2002 Strait of Gibraltar terror plot facts for kids
In 2002, authorities in Morocco uncovered a plan by a group called Al-Qaeda. This group was trying to attack American and British ships in an important waterway called the Strait of Gibraltar. Several people were arrested because of this plan, including three men from Saudi Arabia and some Moroccan individuals.
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What Happened in 2002?
The Plan and Arrests
Three Saudi men were arrested: Zuher al-Tbaiti, who was thought to be the leader, and Abdullah al-Ghamdi and Hilal al-Assiri. These men admitted to being part of the plan. They had left Afghanistan in 2001 during a conflict known as the Battle of Tora Bora.
Reports suggested that a high-ranking person linked to Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, known as "Abu Bilal," had told them about the plan. Authorities believed this person was Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri. The plan involved using fast boats filled with explosives to attack American and British ships. There were also thoughts of similar attacks in Gibraltar.
How the Plot Was Discovered
The Saudi men had blended into Moroccan society by marrying Moroccan women. The wives of two of the men were also arrested. They were suspected of helping Al-Qaeda by moving money and knowing about the plans. One woman even tried to hide explosives when she was arrested.
Officials said this plan had been made "well before" the September 11 attacks in the United States. There were also plans for attacks inside Morocco, especially in the popular tourist city of Marrakesh. The three Saudi men were later found responsible for their actions in February 2003.
What Happened Next?
This plot was often compared to the attack on the USS Cole ship in 2000. The attack on the USS Cole, and a later attack on an oil tanker called Limburg in 2002, were also linked to al-Nashiri.
Because of fears about such attacks, NATO started guiding civilian ships through the Strait of Gibraltar in 2003. In 2014, Al-Qaeda mentioned the Strait again as a target. In their magazine Resurgence, they encouraged followers to attack major transport areas to cause problems for the world's economy.
