White extremists linked to World Cup terrorism plot

South African police have charged five white extremists connected to an alleged terrorism plot to target next month's World Cup. Police made a series of raids on properties across the country last month and seized a haul of firearms and explosives. Seven people were initially arrested, but five have been charged with conspiring to engage in terrorist activities. It is alleged the white extremists were planning to detonate bombs in black townships ahead of the World Cup football tournament which kicks off in a month.

Revelations of the plot and the subsequent arrests come in the wake of last month's murder of white supremacist leader Eugene Terreblanche. Meanwhile, the World Cup trophy has begun the final leg of its world tour in the host country South Africa. Thousands of residents queued for hours to catch a glimpse of the trophy at a local sports centre. The 32 teams competing in the World Cup, including Australia, will begin arriving in South Africa later this month. The tournament kicks off on June 11.

Read more...

Bin Laden takes credit for airline bombing plot; officials express skepticism

Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden claimed responsibility for the Christmas Day attempt to blow up an American civilian jet in an audiotape broadcast today on Arab television. U.S. intelligence officials quickly raised doubts about Bin Laden's role and suggested the statement was an attempt to score propaganda points for a plot already claimed by an increasingly independent faction of his movement in Yemen.

In the clip, Bin Laden said his group was behind the failed attempt allegedly carried out by Nigerian national Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to blow up a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight. Speaking directly to President Obama, the Al Qaeda leader vowed to continue launching terrorist attacks against the United States as long as Washington supported what he described as Israel's unjust treatment of Palestinians.

U.S. intelligence officials today did not cast doubt on the authenticity of the tape. But they expressed skepticism that Bin Laden or his lieutenants, believed to be based in Pakistan, played a meaningful role in conceiving or executing the Christmas Day plot.

Read more...