WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The FBI chief of counter-terrorism told ABC News Wednesday while weakened, the terror group al-Quaida is still plotting attacks on the United States.
"We view al-Qaida now as a wounded animal that has been wounded significantly," said John Pistole, acting assistant director of the FBI's counter-terrorism division.
"(It) now is in a position to strike either at the homeland or U.S. interests overseas, in perhaps a move of desperation rather then preplanned coordinated activity," he told ABC.
Pistole said new intelligence suggests an ongoing desire by al-Qaida to use weapons of mass destruction.
"Based on our intelligence about their interest in acquiring chemical, biological and radiological nuclear weapons ... (they want) something they could use to create a 'spectacular attack' that would exceed the (Sept. 11) attacks," he said.
The FBI says it is keeping close watch on several hundred men in 40 states.
