'Lone wolf' terrorists a threat

WASHINGTON -- The possibility of war with Iraq could unleash acts of anti-American violence in the United States or overseas by individual extremists who do not belong to al-Qaida or other Middle Eastern terrorist groups but sympathize with their grievances, intelligence and law enforcement officials say.

A classified FBI intelligence bulletin, issued on Wednesday to state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the country, warned the authorities to be on the alert for lone terrorists who are not directed by organizations like al-Qaida.

"Lone extremists represent an ongoing terrorist threat in the United States," the bulletin said. "Lone extremists may operate independently or on the fringes of established extremist groups, either alone or with one or two accomplices."

Law enforcement and intelligence officials said in interviews in recent days that they believe the threat of such attacks by individual extremists is growing because of the possibility of a U.S.- led war against Iraq.

The officials said a war would inflame anti-American sentiment throughout the Arab world, adding to a litany of causes that have stoked hatred of the United States. One of the main issues expressed by many Arabs is their belief that the United States has supported Israel in its effort to put down the Palestinian intifada, or uprising. And some people may decide to strike against U.S. targets almost on the spur of the moment, officials warned.

Moreover, analysts regard the new taped message believed to be from Osama bin Laden as a summons to his followers, and perhaps to new sympathizers, to conduct actions against the U.S. targets in response to the possible war in Iraq.

Counterterrorism officials have long feared that a solitary terrorist with an automatic weapon or one committed to a suicide bombing could inflict heavy casualties in the United States.

The threat posed by what officials refer to as "lone wolves" who suddenly decide to act because of their increasingly radicalized views toward the United States is a major concern for U.S. officials because their actions are difficult to predict or prevent.

"Many lone extremists have no links to conventional terrorist groups," the bulletin of the FBI said. "In fact, FBI analysis suggests that psychological abnormalities, as much as devotion to an ideology, drive lone extremists to commit violent acts."

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