Washington, May 04: The al-Qaeda terrorist network may be down but is not out and is even seeking recruits in the US, FBI director Robert S Mueller has said.
"There are areas in which there are individuals who are seeking others, recruiting others to go for training outside the United States with the expectation that training might provide the backdrop for participation in a terrorist act in the future," Mueller said in an interview yesterday.
The FBI has opened investigations into the recruitment, he said, adding the investigating agency now has improved intelligence on the al-Qaeda.
On whether he believes active terrorist cells are operating in the US at present, Mueller said he does. "Every month since September 11 (2001), I become more confident that we know what is out there," he said.
On whether he believes active terrorist cells are operating in the US at present, Mueller said he does. "Every month since September 11 (2001), I become more confident that we know what is out there," he said.
The improved knowledge about the al-Qaeda is the result of doing a better job of analysing intelligence, the FBI director said.
At a hearing before the Senate select committee on intelligence in February, Mueller had said that several hundred Islamic militants linked to the al-Qaeda network are living in the US and that the FBI has not located or
identified all of them.
Bureau Report
