AQAP and Al-Shabaab Alliance; An Emerging Terrorist Threat

1. AQAP and Al-Shabaab Alliance;
An Emerging Terrorist Threat
Report by the Emergency Response & Research Institute (ERRI)

2. Preliminary Report;
Unofficial Pictures of Alleged Devices
and ERRI commentary
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Compiled by:
Emergency Response & Research Institute (ERRI)
EmergencyNet News
Chicago, IL
Open Source Report
This report may contain law enforcement, military, or FOUO sensitive data…

3. Unofficial Pictures of Device (1)
Picture of potential device in the bomb
plot originating from Yemen. This
picture is thought originally to come
from England, though that is not
confirmed by ERRI sources…this image
was published CBS news.

4. Unofficial Pictures of Device (2)
Picture of another recovered device,
believed to have been involved in the plot
discovered on 10/29/2010. This photo
reportedly came from police evidence in
Dubai, UAE

5. Reported bomb substance - PETN
Pentaerythritol tetranitrate, or PETN, is a major ingredient of Semtex and belongs to
the same chemical family as nitroglycerin. It is one of the most powerful explosives
made today and is a favorite among terrorists because its colorless crystals are hard to
detect in a sealed container.
ERRI analysts said that the exact chemical composition of the type of explosive used in
the recovered devices, in this latest plot, has NOT been officially determined. Forensic
tests will undoubtedly identify this substance and other facts in the near term.
PETN was the explosive of choice in an attempted Christmas bombing, last year (the
so-called “underwear bomber.”- 23-year-old Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab --
see picture, next slide)
PETN is relatively stable and can be detonated either by heat or a shockwave. A little
more than 100 grams of PETN could destroy a car, some experts report.

6. Alleged Bomber, Maker & Mastermind
The alleged bomber of the Christmas-time
attack, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was
arrested and remains in custody at the
time of this report.
As the investigation continues, evidence
and determinations would seem to point to
connections between the bomber and Al
Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
Specifically, EOD experts suggest that the
bomb was probably built by Ibrahim
Hassan Al Asiri (Below-right), a known
AQAP bomb-maker.
Furthermore, increasing evidence would
suggest a link between Umar Farouk
Abdulmutallab and radical cleric Anwar al-
Awlaki, now a leader/spokesman for AQAP.

7. Map of Affected Regional
By reviewing a map of the region, one
can quickly see the potential strategic
importance of an alliance between Al
Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
and Al-Shahbaab in Somalia.
We have already seen some of the effects
of “limited” piracy undertaken by Somali
pirates in the (chokepoint) Gulf of Aden.
Now, imagine additional AQAP piracy…
originating in Yemen. Or, probably more
importantly, think about raiding and
terror attacks…aimed at blocking the
Suez canal during some other crisis in the
Middle East.

8. An Emergent Threat to USA?
ERRI analysts say that they fear that Al
Qaeda in Yemen (Al Qaeda in the Arabian
Peninsula - AQAP) may soon be sending
American jihadis recruited by Al-Awlaki to
attack the U.S.
Al-Shahbaab “technicals” with individual weapons Complicating this sort of plot may be the
recruitment/involvement of militants
associated with Al-Shahbaab in
Somalia…who have already infiltrated
several parts of the U.S.
The potential combination of these two
groups provides another fearsome terror
threat to the U.S. and her allies, ERRI
AQAP fighters in Yemen
analysts said.

9. Questions, comments, suggestions or requests for more
information can be directed to:
Emergency Response & Research Institute (ERRI)
EmergencyNet News
6348 N. Milwaukee Ave. #312
Chicago, IL 60646
(773) 631-3774 – Voice, messages
(773) 631-4703 – Facsimile
erri.six@gmail.com – E-mail
http://emergencynet-news.com - website
Editor’s note: This report contains open source intelligence information (OSINT) and should be
considered a preliminary assessment. More confirmed data should be available as forensic tests and
other collection efforts proceed. This report may contain law enforcement, military, or FOUO sensitive
data…