LONE WOLF WARNING – AT 8:55 A.M. ET:  This has become a major story on networks and across the internet.  From CBS: 

The U.S. government is warning about the potential for retaliatory attacks from home-grown, lone-wolves who may be inspired to act in the name of al Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin after the airstrikes were launched against extremists in Syria, telling law enforcement to "be vigilant." Officials have said there is no credible specific threat at the moment.

One of the groups targeted in Syria is an al Qaeda-offshoot called Khorasan.

Taking advantage of the lawlessness inside Syria, Khorason -- a terror cell of veteran al Qaeda operatives -- has been working on new hard-to-detect bombs that can be smuggled aboard airplanes, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.

Lt. Gen. William Mayville, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday the group was "nearing the execution phase of an attack either in Europe or the homeland."

Al Qaeda has experimented with non-metallic bombs that may be hidden in shoes, clothing, cell phones, laptops and tubes of toothpaste.

That intelligence prompted the TSA in July to tighten security for U.S.-bound flights from two dozen foreign airports.

Sources tell CBS News Khorasan, which takes orders from al Qaeda chief Ayman al Zawahiri, includes explosives experts who may have been trained by al Qaeda's top bomb-maker, Ibrahim al Asiri. Asiri, who is based in Yemen, is the architect of bombs hidden in underwear and computer printers.

COMMENT:  I would take this warning seriously.  I'd also take seriously the possibility that plans already underway before the American air strikes on Syria and Iraq are still intact.  The "lone wolf" scenario is frightening, but the well-organized mass attack, like 9-11, is more frightening.

September 24,  2014