Al Qaeda Targets U.S. Shopping Malls This Holiday Season

ABC’s, the Blotter reports that the FBI is warning that al Qaeda may be planning a series of holiday attacks at shopping malls in Los Angeles and Chicago, according to an intelligence bulletin distributed this morning to law enforcement authorities across the country.

The alert said al Qaeda “hoped to disrupt the U.S. economy and has been planning the attack for the past two years.”

Law enforcement officials tell ABCNews.com that the FBI received the information in late September and declassified it yesterday for wide distribution.

The bulletin acknowledges that U.S. intelligence officers are uncertain as to whether the information is real, and intelligence officers say there is a concern that it could be “disinformation.”

Al Qaeda doesn’t necessarily have to spill any blood at all on our soil in order to disrupt our economy. And they know it.

Law enforcement officials at three different agencies told ABCNews.com the FBI alert was based on a source who has proved reliable in the past.

The source reportedly had only “indirect access” to al Qaeda and word of the actual threat came to U.S. intelligence officers “through a lengthy chain” of contacts.

With the shopping season approaching, however, the FBI officials decided it was necessary to share the information.

Bryan at Hot Air says:

I’m sure we’ll hear a deafening questioning of the timing about this shortly.

…3…2…1…

3rd commenter at the Blotter:

Hmm…economy on the rocks, Bush’s disapproval rating hits a record high, dissatisfaction with Iraq hits a record high…BOOGA BOOGA! Terror! Al Qaeda! Look over there!

Wow! That didn’t take long at all!

H/T: Hot Air