R. Richard
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2003
- Posts
- 10,382
The military arrrested two al Qaeda operative in Iraq. They got information regarding a bombing threat in New York City. If you wonder why we are in Iraq, this is one of the reasons. Comment?
QAEDA PLOT TO BOMB SUBWAY
October 7, 2005 -- The NYPD beefed up security on the rails last night after receiving what it called credible and specific information that the subways might be the target of a terror attack.
City officials mobilized cops to scores of subway stations to begin random searches of bags, briefcases and baby strollers.
Homeland Security officials in Washington, however, downplayed the threat, saying it is of "doubtful credibility."
Still, Mayor Bloomberg called it the most specific threat ever to the city's subway system.
"Its importance was enhanced above the normal level by the detail that was available to us from intelligence sources," he said.
Gov. Pataki said he would call up hundreds of National Guard soldiers to bolster patrols on Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North trains.
A law-enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the threat was "specific to place, time and method" and that the plot involved the use of explosives.
The tip that triggered the massive security sweep came from two al Qaeda militants arrested this week in a joint FBI-CIA-U.S. military raid outside Baghdad, law-enforcement sources told The Post.
The terrorists were described as unemployed chemists who had recently taken a six-week explosive training course in Afghanistan.
The al Qaeda snitches also told U.S. officials that they planned to travel to New York, by way of Syria, with bogus passports.
Once here, they would meet up with 19 operatives who had already been sent to New York to help set off the bombs, the sources said.
The bombs would either be hidden in baby carriages or planted in briefcases similar to those used in this summer's London bus and train bombings.
Bloomberg said the FBI notified the city of the threat in recent days.
NBC News agreed Tuesday to withhold reporting about the plot in order to allow the investigation to proceed.
But Homeland Security Department officials downplayed the threat.
Department spokesman Russ Knocke refused to explain why it was discrediting the tip — or to comment on whether it had originated with the al Qaeda operatives arrested in Iraq.
An official who was briefed on the plot said the threat was considered doubtful because it did not reflect "detailed, pre-surveillance," but information that could be found on the Internet.
He said he believed the NYPD's reaction was taken "out of an abundance of caution."
Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly refused to disclose where the information came from, but said the "level of specificity" of the threat led them to heighten security.
Bloomberg said there is no indication that the threat was linked to this month's Jewish holidays.
He also said no specific stations were mentioned in the threat, and no one has been arrested or detained in New York.
Regional FBI Director Mark Mershon, who appeared with Bloomberg and Kelly at a news conference, said that "classified operatives" had "partially disrupted this threat" and added that "multiple individuals are involved."
Kelly said that while the tip was "not fully corroborated," it was "deemed of sufficient concern to advise the public."
He said the NYPD was beefing up its uniformed and undercover presence on the subways — and stepping up bag checks and random sweeps — with cops from across the city among those being deployed to supplement the normal transit force.
Bloomberg said it was up to New Yorkers to decide whether or not they should use mass transit over the next few days.
But he said it would not stop him from taking the subway to and from work.
"I've looked at the information, and I'm going to take the subway," he said.
The city's security level remained at Code Orange yesterday — the same level since 9/11.
The NYPD began random subway bag searches in July, following the London bombings.
An estimated 4.7 million riders use the city's subway system on an average weekday.
QAEDA PLOT TO BOMB SUBWAY
October 7, 2005 -- The NYPD beefed up security on the rails last night after receiving what it called credible and specific information that the subways might be the target of a terror attack.
City officials mobilized cops to scores of subway stations to begin random searches of bags, briefcases and baby strollers.
Homeland Security officials in Washington, however, downplayed the threat, saying it is of "doubtful credibility."
Still, Mayor Bloomberg called it the most specific threat ever to the city's subway system.
"Its importance was enhanced above the normal level by the detail that was available to us from intelligence sources," he said.
Gov. Pataki said he would call up hundreds of National Guard soldiers to bolster patrols on Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North trains.
A law-enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the threat was "specific to place, time and method" and that the plot involved the use of explosives.
The tip that triggered the massive security sweep came from two al Qaeda militants arrested this week in a joint FBI-CIA-U.S. military raid outside Baghdad, law-enforcement sources told The Post.
The terrorists were described as unemployed chemists who had recently taken a six-week explosive training course in Afghanistan.
The al Qaeda snitches also told U.S. officials that they planned to travel to New York, by way of Syria, with bogus passports.
Once here, they would meet up with 19 operatives who had already been sent to New York to help set off the bombs, the sources said.
The bombs would either be hidden in baby carriages or planted in briefcases similar to those used in this summer's London bus and train bombings.
Bloomberg said the FBI notified the city of the threat in recent days.
NBC News agreed Tuesday to withhold reporting about the plot in order to allow the investigation to proceed.
But Homeland Security Department officials downplayed the threat.
Department spokesman Russ Knocke refused to explain why it was discrediting the tip — or to comment on whether it had originated with the al Qaeda operatives arrested in Iraq.
An official who was briefed on the plot said the threat was considered doubtful because it did not reflect "detailed, pre-surveillance," but information that could be found on the Internet.
He said he believed the NYPD's reaction was taken "out of an abundance of caution."
Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly refused to disclose where the information came from, but said the "level of specificity" of the threat led them to heighten security.
Bloomberg said there is no indication that the threat was linked to this month's Jewish holidays.
He also said no specific stations were mentioned in the threat, and no one has been arrested or detained in New York.
Regional FBI Director Mark Mershon, who appeared with Bloomberg and Kelly at a news conference, said that "classified operatives" had "partially disrupted this threat" and added that "multiple individuals are involved."
Kelly said that while the tip was "not fully corroborated," it was "deemed of sufficient concern to advise the public."
He said the NYPD was beefing up its uniformed and undercover presence on the subways — and stepping up bag checks and random sweeps — with cops from across the city among those being deployed to supplement the normal transit force.
Bloomberg said it was up to New Yorkers to decide whether or not they should use mass transit over the next few days.
But he said it would not stop him from taking the subway to and from work.
"I've looked at the information, and I'm going to take the subway," he said.
The city's security level remained at Code Orange yesterday — the same level since 9/11.
The NYPD began random subway bag searches in July, following the London bombings.
An estimated 4.7 million riders use the city's subway system on an average weekday.
