Al Qaida urges lone wolves to attack airliners with homemade bombs

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Al-Qaida is encouraging "lone wolf" jihadists to target U.S. airliners with homemade bombs, providing instructions in the latest issue of its magazine, Inspire.

The article, published Christmas Eve, outlines where to place a bomb and at what altitude to detonate it.

Solo jihadists were encouraged to attack commercial carriers, including American, Delta and United, in an attempt to gain attention and "crush the enemy's economy."

If unable to attack U.S. targets, the magazine says attackers should target British and French airlines.

"The Lions of Allah who are all over the globe – some call them lone wolves – should know that they are the West's worst night­mare," the magazine said.

The magazine explains ways to breach airport security and defines tactics on selecting targets.

This is the 13th issue of the magazine. The first contained a guide to make explosives called "Make a Bomb in the Kitchen of Your Mom."

Known as the "al Qaida chef," presumably Ibrahim Hassan Tali Al Asiri, an experienced bombmaker, the author of the explosives guide assuming the same name was interviewed in the latest issue and said that last year's Boston Marathon bombings were a "natural reaction" to the "arrogance" of the United States.

"Underwear Bomber" Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was praised for his failed attempt to detonate a bomb on a flight in 2009. He is currently serving life in prison.

The magazine called the October axe attack that wounded two New York City police officers was "splendid."

Former Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke and Bill Gates were also branded as targets.