in Western Riyadh, that killed at least two people and wounded dozens of others, many of them children. The bombing came a day after the United States closed its diplomatic missions in the kingdom, amid concerns about terrorist attacks.
U-S/SAUDI VOA 08 Nov 2003 -- The United States has closed all its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia after officials received what they said was a warning of a serious threat of terrorist attacks in the kingdom. The closure follows U-S warnings last month of possible terror attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
House Bill Would Require Coast Guard to Inspect Foreign Ships Washington File 07 Nov 2003 -- The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $7.1 billion bill that would require the Coast Guard to review the security plans of foreign ships entering U.S. territorial waters.
SAUDI/AFGHAN THREATS VOA 07 Nov 2003 -- All U-S diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia have been ordered closed and Americans there as well as in Afghanistan are being advised to take precautions because of what the U-S government says are credible threats of new terrorist attacks.
DoD Support to the 911 Commission Announced 07 Nov 2003 -- The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks on the United States today voted to subpoena documents relating to the North American Air Defense Command and certain Air Force material.
UK stages mock hijack exercise IRNA 07 Nov 2003 -- Hundreds of police are taking part in three day mock hijack exercise at Stansted airport, north of London, which started Friday.
Envoy says Iran prioritizes fight against terror IRNA 07 Nov 2003 -- Iran`s Ambassador to Riyadh Ali-Asghar Khaji said here Thursday that Iran attaches high priority to the fight against terrorism adding that the country has been itself a victim of terror.
Saudi governments offers further details on Mecca Thursday events IRNA 07 Nov 2003 -- An informed source at the Interior Ministry of Saudi Arabia offered a more detailed account on Thursday terrorist incidents in Mecca, in an interview with SPA on Friday.
Houses of al Qaeda suspects demolished in Pakistan IRNA 07 Nov 2003 -- Tribal elders in Pakistan`s remote border tribal region on Thursday demolished houses of tribesmen who allegedly sheltered Taliban and al Qaeda suspects, officials and local correspondents said.
ATHENS/FBI VOA 07 Nov 2003 -- The director of the U-S Federal Bureau of Investigation is in Athens to inspect security preparations for next year's Olympic Games.
Text: State Department on Security for Greek 2004 Olympics Washington File 06 Nov 2003 -- Following is the text of a question taken at the November 5 regular State Department briefing; an answer was posted the next day
Microsoft Works with U.S. Law Enforcement to Catch Cybercriminals Washington File 06 Nov 2003 -- Microsoft Corporation and U.S. law enforcement agencies are joining forces to step up the international pursuit of those responsible for the release of malicious computer code on the Internet. Microsoft is funding a $5 million reward program to support U.S. and international law enforcement in solving these episodes of cybercrime. The company November 5 announced that it is offering $250,000 rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those who released the MSBlast.A computer worm and the SoBig virus earlier this year.
NY/HOMELAND SECURITY VOA 06 Nov 2003 -- U-S Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge says domestic law enforcement must take a larger role in preventing potential terrorist attacks.
SAUDI/CLASHES VOA 06 Nov 2003 -- Saudi authorities say two militants blew themselves up, as police tried to arrest them in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, and a third died earlier in a gun battle with police in Riyadh.
U.S. Believes Terrorists Still Pose Threat to Civil Aviation Washington File 05 Nov 2003 -- Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials say they believe that terrorists will continue to consider attacks against commercial airplanes in the United States and abroad and seek new ways to circumvent enhanced security measures.
COMPUTER VIRUS / REWARD VOA 05 Nov 2003 -- Microsoft, the world's largest computer software company, has announced a five-million-dollar reward program for the capture and conviction of those who send malicious computer worms and viruses on the Internet. Microsoft is joining forces with law enforcement agencies to fight cyber-crimes.
Security Council names countries that have failed to meet terror report deadline UN News Centre 05 Nov 2003 -- The United Nations Security Council today revealed the names of 58 countries that have failed to meet a deadline for submitting reports on how they would tackle terrorism.
EDITORIAL: GERMAN HELP IN WAR ON TERRORISM VOA 05 Nov 2003 -- Germany is an important ally in the war on terrorism. As Tom Ridge, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, said on October 29th to the German Council on Foreign Relations, Germany has "made a valuable contribution to fighting terrorists both inside and outside German territory." This is especially true in regard to Afghanistan, where Germany was an important member of the coalition that ousted the Taleban regime and its al-Qaida terrorist collaborators.
Powell-Centam VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell has completed a two-day Central American trip that included stops in Panama, Nicaragua and Honduras. The State Department says Mr. Powell obtained a commitment in principle from the Nicaraguan government to destroy a large stockpile of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles.
Pak Court issues notices to US on ex-Guantanamo prisoner`s appeal IRNA 04 Nov 2003 -- A Pakistani court on Tuesday issued notices to US authorities on appeal from former Pakistani prisoner in Guantanamo Bay, Mohammed Sagheer, in which he has called for dlrs 10.4 million in compensation, his lawyer said.
TURKISH EMBASSY BOMB VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- A man suspected of planting a bomb at the Turkish Embassy in the Dutch city, The Hague, has been arrested. The explosion caused a fire at the embassy, but no injuries.
AUSTRALIA TERROR VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- Australia is proposing tougher counter-terrorism laws after it deported a suspected French Al-Qaida member last month. The new measures will allow authorities to hold suspects longer without charges and will speed up the classification of terrorist groups.
SAUDI / TERROR VOA 04 Nov 2003 -- Saudi police say they have arrested six Muslim militants after Monday's raids on suspected terror cells in Mecca. Saudi Arabia's interior minister says the police prevented a terrorist attack against pilgrims to Mecca.
Deepwater Team Delivers First Cutter-Based Communications System Upgrade To U.S. Coast Guard Lockheed Martin 03 Nov 2003 -- The Coast Guard Cutter Northland is at sea with the first phase of communications systems upgrades for 270-foot medium endurance cutters as part of the Integrated Deepwater System (IDS). Northland is the first cutter to receive this upgrade, which immediately provides improved performance within existing communications systems and allows additional access to a variety of intelligence and data sources, previously unavailable to these cutters.
SAUDI / TERROR VOA 03 Nov 2003 -- Saudi police say they have killed two militants in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, and seized a large cache of weapons.
Defense Department Supports 9/11 Commission AFPS 01 Nov 2003 -- The Defense Department has given the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission, about 38,000 pages of information, a senior defense official said here Oct. 31.
E-U/BORDER ACCORD VOA 01 Nov 2003 -- Germany's interior minister, Otto Schily, says his country wants to set up a global travel security system with the United States to help combat international terrorism. He also cautioned former communist states getting ready to join the European Union that they may not be allowed to join the union's free travel arrangements anytime soon.

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November 2003 Security News