US intelligence Chief declines comment on alleged Qaeda plot

8220;As we have repeatedly said,we know AQ wants to attack Europe and the United States. We continue to work closely with our European allies on the threat from international terrorism,including Al-Qaeda.8221;

Clapper added: 8220;Information is routinely shared between the US and our key partners in order to disrupt terrorist plotting,identify and take action against potential operatives,and strengthen our defences against potential threats.8221;

The statement came after news reports in the British and US media,citing security officials,said militants were planning simultaneous strikes in London and major cities in France and Germany.

Britain8217;s Home Office,or interior ministry,also refused to comment directly on the reports,but a spokeswoman said: 8220;We know we face a real and serious threat from terrorism.8221;

The German government meanwhile said it was aware of Al-Qaeda8217;s long-term aim to attack Western targets,but had no evidence of any concrete plans and that its risk assessment of the security threat was unchanged.

News reports said that well-armed,commando-style teams of jihadists planned to seize Western hostages and murder them,in a manner similar to the siege of two Indian hotels in Mumbai two years ago in which 10 gunmen killed 166 people and injured more than 300.