Western intelligence agencies have uncovered an Al-Qaeda plot to launch Mumbai-style terrorist attacks in Britain, France and Germany, reports said on Wednesday. Militants based in Pakistan were planning simultaneous strikes in London and major cities in France and Germany, Britain's Sky News television reported, citing intelligence sources. It was one of the most serious Al-Qaeda attack plans in recent years and was inspired by the terror group's fugitive leadership in Pakistan's tribal areas. The United States was also a possible target and President Barack Obama had been briefed about the threat, said ABC News in the US citing American officials. Planning for the attacks was advanced but they were not imminent and recent drone strikes in Pakistan had killed several leaders of the plot and severely disrupted it, said Sky. Well-armed, commando-style teams of jihadists planned to seize Western hostages and murder them, in a manner similar to the siege of two Indian hotels in Mumbai in 2008, according to the BBC. In the Mumbai attacks, 10 gunmen went on a three-day rampage, killing 166 people and injuring more than 300. In Britain on Wednesday, the national threat level remained at severe -- where it has been since January -- which means a terrorist attack is thought highly likely. France has been on a heightened state of alert amid warnings of an imminent terrorist attack but an official said late Tuesday these warnings were not linked to the reported Al-Qaeda plans. The plot targeting Europe was uncovered after intelligence-sharing between London, France, Germany and the US, and their cooperation had led to the attack plans being disrupted, said Sky. A number of the plot leaders were killed in drone attacks which were increased in recent weeks to target them, said the broadcaster. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the CIA had stepped up its drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal areas as part of efforts to prevent the mass attacks on European cities. Pakistani security officials have reported around 20 drone strikes in the country's tribal belt along the Afghan border this month. The latest on Tuesday killed Al-Qaeda's operational chief for Afghanistan and Pakistan in Pakistan's tribal areas, according to security officials in the country.
