Al Qaida seeks 'Hiroshima' bomb to devastate U.S. targets

by Bill Gertz

Geostrategy

August 10, 2004

Al Qaida terrorists are seeking nuclear weapons and plan to carry out a Hiroshima-type attack against the United States, according to the September 11 commission report. The report states that Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaida have tried to acquire or make nuclear weapons for at least 10 years.

The greatest danger of another catastrophic attack in the United States will materialize if the world's most dangerous terrorists acquire the world's most dangerous weapons," states a section of the report on arms proliferation. The report, based on access to the most sensitive U.S. intelligence on terrorism, states that in 1998 Bin Laden associates believed "their leader was intent on carrying out a 'Hiroshima.' These ambitions continue."