NYC Credible Terror Threat
- Thread starter QueEx
- Start date
<font size="5"><center>The New York City Alert's Iraqi Connection</font size></center>
STRATFOR
Daily Terrorism Brief
October 7, 2005
Hazmat teams converged on an area of Manhattan's Penn Station on Oct. 7, a day after authorities revealed a new terrorist threat against New York City's mass transit system. An entrance to the station was closed for more than an hour before investigators determined that a suspected toxic substance left inside a soda can near the ticket window posed no threat. Police have urged the public not to be alarmed over this latest threat to the city, saying the source of the information is credible but that the threat has not been verified.
The information that led to the alert originated in Iraq some time ago. During the course of collecting information about insurgent activities there, U.S. intelligence agencies were led to believe that members of the jihadist insurgency were plotting an attack in the United States. Some of the information specifically mentioned that 15 to 20 individuals were in the United States for the purpose of attacking the New York City mass transit system. U.S. intelligence also collected information indicating that the attack would be carried out in approximately 90 days.
Based on that information, the Defense Intelligence Agency on Oct. 3 passed the information to New York City authorities. Although the information was fairly specific, it was not considered actionable and could not be corroborated, so New York authorities did not immediately release it.
The information, however, led to an Oct. 5 raid on suspected insurgents in Musayyib, a town south of Baghdad in the so-called "triangle of death." The nearly lawless town is the scene of frequent attacks by members of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's jihadist network, al Qaeda in Iraq. Information given to authorities by the two or three alleged al Qaeda in Iraq members arrested in the raid led officials in New York to consider the threat serious, and to act on it. Security measures were increased on the subways Oct. 6 after the New York Police Department (NYPD) was unable to discredit the information.
Although other U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies are not entirely convinced the threat information is credible, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly decided to err on the side of caution. New York, the scene of two terrorist attacks in 1993 and 2001 as well as numerous foiled plots, is especially sensitive to terrorist threats. In addition, after the bombings of mass transit systems in London and Madrid, authorities in New York had no choice but to take a threat against its subways seriously.
It is no secret that New York is in the crosshairs of any number of terrorist groups. Beyond its enormous symbolic value to the United States, the city is home to the United Nations and the U.S. financial district. It also is densely populated and contains a large and affluent Jewish population. Furthermore, as a hub of U.S. and international media, any attack in New York City would receive instant and complete international coverage. From the standpoint of terrorist target selection, then, the city meets all the criteria.
For Bloomberg, the political repercussions of not reacting to this threat would be severe -- even if it is later determined to have been a false alarm. Should it come out that he was informed of the threat -- which he has called the most specific terrorist threat that New York officials had received to date -- but did not act, his political opponents could use that against him in the November mayoral election.
New York City and its subway system remained Oct. 7 at threat level Orange -- the second-highest level in the alert structure -- where it has stood since Sept. 11, 2001. NYPD, however, has deployed additional officers, tactical heavy-weapons teams and bomb-sniffing dogs to the city's subways and commuter rail services.
The heightened state of alert and situational awareness could make the New York City subway system the safest in the world in the short term -- though it is worth pointing out that bombers attempted the July 21 London Underground attacks in the face of increased security. Meanwhile, commuters and NYPD personnel will see briefcase bombs and terrorists under every seat and behind every turnstile on the subway. False alarms like the one at Penn Station and bogus threats from pranksters will add to the tension. Over time, however, the strain of maintaining a heightened state of readiness will lead to a relation of vigilance and a more complacent security atmosphere.
STRATFOR
Daily Terrorism Brief
October 7, 2005
Hazmat teams converged on an area of Manhattan's Penn Station on Oct. 7, a day after authorities revealed a new terrorist threat against New York City's mass transit system. An entrance to the station was closed for more than an hour before investigators determined that a suspected toxic substance left inside a soda can near the ticket window posed no threat. Police have urged the public not to be alarmed over this latest threat to the city, saying the source of the information is credible but that the threat has not been verified.
The information that led to the alert originated in Iraq some time ago. During the course of collecting information about insurgent activities there, U.S. intelligence agencies were led to believe that members of the jihadist insurgency were plotting an attack in the United States. Some of the information specifically mentioned that 15 to 20 individuals were in the United States for the purpose of attacking the New York City mass transit system. U.S. intelligence also collected information indicating that the attack would be carried out in approximately 90 days.
