Iraq: We’ve Uncovered ISIS Plot for Attack on US, Paris Subways
September 25, 2014Iraq has received “credible” intelligence that Islamic State militants plan to launch attacks on subway systems in Paris and the United States, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Thursday.
“Today, while I am here, I am receiving accurate reports from Baghdad where there was (the) arrest of (a) few elements and there are networks planning from inside Iraq to have attacks,” he told a small group of US reporters, speaking in English. “They are not Iraqis. Some of them are French, some of them are Americans. But they are in Iraq.”
“They plan to have attacks in the metros of Paris and the US,” he added. “I asked for more credible information. I asked for names. I asked for details, for cities, you know, dates. And from the details I have received, yes, it looks credible.”
Al-Abadi said the suspects included extremists from the United States and France who were fighting for the Islamic State group in Iraq. Asked if the attack was imminent, he said, “I’m not sure.” Asked if the attack had been thwarted, he said, “No.”
In the past, the United States had received threats that various militant groups were targeting such transportation systems but there is no recent information about an imminent plan by Islamic State, one official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
A separate source in Congress said lawmakers and staff had not been briefed on any current Islamic State threats against subways in US cities.
A National Security spokesman also said the White House was not aware of a specific plot by Islamic State militants to attack American and French subway systems.
“We’ve seen the reports of Prime Minister Abadi’s comments,” Caitlin Hayden, the spokeswoman, said in statement. “We have not confirmed such a plot, and would have to review any information from our Iraqi partners before making further determinations.”
Meanwhile the New York Police Department said it was “aware” of the Iraqi claims, and was “in close contact with the FBI’ about the threat.
“We are in close contact with the FBI and other federal partners as we assess this particular threat stream,” said John Miller, deputy commissioner for intelligence and counterterrorism at the New York City Police Department. “New York City normally operates at a heightened level of security and we adjust that posture daily based on our evaluation of information as we receive it.”
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo also said he was aware of a report of potential threats to US subway systems and that authorities had already begun to beef up security at New York City mass transit sites before the latest warning.
“I want to assure the people of New York that we are monitoring these reports closely and are in close communication with officials in Washington,” Cuomo said in a statement.
A spokesman for the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority also said there was no specific or credible threat against Washington’s area rail or bus systems.
“We are aware of the reporting out of the Middle East,” spokesman Dan Stessel said in an email. “Based on the information we have at this time, there remains no specific or credible threat against the Metrorail or Metrobus systems.”
Earlier on Thursday, France said it would increase security on transport and in public places after a French tourist was killed in Algeria, and said it was ready to support all states that requested its help to fight terror.
The Islamic State extremists’ blitz in Iraq and Syria prompted the United State to launch airstrikes in Iraq last month, to aid Kurdish forces who were battling the militants and to protect religious minorities.
In addition to the brutality Islamic State has visited on the people in Iraq and Syria, western leaders have voiced concern that the group would move its terror operations outside the region.
This week, the US and five allied Arab states expanded the aerial campaign into Syria, where the militant group is battling President Bashar Assad’s forces as well as Western-backed rebels.
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...
How scary I hope its just a threat and they don’t go through with it.