Feds Warn About Possible Terrorist Plot Targeting NYC

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a warning yesterday to state and local officials about "uncorroborated but plausible information" received in late September that al-Qaeda might have discussed targeting New York City transit systems, DHS and New York police spokespeople said.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said that "neither DHS nor FBI has any specific information to confirm that this plot has developed beyond aspirational planning." She said the warning was issued as a routine matter out of an abundance of caution before the year-end holiday season.

In a statement, the New York City Police Department said that it was aware of an unsubstantiated report and also cited "an abundance of caution" in deploying additional resources in local transit systems, which it characterized as a "not uncommon" response to threat information. The FBI referred questions to the Department of Homeland Security.

The brief statements did not say where the report originated, its source, nature or contents, but DHS said authorities are working "to follow every possible thread." Kudwa said DHS is not changing the terrorism threat level nationally or for transit systems.

Officials in New York City and Washington said transit passengers in both cities and five others with subway systems might see an increased police presence over coming weeks, which coincides with random bag searches and other security measures instituted in Washington before this month's federal election and the presidential inauguration in January.