interesting

Spies Warn That Al Qaeda Aims for October Surprise
Intercepted Messages Asking Local Cells To Be Prepared for Imminent Instructions
By ELI LAKE, Staff Reporter of the Sun September 22, 2008
http://www.nysun.com/foreign/spies-warn-that-al-qaeda-aims-for-october-surprise/86326/

WASHINGTON — In the aftermath of two major terrorist attacks on Western targets, America's counterterrorism community is warning that Al Qaeda may launch more overseas operations to influence the presidential elections in November.

A Pakistani army soldier stands guard by the devastated Marriott Hotel following an overnight suicide bombing at Islamabad on September 21, 2008.

Call it Osama bin Laden's "October surprise." In late August, during the weekend between the Democratic and Republican conventions, America's military and intelligence agencies intercepted a series of messages from Al Qaeda's leadership to intermediate members of the organization asking local cells to be prepared for imminent instructions.[...]


What Was Mysterious Activity Going on in the Marriott Hotel Islamabad by United States Marines
Sunday, 21 September 2008 12:18 www.daily.pk
http://www.daily.pk/politics/politicalnews/7422-what-was-mysterious-activity-going-on-in-the-marriott-hotel-islamabad-by-united-states-marines.html

Marriott Hotel has now become a ghost house which was yesterday the most beautiful and prestigious hotels in the Islamabad. While the condemnation of the blasts and the deaths and the loss of property is going on from all the quarters, some intriguing news is also pouring in.[...]


Heretofore Unheard of Group Claims Credit for Islamabad Blast
Posted September 22, 2008
http://news.antiwar.com/2008/09/22/heretofore-unheard-of-group-claims-credit-for-islamabad-blast/

A group calling itself Fedayeen Islam has claimed credit for Saturday’s attack on the Islamabad Marriott Hotel.

Though the authenticity of the claim could not be verified, Al-Arabiya television reported a correspondent received a text message containing a phone number. When the number was called a recorded message took credit for the blast. The voice reportedly had a South Asian accent.[...]