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Sunday, November 12, 2000
Three plots in Yemen failed before Cole attack
Sources say Yemeni officials foiled plan to blow up convoy of U.S. military personnel
Associated Press
ADEN, Yemen - At least three plots against American targets in Yemen failed in the past year before last month's suicide bombing of the USS Cole, Yemeni sources close to the investigation said Saturday.
More than one suspect in Yemeni custody being questioned in connection with the Oct. 12 Cole bombing has admitted to involvement in a campaign targeting Americans in Yemen, the sources said, insisting on anonymity. They did not provide a specific number but did say the suspects belong to the Islamic Jihad and other Islamic groups.
The Islamic Jihad is linked to America's No. 1 terror suspect, Osama bin Laden.
In the first week of November 1999, Yemeni authorities foiled plans to blow up a convoy of U.S. military personnel heading to Yemen's National Center for the Removal of Land Mines hours before the operation was to be carried out, the sources said. Yemeni security forces discovered the explosives and defused them, sources said.
Suspects being questioned in the Cole explosion gave detailed information regarding the route the Americans took to and from the center, where U.S. military personnel give Yemenis technical training on removing land mines, the sources said. It is estimated that more than 30 Americans - all military - were at the center when the explosives were set to go off.
When that attempt fell apart, the sources said the suspects made plans to attack the Royal Hotel, where most of the American servicemen were staying.
An attack similar to the one carried out on the Cole was aborted in January when the attackers realized their boat had been overloaded with explosives and was not seaworthy, the sources said.
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