RT.com
05 Aug 2022, 11:43 GMT+10
The warning comes soon after Washington claimed to have killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri
FBI Director Christopher Wray has warned that terrorist groups like al-Qaeda continue to seek ways to launch large-scale attacks in the US and other Western countries, despite Washington's efforts to "degrade" the organization's senior leadership.
Speaking to lawmakers during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday, Wray said "preventing terrorist attacks" remains "the FBI's top priority" and went on to highlight the alleged threat posed by various actors, including the infamous terror cell behind the September 11 attacks.
"Al-Qaeda maintains its desire to both conduct and inspire large-scale, spectacular attacks," he said, adding that "Over the past year, propaganda from al-Qaeda leaders continued to seek to inspire individuals to conduct their own attacks in the United States and other Western nations."
However, thanks to "continued pressure" on the group by the US military and law enforcement, al-Qaeda has been "degraded," Wray claimed. For that reason, "in the near term," he said it would likely focus its attention on "small-scale, readily achievable attacks in regions such as East and West Africa" instead of more sophisticated operations in the US or Europe.
Over the weekend, the White House said al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in a CIA drone strike, ending a years-long manhunt which placed al-Zawahiri near the top of the FBI's most-wanted list. The 71-year-old Egyptian national headed up the group since the death of terrorist kingpin Osama bin Laden in an American raid in 2011, and is thought to have helped plan the 9/11 attacks.
Despite Wray's warnings about the enduring threat posed by foreign-based groups like AQ, the FBI chief said "homegrown violent extremists" are currently the "greatest terrorism threat" in the US, namely those who operate alone or in "small cells." The national security apparatus has repeatedly warned of local radicalism in recent years, stepping up its periodic threat alerts during a string of Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020, and even more so following the riot in the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Florida Statesman news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Florida Statesman.
More InformationEVERGLADES, Florida: Over the weekend, a diverse coalition of environmental activists, Native American leaders, and residents gathered...
BEIJING, China: China's national soccer team may struggle to stir excitement, but its humanoid robots are drawing cheers — and not...
]LONDON, U.K.: A World Health Organization (WHO) expert group investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic released its final...
DOVER, Delaware: California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken legal aim at Fox News, accusing the network of deliberately distorting...
FRANKFURT, Germany: Germany has become the latest country to challenge Chinese AI firm DeepSeek over its data practices, as pressure...
TORONTO, Canada: Harvard University and the University of Toronto have created a backup plan to ensure Harvard graduate students continue...
NEW YORK, New York - Global stock indices closed with divergent performances on Tuesday, as investors weighed corporate earnings, central...
TORONTO, Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced late on June 29 that trade negotiations with the U.S. have recommenced...
Vancouver, Canada: A high-stakes legal showdown is brewing in the world of athleisure. Lululemon, the Canadian brand known for its...
LONDON, U.K.: British oil giant Shell has denied reports that it is in talks to acquire rival oil company BP. The Wall Street Journal...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stock markets closed firmly in positive territory to start the week Monday, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: On Friday, President Donald Trump announced that he was halting trade discussions with Canada due to its decision...