WASHINGTON, June 6 (UPI) -- U.S. officials fear a domestic terror attack is likely before the end of the year, as activity by "homegrown" cells is increasing, CBS News reported Tuesday.
Various officials told the network last weekend's terror arrests of 17 people in Canadian -- all of them Canadian citizens or residents -- shows how the odds of a domestic attack are escalating.
Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton pointed out a little-publicized incident last summer when Muslim converts who had banded together in prison began with a string of gas station robberies in Torrance, Calif. They later admitted the money was to fund attacks on 20 Army recruiting stations, the report said.
"Make no mistake about it," Bratton told CBS. "We dodged a bullet here -- perhaps many bullets."
Then, police in Toledo, Ohio, broke up a cell of three men training to attack U.S. forces overseas in February.
The officials said domestic terror cells are developing that al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is not funding or organizing and is likely unaware of, the report said.
