A number of reports are coming out across the news media and intelligence back channels urging Americans and Homeland Security to prepare themselves for revenge attacks -- that may follow the killing of Osama bin Laden. It is believed that many of these revenge attack strategies against Americans have long been in place and may be set to automatically deploy in the US and around the world.
ABC News is reporting today that -- US Intel Warns of Possible Revenge Attacks:
The death of the world's most wanted terrorist has security experts at all levels of government concerned that bin Laden's loyal and fanatical followers could launch a series of deadly attacks."Though bin Laden is dead, al-Qaeda is not," said CIA Director Leon Panetta. "The terrorists almost certainly will attempt to avenge him, and we must—and will—remain vigilant and resolute. But we have struck a heavy blow against the enemy."
Former chief of staff to President George W. Bush, Andrew Card, told ABC News that reprisal attacks could already be planned.
"We have to be particularly vigilant about danger that is still out there. This act could cause people to do things people may have planned to do if this day came," Card said.
The Department of Homeland Security said the agency is on full alert.
"Our security posture, which always includes a number of measures both seen and unseen, will continue to protect the American people from an evolving threat picture both in the next days and beyond," said one Department of Homeland Security official.
On Sunday, the department, in conjunction with the FBI, released a bulletin to police across the U.S. warning that bin Laden's death "could result in retaliatory attacks in the Homeland and against U.S. and Western interests overseas."