New issue of Al Qaeda magazine signals shift to smaller-scale attacks

LONDON - An Al Qaeda group in Somalia has boasted that it plans to launch several smaller-scale attacks on the lines of the foiled parcel bombs that were discovered in October.

The threat is revealed in the latest issue of “Inspire,” a magazine published by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

According to The Sun, the terror group provided a detailed breakdown of its attempt to blow up cargo planes last month, bragged about the plot’s simple execution and said the plan signalled a new focus toward smaller, inexpensive attacks.

The earlier attack was foiled on October 29 when two mail bombs were pulled off cargo planes in Britain and Dubai after a Saudi tipster alerted the U.S. about the plot.

The bombs had been constructed using printer toner cartridges packed with the industrial explosive PETN, a tough to detect substance that has become a weapon of choice for terrorists recently, and cell phones.

Al Qaeda, though, scoffed at the idea that the plan was anything but a success.

“To bring down America we do not need to strike big,” the group wrote.

Intelligence officials believe the magazine is the work of Samir Khan, a former Queens resident who now lives in Yemen, according to reports. (ANI)