The Syria-based terror group Khorasan has tested explosive devices that they plan to bring aboard planes, a U.S. source briefed on the latest intelligence told NBC News.
The source said the U.S. had “information on specific, concrete plotting” against aviation targets by Khorasan, but said there was no “imminent” danger against any specific flight, individual or target.
U.S. and British sources also said that the U.K. and Australia had intercepted messages indicating the real possibility of a low-level “knife and gun” attack by jihadis who have returned from Syria against the public in a Western nation in order to generate maximum fear.
The U.S. struck both Khorasan and ISIS targets in Syria early Tuesday. According to a Pentagon statement, the targets hit included training camps, “command and control facilities,” and a facility producing explosives and munitions.
Khorasan is a jihadi group in Syria linked to al Qaeda. Members of the group, which is led by 33-year-old Muhsin al-Fadhli, include veteran al Qaeda militants from Afghanistan and Yemen.
On Tuesday morning, President Obama announced the strikes on ISIS targets in Syria, and said the U.S. had been joined in the strikes by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other allies.
“[W]e also took strikes to disrupt plotting against the United States and our allies by seasoned al Qaeda operatives in Syria who are known as the Khorasan Group,” added Obama. “[O]nce again, it must be clear to anyone who would plot against America and try to do Americans harm that we will not tolerate safe havens for terrorists who threaten our people.“
IN-DEPTH
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-- Jim Miklaszewski contributed to this report