Based on that information, the Defense Intelligence Agency on Oct. 3 passed the information to New York City authorities. Although the information was fairly specific, it was not considered actionable and could not be corroborated, so New York authorities did not immediately release it.
The information, however, led to an Oct. 5 raid on suspected insurgents in Musayyib, a town south of Baghdad in the so-called "triangle of death." The nearly lawless town is the scene of frequent attacks by members of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's jihadist network, al Qaeda in Iraq. Information given to authorities by the two or three alleged al Qaeda in Iraq members arrested in the raid led officials in New York to consider the threat serious, and to act on it. Security measures were increased on the subways Oct. 6 after the New York Police Department (NYPD) was unable to discredit the information.
Although other U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies are not entirely convinced the threat information is credible, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly decided to err on the side of caution. New York, the scene of two terrorist attacks in 1993 and 2001 as well as numerous foiled plots, is especially sensitive to terrorist threats. In addition, after the bombings of mass transit systems in London and Madrid, authorities in New York had no choice but to take a threat against its subways seriously.
It is no secret that New York is in the crosshairs of any number of terrorist groups. Beyond its enormous symbolic value to the United States, the city is home to the United Nations and the U.S. financial district. It also is densely populated and contains a large and affluent Jewish population. Furthermore, as a hub of U.S. and international media, any attack in New York City would receive instant and complete international coverage. From the standpoint of terrorist target selection, then, the city meets all the criteria.
For Bloomberg, the political repercussions of not reacting to this threat would be severe -- even if it is later determined to have been a false alarm. Should it come out that he was informed of the threat -- which he has called the most specific terrorist threat that New York officials had received to date -- but did not act, his political opponents could use that against him in the November mayoral election.
New York City and its subway system remained Oct. 7 at threat level Orange -- the second-highest level in the alert structure -- where it has stood since Sept. 11, 2001. NYPD, however, has deployed additional officers, tactical heavy-weapons teams and bomb-sniffing dogs to the city's subways and commuter rail services.
The heightened state of alert and situational awareness could make the New York City subway system the safest in the world in the short term -- though it is worth pointing out that bombers attempted the July 21 London Underground attacks in the face of increased security. Meanwhile, commuters and NYPD personnel will see briefcase bombs and terrorists under every seat and behind every turnstile on the subway. False alarms like the one at Penn Station and bogus threats from pranksters will add to the tension. Over time, however, the strain of maintaining a heightened state of readiness will lead to a relation of vigilance and a more complacent security atmosphere.
J
jay C
Guest
Fear Consume Obey
<font size="6"><center>New York subway threat seen for Sunday</font size></center>
Reuters
Sat Oct 8, 2005 4:02 PM ET
NEW YORK, Oct 8 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities warned New York officials that a team of "terrorist operatives" planned to attack the subway on Sunday with remote controlled bombs hidden in briefcases or baby strollers, documents show.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security sent a bulletin to state and city officials on Thursday, the same day that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the threat but withheld details, saying they were classified.
Reuters obtained a copy of the bulletin after it had been reported by the New York Daily News on Saturday. The source of the bulletin asked to remain anonymous because it was still meant for official use only.
Federal authorities "have doubts about the credibility of the threat" and passed it along "to provide increased awareness out of an abundance of caution," the bulletin said.
Bloomberg took it seriously enough to warn the public.
"A team of terrorist operatives, some of whom may travel to or who may be in the New York City area, may attempt to execute an attack on the New York City subway on or about Oct. 9, 2005," the joint FBI/Homeland Security bulletin said.
The bulletin said bombers may have planned to hide explosives in briefcases, suitcases or baby strollers -- the same items Bloomberg warned New Yorkers not to take on the subway or risk being searched by police.
The threat alert was based on an uncorroborated claim to Iraqi authorities that prompted raids by U.S. and Iraqi forces and resulted in two suspects being taken into custody in Iraq, U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday.
A third was being sought, and the New York Times reported on Saturday that he had been detained, also in Iraq.
