Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) Surveillance Videos of Western Targets in Singapore


JI: Surveillance of U.S. Embassy & British & Australian High Commissions (January 24, 2008)
A press release issued by the Singapore government reveals, "the reconnaissances of the US Embassy, the British High Commission and the Australian High Commission along Napier Road and Tanglin Road were conducted in Oct 2001. The video-clip begins with shots of the US Embassy as filmed from the busstop across the Embassy. In one of the shots, Nazir can be seen sitting at this bus-stop with his back to the video-camera which was being operated by 'Mike'. There were close-up shots of the US Embassy security post. Some shots were filmed from the carpark of some private apartments across the Embassy. Shots of the Napier Road stretch were also filmed from a moving car driven by Adnan and these included footage of the security arrangements at the entrances of the British and Australian High Commissions respectively." Moreover, "the video recording was stored in a VCD bearing a disguise label - 'Visiting Singapore Sightseeing.'" The, "Sammy" and "Mike" told the cell that "a chemical, ammonium nitrate, was required to make the bombs. They wanted up to 21 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. As they already had four tonnes in Malaysia...they instructed the cell members to help procure the other 17 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. The Singaporeans were also asked to look for a storage space in Singapore for the ammonium nitrate...Mohamed Ellias...made enquiries and attempted to procure ammonium nitrate through a contact from a local vendor. However, Ellias was arrested before he could seal the deal."

The VCD with the surveillance footage was found in the search of the office of Fathi Abu Bakar Bafana, one of the operatives with whom JI military commander Hambali had put Jabarah in contact. A U.S. government court filing in the case against Jabarah notes that "in late November 2001...the decision to attack the American embassy in Singapore was overruled by Hambali, who indicated...that al Qaeda leaders (including Abu Hafs, the military leader of al Qaeda) wanted an operation to be carried out more quickly. Hambali said that a year and a half was too long to wait. Hambali resuscitated the Philippine plan because it could be accomplished more quickly, as the group had explosives at its disposal in the Philippines."

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JI: Surveillance of the Israeli Embassy, Singapore (January 24, 2008)
In October 2001, JI operative Adnan bin Musa drove Canadan Al-Qaida member Mohammed Mansour Jabarah (a.k.a. “Sammy") and JI explosives expert Fathur Rahman al-Ghozi (a.k.a. “Mike”) to conduct reconnaissance on the Israeli Embassy in Singapore. According to the government of Singapore, "The video camera was operated by 'Sammy.' The video...shows the cameraman hastily lowering the video-camera out of sight as the car passed by the Embassy’s security post."
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JI: Surveillance of Yishun MRT Station, Singapore (January 24, 2008)
According to the Singapore government, in 1997, JI operative "Mohamed Khalim bin Jaffar (Khalim) conceived the idea of attacking US personnel at the Yishun MRT station. He knew that US military personnel would usually shuttle between Yishun MRT and their naval facilities in Sembawang Wharf. Khalim made a detailed reconnaissance of the Yishun MRT station and prepared a videotape of the reconnaissance with an English commentary by...Hashim bin Abas (Hashim)," another JI operative. Singapore's government adds, "By 1999, the plan was well drawn up. Khalim, who was training in Afghanistan at that time, was invited to brief Al-Qaeda leaders about the plan." After watching the tape, Al-Qaida leader Mohamed Atef "gave JI the go-ahead for the attack. However, the plan was eventually not pursued, for unknown reasons." The videotape and handwritten notes were discovered in the rubble of Atef's house in Kabul. Another copy, without the commentary, was found in the home of Mohamed Khalim bin Jaffar, a JI member arrested in Singapore in December 2001. The NEFA Foundation is making available a full transcript of the surveillance video, as well as images of the handwritten notes.
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JI: Surveillance of Sembawang Wharf, Singapore (January 24, 2008)
The Singapore government reports that JI explosives expert Fathur Rahman al-Ghozi (a.k.a. "Mike") tasked two JI operatives to carry out surveillance of the Sembawang Wharf and Changi Naval Base in November 2001. While the filming was initially conducted openly, the operatives eventually moved to a nearby restaurant to appear less conspicuous. The footage was discovered in a VCD labeled "MP3 - Rock n Roll," in the possession of one of the two individuals who made the video. Al-Ghozi's "detention in Manila led to the recovery of 1.2 tonnes of TNT, 2400 metres of detonator cord and hundreds of detonators which were meant to be shipped to Singapore."
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JI: Surveillance of Changi Naval Base, Singapore (January 24, 2008)
The government of Singapore states that JI explosives expert Fathur Rahman al-Ghozi (a.k.a. "Mike") tasked two JI operatives to carry out surveillance of the Sembawang Wharf and Changi Naval Base in November 2001. While the filming was initially conducted openly, the operatives eventually moved to a nearby restaurant to appear less conspicuous. The footage was discovered in a VCD labeled "MP3 - Rock n Roll," in the possession of one of the two individuals who made the video. Al-Ghozi's "detention in Manila led to the recovery of 1.2 tonnes of TNT, 2400 metres of detonator cord and hundreds of detonators which were meant to be shipped to Singapore."
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