US concerned over terrorists recruiting Americans

Washington: In the light of the case of LeT operative David Coleman Headley, several US lawmakers have voiced concern over "home-grown terrorism" and the ease with which Pakistan-based terror groups are recruiting Americans to carry out attacks in the United States and abroad.      

"Terrorist organisations not only successfully recruited Americans, but then provided the requisite training to enable those Americans to carry out attacks," said Democratic Jane Harman during a Congressional hearing.

"We don't have too many chances more -- too many more chances to get this right. There is a growing list of people suspected of being recruited and ready to carry out terror attacks in our country and abroad," she said.     

Noting that Headley "has now been indicted for his alleged roles in the Mumbai attacks last year as well as for plotting an attack on a Danish newspaper", Harman said "this case is doubly important to examine because he was an American recruited to attack abroad."

She listed out other recent cases also, including that of five Virginia youths landing up in Pakistan with the mission to join one of the terrorist organisations.     

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"Recent cases highlight the fact the United States is not immune to home-grown terrorism and the murders at Fort Hood (military base), just north of my district, by Nidal Hasan last month remind us not only about domestic radicalization but how vulnerable we really are to an attack," said Republican Congressman Michael T McCaul.

 

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