CBS: Al-Qaida's New Plan to Outflank ISIS and Hit US

As concerns escalate about the imminent possibilities of the Islamic State (ISIS) attacking the United States, a secret terrorist group linked to al-Qaida may be a more urgent concern, CBS News reported.

Sources indicate that terrorists linked to Osama bin Laden's network have developed new bombs that are difficult to detect. As a result, officials have heightened security at U.S. airports and have stepped up efforts to search for hidden explosives.

The threat stems from cells of extremists in Syria who are loyal to al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and difficult to track. The group goes by the name of "Khorasan."

"In Syria, we've seen veteran al-Qaida fighters travel from Pakistan to take advantage of the permissive environment there," Matt Olsen, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, said during testimony Wednesday, according to CBS News.

It is feared that members of the group, some of whom are American jihadists, could smuggle weapons onto flights headed to the U.S. and European countries.

According to CBS News, sources said the group has high-tech experts that were trained by al-Qaida's top master bomb builder, Ibrahim al-Asiri, considered to be one of the most innovative Islamic bomb builders who built underwear bombs and bombs hidden in printer cartridges.

Officials conceded there is no specific or credible threat by this group to America.

At the same time, CBS noted, "As information about Khorasan becomes available, it's clear that al-Qaida remains obsessed with bombs, airplanes, and attacking the United States."

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