Opinion - News Analysis

Al-Qaeda plot to target New York’s transit system?

Federal authorities in Washington informed law enforcement officials in New York this week of a possible plot by Al-Qaeda to bomb transportation systems in and around New York City.

But officials sought to play down the significance of the threat on Wednesday, in marked contrast to previous cases in which they issued public warnings of possible terrorist attacks in the region.

In this case, an intelligence bulletin sent on Tuesday to city officials said that the FBI had received “uncorroborated but plausible information” that, in late September, Al-Qaeda terrorists may have discussed attacks on transit systems, including the city’s subway system, a federal official said on Wednesday.

The information was included in a routine document given each month to local law enforcement officials “for their information, so they could look at it and take whatever measures they deemed appropriate,” said another official. The terrorists, according to the document, reportedly contemplated deploying suicide bombers or using explosives set off by remote control.

In response to the bulletin, federal and local law enforcement agencies in and around New York increased patrols on Wednesday. Amy C. Kudwa, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said the bulletin had prompted no “adjustments” to the colour-coded gauge of the nation’s threat level, “or, more specifically, for transit systems, at this time.”

She said the nation’s threat level was yellow, or elevated. The air system has been at level orange, a degree higher, since August 2006. “We have no specific information to confirm that this plot has developed beyond aspirational planning,” said Ms. Kudwa.

She said she could not say where the discussions might have taken place or name a source for the intelligence.

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