Report: Al-Qaida targeting European railways

German newspaper cites intel as coming from conference call intercepted by NSA, involving high-ranking al-Qaida operatives.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
HIGH SPEED trains 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
HIGH SPEED trains 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Al-Qaida is plotting attacks on Europe's high-speed rail network, German newspaper Bild reported on Monday, citing intelligence sources.
According to Bild, the militant group was possibly targeting trains and tunnels, with the intention to sabotage railway tracks and the electric cabling.
The German newspaper cited the information as coming from a conference call intercepted by the US National Security Agency (NSA), involving high-ranking al-Qaida operatives.
As a result, authorities deployed undercover police officers at main stations and along major routes, Bild stated.
At the beginning of August, suspected plots by an affiliate of the terror group led the State Department to issue a world-wide travel alert for the entire month, citing an al-Qaida plot to attack Western diplomatic delegations.
Congress said that US intelligence agencies picked up on an al-Qaida plot  through surveillance technologies. The US then closed 21 embassies and consulates on Sunday, located in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia "out of an abundance of caution."