Credible, unconfirmed Qaeda threat to US
2011-09-09 19:00
Washington - US counterterrorism officials are chasing a credible but unconfirmed al-Qaeda threat to use a car bomb on bridges or tunnels in New York City or Washington.
It was the first word of an "active plot" timed to coincide with the sombre commemoration of the terror group's 9/11 attacks a decade ago that killed nearly 3 000 people.
Counterterrorism officials were investigating the threat throughout the night and into Friday, as police in New York and Washington said they would increase their already stepped-up staffing levels in light of the recent intelligence.
Law enforcement officials were pursuing three people who may be travelling to the US or who have recently entered the country, based on the detailed information received by the US intelligence community late Wednesday, officials said. The intelligence suggested that al-Qaeda planned to car bomb one of the two cities that were hit 10 years ago.
Qaeda’s new leader involved in plot
Vice President Joe Biden said on Friday that there was no confirmation that anyone had travelled into the US for such a plot although the tip came from a credible source. "There's no certitude," he said.
"The thing we are all most worried about is what they call a 'lone ranger', a lone actor, not some extremely complicated plan like it took to take down the World Trade towers," said Biden, who appeared on the trio of network morning TV shows on Friday.
A US official said the source of the terror tip indicated that al-Qaeda's new leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, was involved in planning the plot. But the official also said that many in the intelligence community question that and other aspects of the source's information.
The nation's terror alert level has not changed, but raising it was under consideration Thursday night.
The officials described the threat to AP on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters.
Security has been enhanced around the country in the weeks leading up to the 10th anniversary, a date officials have long known could draw an attack.
Law enforcement officials have been particularly wary after information gleaned from Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan indicated that al-Qaeda had considered attacking the US on this anniversary and other important American dates.
FBI, homeland security issue alert
Officials have also been concerned that terrorists would see the anniversary as an opportunity to retaliate against the US for killing bin Laden in a military raid in May.
The FBI and Homeland Security Department issued a joint intelligence bulletin on Thursday night to law enforcement around the country urging them to maintain increased security and be on the lookout for suspicious activity.
The threat came in a single piece of information and was so specific - and came at such a time of already heightened alert - that it could not be ignored, officials said.
"There is specific, credible but unconfirmed threat information," the head of the FBI's New York division, Janice Fedarcyk, said.
"As we always do before important dates like the anniversary of 9/11, we will undoubtedly get more reporting in the coming days."
No change to Obama’s plans
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters that police there were deploying additional resources around the city but that New Yorkers should go about their business as usual, and the city's observance of the attacks will go on as planned.
In Washington, law enforcement officials said they were working 12-hour days indefinitely, and Police Chief Cathy Lanier said unattended cars parked in unusual locations risked being towed.
Briefed on the threat information on Thursday morning, President Barack Obama directed the US counterterrorism community to redouble its efforts, a White House official said.
As of late Thursday, there were no plans to change Obama's travel schedule on Sunday in light of the threat, the White House said.
The president is scheduled to mark the 9/11 anniversary with stops at New York's ground zero, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
He also will deliver remarks on Sunday night at a memorial concert at the Kennedy Centre in Washington.
- AP