NYC Subway Terror Threat
Just in time for the holidays. Again. Americans may be getting complacent but shouldn't. Stay safe, stay vigilant. Fox says the info came from a "walk-in" who sat in on the meeting when the threat was discussed by Al Qaida:
From Fox News
FBI Warns of Possible Terror Plot Against New York City Subway During Holidays
Federal authorities are warning of a possible Al Qaeda-orchestrated terror plot against New York City subway and other transit systems during the holidays, FOX News has confirmed.
The potential threat, described in an internal FBI memo as "plausible but unsubstantiated," does not extend beyond the New York City area, sources told FOX News. But commuters could see security tighten across the country.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security issued a joint bulletin late Tuesday night to local and state law enforcement authorities about the possible plot, a homeland security official told FOX.
The report states that in late September, Al Qaeda may have talked about attacking transit systems in and around New York City during the holiday season.
"These discussions reportedly involved the use of suicide bombers or explosives placed on subway/passenger rail systems," the bulletin says.
The FBI said it had no indication that any such plot was beyond the very earliest stages of planning.
" We have no specific details to confirm that this plot has developed beyond aspirational planning, but we are issuing this warning out of concern that such an attack could possibly be conducted during the forthcoming holiday season," states the warning, which is dated Tuesday.
While federal agencies regularly issue all sorts of advisory warnings, the language of this one is particularly blunt.
Intelligence and homeland security officials are working with local authorities to try to corroborate the information "and will continue to investigate every possible lead," the memo says.
UPDATE: here's ABC's version on it, courtesy Jihad Watch:
Happy Thanksgiving. "Exclusive: NY Rail Plot Details Based on 'Reliable' FBI Source," by Richard Esposito for ABC News, November 26 (thanks to Jeffrey Imm):
Uniformed police officers have flooded New York City's Penn Station, home to the Long Island Rail Road, following a warning from the FBI of a "plausible but unsubstantiated" threat of a terrorist bomb attack against the system during the holidays.
Law enforcement officials tell ABCNews.com, the plot involved a "Madrid-like attack," a reference to the synchronized bombing of the commuter rail system in Spain in March 2004 that killed 191 people.
Following the public release of the warning by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, officials in Washington made efforts to dampen public concern.
"There is nothing concrete to suggest this plot ever went beyond the aspirational or talking stage," said a U.S. official familiar with the intelligence that led to the warning.
Law enforcement officials told ABCNews.com the information was based on an FBI source who has proved "reliable and knowledgeable in the past."
Officials told ABCNews.com unspecified new information in the last 48 hours led to the public warning "out of an abundance of caution."
Congressman Peter King (R-NY), the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, told the Associated Press "authorities have very real specifics as to who it is and where the conversation took place and who conducted it."...
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