THE TELEGRAPH: Al-Qaeda terror cells have trained a group of female suicide bombers to attack Western targets, US officials have warned.
The women, who may have a "non Arab" appearance and be travelling on Western passports, have been prepared for their missions by the Yemeni group responsible for the operation to blow up an airliner over the United States on Christmas Day.
Details of the bombers emerged just hours after British spy chiefs raised the UK threat state to "severe" amid fears that al-Qaeda was planning a wave of attacks against western targets.
Terror experts within the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, a unit of MI5, now believe that an attack against the UK is "highly likely".
US law enforcement agents have been told to be on the lookout for female suicide bombers who may attempt to enter the country.
At least two are believed to be connected to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula which dispatched underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab who tried unsuccessfully to bring down a transatlantic airliner over Detroit.
Richard Clarke, a former chief White House counter terrorism adviser, said: "They have trained women. Al-Qaeda has trained female suicide bombers to attack West, US officials warn >>> Phil Sherwell, in New York and Sean Rayment, Security Correspondent | Saturday, January 23, 2010
