Al Qaeda leader Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, better known as Abu Anas al-Libi, will stand trial in New York City for his role in the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Evidence suggests that he was collecting photographic surveillance of the U.S. embassies as early as five years before the twin bombings that killed 224 people and injured thousands. Additionally, U.S. officials believe that al-Libi served as al Qaeda’s computer expert during the 1990s and had close ties to Osama bin Laden. Al-Libi was captured by U.S. Special Forces outside his home in Libya last week and was held on a Navy vessel before he was extradited to the U.S. Several sources claim that he was transferred to civilian custody ahead of schedule due to a pre-existing health condition. Two other defendants involved in the embassy bombings are also awaiting trial in New York City.
The MSA Research and Intelligence Team has been following this situation closely, and has identified the following implications:
- Al-Libi was a liaison between North African militant groups and al Qaeda core in the years following the embassy bombings and could potentially provide useful intelligence to U.S. officials.
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Given al-Libi’s presence in New York City, there is an increased threat of terrorist activity. However, to provide context, there has never been an actual incident prompted by the extrasadition of al Qaeda members.
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The capture of al-Libi could potentially incite retaliatory attacks against U.S. interests in the region and further damage the reputation of the Libyan government, who is already perceived as too close to the west.
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In the wake of the U.S. operation, a group of gunmen briefly captured Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan. The rebel group, Libyan Revolutionary Operations Chamber, claimed responsibility for the attack on its Facebook page and stated that it was carried out in retaliation for the Libyan government’s cooperation in the capture of al-Libi.
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The attacks on the East African embassies showcased al Qaeda’s tradecraft prior to 9/11. Although al Qaeda has since evolved, many of the security implications remain the same.
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American public and private sector interests abroad continue to be attractive targets for terrorist attacks, particularly those perceived to be vulnerable.
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Additionally, pre-operational surveillance and lengthy planning have been a hallmark of major al Qaeda-led attacks as operatives have been known to take surveillance photos of potential targets and observe foot traffic, security precautions and the general environment around the location.
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Lastly, the use of multiple coordinated attacks is relatively common. Security personnel should be aware that simultaneous or nearly simultaneous incidents could occur at varying distances from the initial attack.
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