New York, Global Security on High Alert for Al Qaeda Retaliation

Law enforcement sources said Monday they are bracing for attacks at U.S. installations around the world.

May 2, 2011 RSS Feed Print

BY Alison Gendar, Rocco Parascandola and John Lauinger
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Law enforcement sources said Monday they are bracing for attacks at U.S. installations around the world over the next few weeks in retaliation for Osama Bin Laden's death.

Officials cautioned that any possible attack is likely to come from lone wolf amateur-types, rather than as part of an organized and more widespread Al Qaeda plot.

[See a slide show of six potential terrorist targets.]

In New York, the NYPD ordered all officers to be on high alert beginning Sunday night for some kind of terrorist response.

"While there is no information indicating a specific threat to New York City, members of the service are reminded to remain alert in the aftermath," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said in a message to all commands.

By coincidence, Sunday was the one-year anniversary of the botched terror attack on Times Square—a date that would already prompt extra vigilance.

Would-be bomber Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistani living in Connecticut, was a classic example of the kind of homegrown terrorist officials say would be most likely to act.

Vincent Cannistraro, former CIA counter-terror chief, said the U.S. will be on high alert, but he doubted any complex plots were in the works.

"I don't think it will be any kind of organized retaliation. [Al Qaeda] is too fractured. You already have people who commit suicide attacks. I think you'll see a continuation of that," he said.

[See a slide show of 15 major post-Cold War uprisings.]

In recent years, as Bin Laden's Al Qaeda's influence and operational capability has waned, most attacks against American interests have been carried out by a Yemeni affiliate, "Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula."

The group has been trying for a "spectacular" attack, but failing - so far.

Around the world, the United States put its embassies on alert, and warned Americans abroad of possible Al Qaeda reprisal attacks.

In Pakistan, the main Taliban faction has already vowed to strike back.

"If he has been martyred, we will avenge his death and launch attacks against American and Pakistani governments and their security forces," said the militant group's spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan.

A senior Obama administration official said there also may be a heightened homeland threat, saying "Al Qaeda may try to respond to violently avenge Bin Laden's death."

"There is no doubt that Al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us," President Obama told the nation in his Sunday night address.

"We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad."

A travel advisory has been issued for Pakistan.