Originally published on August 6, 2013
The closure of US embassies across the Middle East and Africa has been extended to Saturday as reports of a new type of liquid explosive have surfaced.
The alleged new explosive technique is believed to have been developed by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and reportedly consists of a liquid that can turn clothes into explosives.
AQAP is the home of alleged al Qaeda bomb maker Ibrahim al-Asiri who is the suspected mastermind of several previous al Qaeda bomb plots.
Clothes dipped into the liquid become explosive when dry, according to senior U.S. government officials.
Such an explosive would be extremely difficult to detect by conventional security measures.
The decision to close the embassies came after U.S. officials intercepted communications between AQAP and al Qaeda's leadership in Pakistan that suggested a major operation was underway.
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