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Bin Laden Letters With Terror Chiefs Revealed

Letters between Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda commanders about terror plots in the West have been revealed for the first time. The correspondence between the group's leader and his senior operatives were presented during the New York trial of a Pakistani student accused of planning multiple attacks in Britain. Prosecutors claim Abid Naseer plotted attacks on targets in Manchester, as well as in New York and Copenhagen. Sky's Hannah Thomas-Peter in New York said the evidence revealed on Wednesday was part of a "treasure trove" of al Qaeda material seized during the US special forces raid on Bin Laden's Abbottabad compound in May 2011. Letters between the terror leader and his external operations chiefs provided updates on plots against the West and its allies. One letter provided details on a plan to send attackers to the UK and Russia, which prosecutors said refers directly to Naseer. More broadly, the letters revealed new insight into the way senior al Qaeda leaders were thinking and communicating with the organisation's chief before he was killed in the raid on his Pakistani hideout. One message in particular reflected the vitriol the terror group reserved specifically for the US. It said: "Here we are praise be to God, watching the faltering of the United States and its allies. "By God we shall not stop by His will except at the doors of the White House and to raise the banner of monotheism on their so called Statue of Liberty." Another letter said "striking America in its heartland has the most significance". The correspondence provided updates on the importance of maintaining better communications, using better code and discussed the types of personalities best suited to plan and carry out attacks. They also revealed a discussion about the need to develop new ways of carrying out attacks, including the use of household items that were less likely to draw attention. The striking evidence was revealed as the prosecution finished submitting its case against Naseer, who they allege plotted to blow up the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester. The 28-year-old, who was extradited to the US in 2013, has denied being part of a global al Qaeda conspiracy.

• published: 27 Feb 2015
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