European intelligence sources were surprised by the news of the alleged plot to blow up five U.S. airliners over the mid-Atlantic. This was not because a major strike by Islamist terrorists was in itself unexpected. But European intelligence organizations, sources said Saturday, had anticipated that the target would be an international institution, or the energy center of a major city, such as a large power station. Instead, the thwarted attack turned out to have echoes of 9/11.
Though al Qaeda has not been firmly linked to the plot, the evident Pakistani connection brings it geographically close to Osama bin Laden's organization, still reportedly operating from the mountainous Afghan-Pakistani border area.
At the very least it suggests an al Qaeda "franchise" operation like the Madrid railway bombing of March 11, 2004, and the London underground atrocity on July 7 last year. "If such a complex plan is confirmed to be al Qaeda, it would be bad news indeed because it will mean that the [al Qaeda] communications network remains intact," observed Bruno Tiberis of the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research.