U.S. officials said the claim that spurred the raids came from an informant who suggested there was an operation involving more than a dozen operatives in Iraq and the United States.
"There were a lot of unanswered questions about what these people knew," said one official, who asked not to be identified because the information was classified.
A U.S. counterterrorism official said authorities were forced to act because the intelligence was unusually specific, came within months of the July 7 London bombings and involved a U.S. city known to be a target for Islamist militants.
(Additional reporting by David Morgan in Washington)
http://today.reuters.com/investing/...10681_RTRIDST_0_SECURITY-NEWYORK-UPDATE-1.XML
Reuters
Sat Oct 8, 2005 4:02 PM ET
NEW YORK, Oct 8 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities warned New York officials that a team of "terrorist operatives" planned to attack the subway on Sunday with remote controlled bombs hidden in briefcases or baby strollers, documents show.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security sent a bulletin to state and city officials on Thursday, the same day that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the threat but withheld details, saying they were classified.
Reuters obtained a copy of the bulletin after it had been reported by the New York Daily News on Saturday. The source of the bulletin asked to remain anonymous because it was still meant for official use only.
Federal authorities "have doubts about the credibility of the threat" and passed it along "to provide increased awareness out of an abundance of caution," the bulletin said.
Bloomberg took it seriously enough to warn the public.
"A team of terrorist operatives, some of whom may travel to or who may be in the New York City area, may attempt to execute an attack on the New York City subway on or about Oct. 9, 2005," the joint FBI/Homeland Security bulletin said.
The bulletin said bombers may have planned to hide explosives in briefcases, suitcases or baby strollers -- the same items Bloomberg warned New Yorkers not to take on the subway or risk being searched by police.
The threat alert was based on an uncorroborated claim to Iraqi authorities that prompted raids by U.S. and Iraqi forces and resulted in two suspects being taken into custody in Iraq, U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday.
A third was being sought, and the New York Times reported on Saturday that he had been detained, also in Iraq.
U.S. officials said the claim that spurred the raids came from an informant who suggested there was an operation involving more than a dozen operatives in Iraq and the United States.
"There were a lot of unanswered questions about what these people knew," said one official, who asked not to be identified because the information was classified.
A U.S. counterterrorism official said authorities were forced to act because the intelligence was unusually specific, came within months of the July 7 London bombings and involved a U.S. city known to be a target for Islamist militants.
(Additional reporting by David Morgan in Washington)
http://today.reuters.com/investing/...10681_RTRIDST_0_SECURITY-NEWYORK-UPDATE-1.XML
<font size="5"><center>Manhattan tunnel terror plot foiled, say US police</font size></center>
Staff and agencies
Friday July 7, 2006
Guardian Unlimited
US authorities have disrupted a plot by foreign terrorists to attack the tunnel system running under lower Manhattan, it was claimed today.
FBI agents monitoring internet chatrooms used by extremists apparently uncovered planning to destroy vital transport networks in New York city.
One of the alleged plotters, identified as Amir Andalousli, has been arrested in Lebanon at America's request.
The New York Daily News reported that the scheme was to blow up the Holland Tunnel, the most southern road link between Manhattan and New Jersey, with the aim of causing a torrent of water to shoot out and flood New York's financial district.
Sources said the terrorists wanted to drown the area as New Orleans was drowned by Hurricane Katrina, according to the newspaper.
Other tunnels and subways were also said to be possible targets, although it was unclear how far along the planning was.
"At this time, we have no indication of any imminent threat to the New York transportation system or anywhere else in the United States," the FBI said in a statement.
The Daily News pointed out that as all of lower Manhattan is above the water level, it is unclear how flooding a tunnel could have affected higher ground.
The Daily News said officials considered the alleged plot to be "serious". The talk in the internet chat rooms was of striking the American economy, rather than causing mass casualties, it quoted a source as saying.
The newspaper said counter-terrorism officials were alarmed because Jordanian associates of the terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi allegedly pledged financial and tactical support before he died, although it was unclear if any cash or assistance was delivered.
The suspects were said to be scattered all over the world. New York congressman Peter King said federal law enforcement and New York police had been monitoring a plot to attack New York's mass transport system for at least eight months.
