SLEEPER CELL

Sleeper cells are groups of terrorist who are trained and ready to carry out attack at a designated time and place.They are loosely organised and blend into communities easily through legitimate employment.

These agents may spend years performing their regular duties while living deep undercover,then suddenly receive orders from their overseas handlers to either commit an act of terrorism or to provide aid to those who will.For eg. one sleeper agent may work for an airline ticket while another may work for a car rental company. When the commanders of the terrorist organisation want to activate a cell, they receive only his specific order. For eg. The airline ticket agent may be told to provide tickets to them. No individual is aware of the entire plan.

The event 9/11 pointed out the dangers of such cells, since a number US citizens did provide material assistance to the actual terrorists.