By an OGJ correspondent
PORT OF SPAIN, Dec. 9 -- Trinidad and Tobago's security forces are on high alert following threats to American and British energy interests in the Caribbean twin-island nation from an Islamic fundamentalist group.
Reports out of the country's capital say its security forces have unearthed a plan by a group called Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (Islamic Front), led by Umar Abdullah, to attack US and British interests in Trinidad and Tobago. It is believed that the group has links with Al Qaeda, and as a result intelligence officers from Britain and the US are on the island investigating the matter.
Firms from both the US and UK have billions of dollars invested in the Caribbean nation, most of which is in the energy sector. A number of the world's major oil and gas companies operate there, and it is a key country particularly for BP PLC and BG PLC operations.
Nature of threat
Intelligence officers from the Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the UK's Secret Service have been in the Caribbean nation working with local authorities on the matter. It is understood that Trinidad and Tobago's intelligence officers intercepted a cellular telephone conversation in which Abdullah was heard planning to strike American interests on Dec. 22. Apart from energy interests, he was allegedly discussing an attack on the US embassy in Port of Spain.
The road leading to that Embassy has been blocked off from vehicular traffic ever since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the US.
Frank Diaz, head of Trinidad's Special Branch, the security arm responsible for intelligence gathering, said that authorities had been following Abdullah for 3 years now. It is understood that he is well know to the US authorities who have put together a dossier on his organizations.
The dossier describes Abdullah as cunning and articulate and alleges that he has men training in weaponry and military tactics both within Trinidad and Tobago and out of the country.
Responses
Officials from both the US and British embassies would only say that they are keeping in touch with Trinidad and Tobago's security forces and have confidence in their ability to deal with any threat.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Patrick Manning, who also chairs his country's National Security Council, has refused to talk about the matter, saying he does not discuss national security matters publicly. Trinidad and Tobago is a key supplier of natural gas to the US, particularly New England. Its Atlantic LNG plant provides as much as 40% of the gas used for heating in the New England states during the peak winter periods.
By the second quarter of next year, Trinidad and Tobago is expected to be fifth largest exporter of LNG in the world, much of it going to the US.
