A radical Islamic group called Al-Ikhals Islamic Network has called for the setting of forest fires in the U.S., Europe, Russia and Australia in a post on a web site, The Age has reported. It also said that Al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Suri, who was captured in Pakistan and believed to be in U.S. custody, suggested using sulphuric acid and petrol to ignite the fires.

“Scholars have justified chopping down and burning the infidels’ forests when they do the same to our lands,” the statement read. WorldTribune.com reported that the group said that forest fires could damage the economies of targeted countries by hurting the timber industry and businesses, such as pharmaceutical companies, that rely on trees to make products. The statement also said that fires cause pollution and could even divert the attention of military forces.

In 2003, the FBI sent out an alert to law enforcement that a captured Al-Qaeda terrorist talked about preparations to light forest fires as a means of attacking the United States. The terrorist told the FBI that three or four individuals would place timed devices in Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming which would later ignite the flames. The FBI memo warned they could not verify the terrorist’s claims.

Soon after the news about the memo broke, wildfires were set in California, causing some to suspect terrorist involvement. A man named Sergio Martinez eventually pled guilty to starting the fire, saying that he had become lost in the woods and had started the fire to try to gain the attention of rescuers.