Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly at Ground Zero the day after the capture of Osama bin Laden

Counter-Terror Strategy Not Affected by Al-Qaeda Naming New No.1, Says Top Cop

By
Matt Joseloff
WNYC News | Jun 17, 2011

The news that Al-Qaeda has a new No. 1 won't affect New York City's counter-terrorism strategies, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said on Friday.

"I don't think it particularly matters who the leadership is,” Kelly told reporters. "We take it as an operational premise on our part that Al-Qaeda and Al-Qaeda surrogates want to do everything they can to hurt us."

The terror group said Thursday that Ayman al-Zawahri, Osama bin Laden's second in command, would be taking over the top spot in the aftermath of bin Laden's death at the hands of U.S. forces. Federal prosecutors said Friday they were formally dismissing charges against bin Laden.

Al-Zawahri had pledged to avenge the raid that killed Al-Qaida’s founder. He is said to be the mastermind behind the Sept. 11 terror attacks and the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole.

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Matt Joseloff

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