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Concerns about Al Qaeda's growing influence in North Africa

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    Catherine Herridge reports from Washington, D.C.

  • Duration 2:30
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-- this -- are new concerns about Al qaeda's growing influence in North Africa.

And a desire to strike more western targets this comes after last month's hostage crisis -- an Algerian gas plant that left 38 people dead including three Americans.

Our chief intelligence correspondent Catherine Herridge live in Washington on -- -- more.

So -- how advanced is this product.

Well -- good morning senior US intelligence officials discuss the threat picture in North Africa before this morning's attack on the US embassy in Turkey.

Intelligence officials describing the desire to hit western including US targets as aspiration -- as the goal of al-Qaeda in North Africa.

Not -- concrete plots with established planning.

But the attack on the Algerian gas plant in mid January the hostage crisis there.

-- secretary of state Clinton even to concede that the threat to US interests in the region was growing as these groups -- their resources and people.

I think that we have to take seriously all of these terrorist groups whatever they call themselves now.

At the moment they don't necessarily.

Have either the interest or the ability to attack our homeland that we have a lot of facilities we have a lot of assets in.

The same tell -- North Africa seems to be on the -- the ability of the US intelligence community to collect data has diminished.

Intelligence officials acknowledge the Arab -- swept away these long -- allies.

It's sidelined or degraded regional intelligence services and -- is this weapons fuel the capability of these Islamist groups Martha.

So kind of targets Katherine do do we think they may have in mind.

Well again this is information we learned yesterday but at that time senior US intelligence officials said that al-Qaeda in North Africa.

And associated Islamist groups want to strike a broad range of targets quote this is US interest writ large hardened targets including diplomatic facilities.

As well as soft targets such as American citizens working there.

Unlike the tribal areas of Pakistan where the US can partner with one nation on -- terrorism issues.

I'll -- -- Islamic regret presents unique challenges.

It's a regional player whose followers move seamlessly between -- EG air Mauritania to Libya and Algeria.

Senior US intelligence officials say affected nations.

Are more concerned with the al-Qaeda problem within their own borders and less concerned with taking this broader regional leadership role.

That will be required to prevent these groups from establishing a seek haven in North African market.

Catherine thank you Katherine Harris in Washington I don't know --

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