WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) – President Barack Obama has
ordered a review of potential threats facing the United States
ahead of the anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden, the
White House said on Thursday, but stressed that there was no
concrete evidence of an attack being planned.
“At this time, we have no credible information that
terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda, are plotting
attacks in the United States to coincide with the anniversary of
bin Laden’s death,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said.
U.S. commandos killed bin Laden last year in a raid on his
compound in Pakistan that took place before dawn May 2 local
time, which was May 1 in the United States.
“However, we assess that AQ’s affiliates and allies remain
intent on conducting attacks in the homeland, possibly to avenge
the death of bin Laden, but not necessarily tied to the
anniversary,” Carney told reporters at the White House.
The killing of the man behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks
sent hundreds of Americans onto U.S. streets in celebration, but
it fanned anti-American sentiment in Pakistan, which was
severely embarrassed by the raid on the compound just a few
hours drive from Islamabad.
“The president thanked his team and directed them to take
all necessary measures to protect the American people,” Carney
said.
(Reporting By Alister Bull; Editing by Eric Beech)
