Khorasan ‘Obsessed’ With Pulling Off The Next 9/11 Style Terror Attack

Khorasan is “obsessed” with pulling off the next 9/11 style terrorism attack, according to national security analyst Ryan Mauro. The al Qaeda spin-off group has been deemed as treacherous to Americans as ISIS. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, U.S. airstrikes in Syria are believed to destroyed at least some of their training camps and operations centers.

While the airstrikes in the Aleppo and Idlib regions of Syria might have damaged Khorasan interests, the terrorist group may not have been eradicated, according to Obama administration officials. The militant group has reportedly become an arch-rival of ISIS, and is competing for power and notoriety on the international terrorism front.

“Their focus is recruiting those that hold Western passports so they can attack Western airliners. Since al Qaeda is looking like a bunch of has-beens, an attack on Western airliners would be a way of restoring their credibility,” Maruao, who is also a professor of homeland security at the Clarion Project, told Fox News. “It’s the jihadist equivalent of an old rock band launching a comeback tour.”

ISIS spokesman Mohammed al-Adnani recently stated that al Qaeda, including Khorasan and Jabhat al-Nursa, have “deviated from the rightful course.” The Islamic State spokesman also added, “It is not a dispute about who to kill or who to give your allegiance. It is a question of religious practices being distorted and an approach veering off the right path.”

There have been reports that Khorasan leader Muhsin al-Fadhli may have been killed in a bombing raid. If the reports are accurate, the death of the leader could be a significant blow to Khorasan. Muhsin al-Fadhli was allegedly a close friend of Osama bin Laden and one of the few remaining individuals that were privy to the 9/11 terrorism plot before the attack was carried out. The Khorasan leader has reportedly had extensive training in explosives, anti-aircraft guns, and in various types of firearms.

National Counterterrorism Center Deputy Director Nicholas Rasmussen said, “The group’s repeated efforts to conceal explosive devices to destroy aircraft demonstrate its continued pursuits of high-profile attacks against the West. Khorasan’s increasing awareness of Western security procedures and its efforts to adapt to those procedures, make it particularly dangerous.”

James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, appears to agree with his peers that the al Qaeda splinter groups is extremely dangerous. He said, “In terms of threat to the homeland, Khorasan may pose as much of a danger as the Islamic State.”

Do you feel America faces imminent harm from both Khorasan and ISIS? What should the federal government due to thwart another 9/11?

[Image via: Foreign Policy]