WASHINGTON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Al Qaeda remains the "most serious and dangerous" terrorism threat to the United States and is likely to intensify efforts to place operatives inside this country, a new White House report said on Tuesday.

"Although we have discovered only a handful of individuals in the United States with ties to al-Qaeda senior leadership, the group likely will intensify its efforts to place operatives here in the homeland," the "National Strategy for Homeland Security" report said.

"We also must never lose sight of al Qaeda's persistent desire for weapons of mass destruction, as the group continues to try to acquire and use chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear material," it said.

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