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US confirms Bin Laden upheld communication in compound with other terrorists
Data and documents taken from Bin Laden’s compound show that that leader sent messages from the compound to other members of al Qaeda, confirming the suspicion that it was a “command and control centre”, according to a US official.
"There are strong indications there is back and forth with other terrorists," the official said. "These are not just the writings of an elderly jihadi."
CNN reports a source saying there is evidence of two-way written communications demonstrating that not only was bin Laden sending messages, he was getting responses as well.
The official also provided new details on bin Laden's personal journal, which was seized during the Navy SEAL raid, the official said. The handwritten journal, which was referred to last week by other officials as the al Qaeda playbook, is being reviewed by intelligence officials. Other handwritten materials are being reviewed, too.
The initial assessment is that the writings are from bin Laden, not the other occupants of the house, although the official emphasised that the US government is continuing to look at all the material.
The journal includes information about the importance of attacking the US and lists key dates on the American calendar, including July 4, Christmas and the 10th anniversary of September 11, and other guidance for how to attack the United States, the official said.
Both New York and Washington are mentioned in the document.
The idea of targeting railroads, which authorities warned about last week, was learned from this notebook, the official said.
