Security increased in NY subways on holiday terror threat

Police in New York have beefed up security in subways and on trains before the Thanksgiving holiday, on warnings by the government that al-Qaida terrorists were contemplating suicide bombing attacks on the city’s mass transit system.

The Associated Press obtained an internal memo indicating the FBI received “plausible but unsubstantiated” reports that al-Qaida terrorists may have had discussion about attacking the city’s subway system.

It was reported that the internal bulletin said al-Qaida terrorists “in late September may have discussed targeting transit systems in and around New York City. These discussions reportedly involved the use of suicide bombers or explosives placed on subway/passenger rail systems.”

“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,” noted the warning that was issued by the government on Tuesday.

A person who had been briefed on the threat spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of intelligence gathering. He said that the threat may also involve all of the passenger rail lines that run through New York, including Amtrak and the Long Island Railroad – both of which are typically very busy over the Thanksgiving holiday.

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