Source: Major Terror Plot Underway, Team to Carry It Out 'In Place

A major terror plot is underway and a team to carry it out "has been selected and is in place," according to CBS News senior correspondent John Miller's sources.

While there is no other information—date, time, location—Miller reports that it's the most specific, credible threat data in years.

Which helps explain the State Department's decision Friday to issue a broad global travel alert for U.S. citizens for the entire month of August, as well as the order to close 21 embassies across the Muslim world beginning Sunday because of an unspecified threat.

(Credit: CBS News)

CBS News reports that officials have noted Yemen as a potential target, as it's the home base for al Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula, a.k.a. AQAP, widely considered the most dangerous in the world.

President Obama was briefed Saturday morning on the potential terrorist threat before departing for Camp David, according to CBS News correspondent Jeff Pegues.

August has been an active month for terrorism, CBS News says: 15 years ago this week the U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania took more than 200 lives and injured more than 4,000.

CBS News adds that next month is the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which killed four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador.

“Current information suggests that al-Qa’ida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August,” the alert posted on the State Department’s website stated.

The alert warned of the “potential for terrorist attacks” particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, and also possibly in the Arabian Peninsula.

“Terrorists may elect to use a variety of means and weapons and target both official and private interests,” the alert said. “U.S. citizens are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure.  Terrorists have targeted and attacked subway and rail systems, as well as aviation and maritime services. U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling.”

Check out the report from CBS News:

(H/T: Drudge)

--

[related]