http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGASZHZ5QUC.html

Peru Says It Uncovers Suspected Terrorist Plot Against U.S. Embassy

By Craig Mauro Associated Press Writer Published: Dec 1, 2001

LIMA, Peru (AP) - Peruvian police arrested two suspected members of a leftist guerrilla group who they believe were plotting an attack against the U.S. Embassy, Interior Minister Fernando Rospigliosi said Saturday.

The alleged members of the Shining Path group were arrested in Lima on Nov. 20 with diagrams of the U.S. Embassy, Rospigliosi said.

"The suspicion is that they were planning to carry out attacks against the American Embassy and against another site that is linked to U.S. interests," Rospigliosi told cable news station Channel N. He did not specify the other site, or provide information about the identity of the suspects.

The U.S. State Department warned American citizens on Saturday of "evidence of an increase in activity by members of the Shining Path terrorist organization."

The Shining Path waged war against the government in the 1980s and early 1990s, terrorizing urban and rural areas with car bombings and assassinations. The violence diminished significantly after the 1992 capture of its founder and leader, Abimael Guzman, who is now serving a life sentence.

Authorities suspect that the alleged attacks were planned for Monday, Dec. 3 - Guzman's birthday, Rospigliosi said. Shining Path has carried out terrorist acts on that date in the past, he said.

The U.S. State Department said, "It is possible that Shining Path activity could be directed against U.S. citizens and interests, especially around anniversary dates significant to the Shining Path throughout the month of December."

At the peak of their power, the guerrillas carried out bombings and other attacks against U.S. government and commercial properties in Peru. The rebels consider the United States an imperialist force.

Rospigliosi said Peruvian police have beefed up security at the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. ambassador's residence and at "other locales."

Police believe at least 400 Shining Path combatants are still active, mainly in the Ene and Huallaga River valleys east and northeast of Lima. At the peak of its strength, the Shining Path was believed to have as many as 10,000 fighters.

-- Anonymous, December 01, 2001

Answers

Links to other threads with pertinent discussions regarding this "issue" down in South America (it has the potential to be *big*).

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14997

http://pub16.ezboard.com/ftb2kfulltopicfrm9.showMessage? topicID=620.topic

http://pub16.ezboard.com/ftb2kfulltopicfrm9.showMessage? topicID=619.topic

http://pub16.ezboard.com/ftb2kfulltopicfrm9.showMessage? topicID=618.topic

http://pub16.ezboard.com/ftb2kfulltopicfrm14.showMessage? topicID=473.topic

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b5da47971f4.htm

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/575414/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/544622/posts

-- Anonymous, December 01, 2001