The organization Al-Qaida encouraged attacks against Israel and the United States on or around January 1, 2000. The different attacks were planned around that date, although there is no evidence that the three were coordinated in any way. All three were foiled by law enforcement agencies.
The Jordan bombing plot
In Jordan, members of the group planned to bomb four sites: a fully booked Radisson hotel in Amman, Jordan; the border between Jordan and Israel; Mount Nebo, a Christian holy site; and a site on the Jordan River where John the Baptist is said to have baptized Jesus. These locations were chosen to target tourists from the United States and Israel. The most active participant was a Boston taxi driver named Raed Hijazi .
On November 30, 1999, Jordanian intelligence intercepted a call between Abu Zubaydah, the leader of the plot, and Khadr Abu Hoshar , a Palestinian militant. In the conversation, Zubaydah stated, "The time for training is over." Sensing that the attack was imminent, Jordanian police arrested Hoshar and 15 others on December 12, 1999.
The authorities put 28 suspects on trial. 22 of them were quickly found guilty. Six of them, including Hijazi, were sentenced to death. Zubaydah was sentenced to death in absentia.
The Los Angeles International Airport bombing plot
A man named Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian living in Canada, planned to bomb Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, United States. He was arrested at the United States-Canada border in Port Angeles, Washington after crossing by ferry on December 14, 1999. Customs officials then found nitroglycerin and four timing devices concealed in a spare tire well of his automobile. He and three other Algerians stood trial for the crime. Ressam began cooperating with investigators in 2001.
Abu Zubdayah seems to have been tangentially involved in approving for this attack as well.
The USS Sullivans attack plot
In Yemen, members of the group planned to bomb USS The Sullivans with a boat laden with explosives. Militants deployed a bomb-laden boat on January 3, 2000, but the over-loaded bomb boat sank before detonating.
Aftermath
After the attack on The Sullivans failed, al-Qaida tried the same type of attack a second time. They successfully bombed USS Cole on October 12, 2000.
While in prison, Ressam revealed that al-Qaida sleeper cells existed within the United States. This information was included in the famous Presidential Daily Briefing delivered to President Bush on August 6, 2001, entitled "Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US".
Last updated: 08-25-2005 17:58:45