"There was nothing imminent, but it was being monitored for a long period of time," he said. "This is ongoing, that's why I've said nothing about it until now. It would have been better if this had not been disclosed."
A government official with knowledge of the investigation said the alleged plot did focus on New York's transport system, but did not target the Holland Tunnel.
New York senator Charles Schumer said: "This is one instance where intelligence was on top of its game and discovered the plot when it was just in the talking phase."
The Holland Tunnel is protected not just by bedrock, but also by concrete and cast-iron steel.
One counter-terrorism source told the Daily News it was doubtful a plot to blow it up would be feasible, saying huge amounts of explosives and a detailed knowledge of blast effect would be necessary.
A senior security official in Lebanon said later that authorities arrested a Lebanese member of al-Qaida who admitted to plotting a terror attack in New York.
The official identified the suspect as Mr Andalousli, but said his real name was Assem Hammoud and he was a native of Beirut. The arrest was a month ago, in coordination with US police.
"Hammoud is a member of al-Qaida and he confessed to this [plot] information frankly and without coercion," the Lebanese security official said.
Last month, authorities announced the arrests of seven men in Miami and Atlanta in the early stages of a plot to blow up the Sears Tower and other buildings in the United States. At the time that plan was described by the deputy FBI director John Pistole as aspirational, rather than operational.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1815511,00.html
Staff and agencies
Friday July 7, 2006
Guardian Unlimited
US authorities have disrupted a plot by foreign terrorists to attack the tunnel system running under lower Manhattan, it was claimed today.
FBI agents monitoring internet chatrooms used by extremists apparently uncovered planning to destroy vital transport networks in New York city.
One of the alleged plotters, identified as Amir Andalousli, has been arrested in Lebanon at America's request.
The New York Daily News reported that the scheme was to blow up the Holland Tunnel, the most southern road link between Manhattan and New Jersey, with the aim of causing a torrent of water to shoot out and flood New York's financial district.
Sources said the terrorists wanted to drown the area as New Orleans was drowned by Hurricane Katrina, according to the newspaper.
Other tunnels and subways were also said to be possible targets, although it was unclear how far along the planning was.
"At this time, we have no indication of any imminent threat to the New York transportation system or anywhere else in the United States," the FBI said in a statement.
The Daily News pointed out that as all of lower Manhattan is above the water level, it is unclear how flooding a tunnel could have affected higher ground.
The Daily News said officials considered the alleged plot to be "serious". The talk in the internet chat rooms was of striking the American economy, rather than causing mass casualties, it quoted a source as saying.
The newspaper said counter-terrorism officials were alarmed because Jordanian associates of the terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi allegedly pledged financial and tactical support before he died, although it was unclear if any cash or assistance was delivered.
The suspects were said to be scattered all over the world. New York congressman Peter King said federal law enforcement and New York police had been monitoring a plot to attack New York's mass transport system for at least eight months.
"There was nothing imminent, but it was being monitored for a long period of time," he said. "This is ongoing, that's why I've said nothing about it until now. It would have been better if this had not been disclosed."
A government official with knowledge of the investigation said the alleged plot did focus on New York's transport system, but did not target the Holland Tunnel.
New York senator Charles Schumer said: "This is one instance where intelligence was on top of its game and discovered the plot when it was just in the talking phase."
The Holland Tunnel is protected not just by bedrock, but also by concrete and cast-iron steel.
One counter-terrorism source told the Daily News it was doubtful a plot to blow it up would be feasible, saying huge amounts of explosives and a detailed knowledge of blast effect would be necessary.
A senior security official in Lebanon said later that authorities arrested a Lebanese member of al-Qaida who admitted to plotting a terror attack in New York.
The official identified the suspect as Mr Andalousli, but said his real name was Assem Hammoud and he was a native of Beirut. The arrest was a month ago, in coordination with US police.
"Hammoud is a member of al-Qaida and he confessed to this [plot] information frankly and without coercion," the Lebanese security official said.
Last month, authorities announced the arrests of seven men in Miami and Atlanta in the early stages of a plot to blow up the Sears Tower and other buildings in the United States. At the time that plan was described by the deputy FBI director John Pistole as aspirational, rather than operational.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1815511,00.html