'Sleeper cells' of al Qaeda active in U.S. despite war

Al Qaeda terrorists, operating through "sleeper cells" scattered throughout the United States, continue to recruit new members, assist in the acquisition of safe houses and equipment, conduct pre-attack surveillance and relay messages from terrorist leaders and planners, U.S. law-enforcement authorities said yesterday.

Despite having been degraded by America's ongoing war on terrorism and an aggressive enforcement effort by the FBI, the organization also continues to raise millions of dollars through a vast network of U.S.-based bogus charities and foundations -- used to finance, among other things, terrorist training camps abroad, the authorities said.

But U.S. law-enforcement officials and other government agencies declined yesterday to comment specifically on a Tuesday report by The Washington Times that Islamist radicals are being trained at terrorist camps in Pakistan and Kashmir as part of a conspiracy to send hundreds of operatives to sleeper cells in the United States.

U.S. and foreign intelligence and law-enforcement officials said dozens of Islamist extremists had been sent through Europe to Muslim communities in the United States from training camps in the remote regions of western Pakistan and in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

Asked about The Times report, one U.S. official said there is no doubt that training camps for terrorists are operating in Pakistan and Kashmir, but that recent focus of the groups largely has been on internal Pakistani issues. The official would not elaborate, referring further inquiries to the FBI.

"The FBI remains committed to investigating and disrupting terrorist activities in the United States. There is no more important mission," said FBI spokesman Bill Carter, adding that locating al Qaeda members and sympathizers "is our highest priority."

Mr. Carter confirmed that al Qaeda maintains a network of members and associates in dozens of countries, including the United States, but said the FBI had made "significant progress" in disrupting their activities and planning.

Despite denials by the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, the law-enforcement and intelligence officials told The Times that the camps in Pakistan were documented by the Indian government, which said its army had photographs and other evidence that had been turned over to U.S. officials.

That information included satellite photos and communication intercepts showing 60 to 70 camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as well as in Pakistan.

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