FBI warns NY officials of Thanksgiving Day terrorist plot

'Plausible but unsubstantiated'

By Austin Modine • Get more from this author

Posted in Security, 26th November 2008 20:09 GMT

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Happy Thanksgiving holiday, United States. Here's your first helping of holiday terrorist panic.

The US Department of Homeland Security and FBI has been issuing warnings to New York state officials and law enforcement of a "plausible but unsubstantiated" threat of a terrorist bomb attack on the New York City subway and train systems during the holidays.

An internal memo sent out Tuesday and obtained by the Associated Press says the FBI received a report that al Qaeda terrorists in September may have discussed a plot involving suicide bombers or explosives placed on transit systems in or around New York city.

DHS spokesman Russ Knocke told the AP the warning was issued as a routine matter, but said there may be an increased presence of police in New York and other larger cities.

"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," stated the memo.

DHS isn't changing the national threat level as a result of the warning, which has been yellow (indicating a "significant risk of terrorist attacks" since March.) The threat level for domestic and international flights remains orange (for "high" risk). ®

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