Al Qaeda Christmas attacks planned?

Recently I posted about a report out of Germany that "Iraq-based al-Qaeda terrorist Abu Mussab al- Zarkawi is planning a terror strike of greater magnitude than the 11 September 2001 attacks in New York and Washington".

At the time I said with Christmas fast approaching we need to be on our guard.

Now from AFP via Jihad Watch comes this report.

PARIS (AFP) - A French court sentenced 10 people to prison terms of up to 10 years for taking part in a conspiracy to blow up a Christmas market in the eastern city of Strasbourg.

Mohamed Bensakhria and Slimane Khalfaoui, who were said to be the group's leaders, were given 10 years, and Mohamed Yacine Aknouche was given eight. Rabah Kadri, who is in detention in Britain, was given six years and was banned from entering French territory.

They and the others, who received shorter terms, were all found guilty of "criminal association with a terrorist enterprise."

The men provided logistical support for a group of Islamists based in the German city of Frankfurt, who were arrested in possession of plans to blow up the Strasbourg market in December 2000.

Remember it was 8 years between the first World Trade Center bombings and the attack on 9/11.

UPDATE: From CNN

Australia gets Xmas terror warning

SYDNEY, Australia -- Australians have been given a specific warning to stay away from international hotels in Indonesia over the Christmas period for fear of a terrorist attack.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade gave the warning late Wednesday, saying it had intelligence that an attack was being planned.

Keep your eyes open!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------