Terror Threat in NYC and DC as 9/11 Approaches: Officials
Federal officials warned last night of 'specific and credible' terror threats against NYC and DC, ABC News reports:
U.S. authorities are scrambling to sort through information that the CIA developed in the past 24 hours indicating that at least three individuals entered the U.S. in August by air with the intent to launch a vehicle-borne attack against Washington, D.C. or New York around the anniversary of 9/11, according to intelligence officials.
Officials say the alleged terror plot was initiated by new al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's successor, who had pledged to avenge bin Laden's death earlier this year in a U.S. raid.
The NYDN reports:
One rental truck that originated from an unidentified rental shop is missing, according to officials, who added that authorities are currently searching for the truck in the two cities. "It is significant and should be taken seriously," a law enforcement official told The News concerning the potential threat.
Meanwhile, a counterterrorism official told The Associated Press that law enforcement officials have been investigating the intelligence since it was received late Wednesday night. Cops and feds have conducted bomb sweeps in garages throughout New York and Washington, D.C., sources told The News.
Watch Bloomberg's news conference, AFTER THE JUMP...
How convenient.
Posted by: MikeInSanJose | Sep 9, 2011 10:19:54 AM
"Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies of Allah and your enemies and others besides, whom ye may not know."
- Koran 8:60
Posted by: Max | Sep 9, 2011 11:04:43 AM
So, my comment gets deleted, but someone quoting the Koran in a thinly-veiled anti-Islamic statement gets to stay up?
"Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword. And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again. And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and show thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers; When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God."
Deuteronomy 13:15-18
Even?
Posted by: Jesus | Sep 9, 2011 11:10:18 AM
But Christians didn't hijack commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center killing 3,000 people, Jesus. That's the difference.
Please explain how the Koran is anti-Islamic.
Posted by: Max | Sep 9, 2011 11:26:03 AM
Judaism lead to Christianity and then lead to Islam. It's all founded in the same religion, so whether you quote the Old Testament, New Testament, or the Koran, it's all founded in the same place. From an outsider's prospective, the arguments within the Judeo-Christian communities are confusing and nonsensical. You'd think you'd be able to get along. The point is that you shouldn't get lost in your details, but focus on the main goals of each religious sect. Most religions try to explain the natural world around them, and try to teach us to get along with each other. I'm an Atheist because I believe we all deserve to be respected, and I trust in logic and science. Why can't we just respect one another?
Posted by: Yahweh | Sep 9, 2011 11:43:20 AM
No, and Muslims didn't either. People who were Muslim is different than Muslim people in general. Also, Oklahoma City Bombing? Norway Shootings? Holocaust? Pretty sure it goes all ways.
As for the Koran being anti-Islamic--it isn't. But using quotes from it that seem to justify terrorism in an atmosphere of anti-Islamic hostility that was precipitated by the rhetoric that flowed from the mouths of pundits and politicians is pretty self-explanatory.
Posted by: Jesus | Sep 9, 2011 12:20:22 PM
The problem is that all they have to do now is say they are going to do something and we run around like Chicken Littles. We can't evacuate NYC every weekend of the year like with Irene.
Posted by: anon | Sep 9, 2011 12:35:16 PM
Jesus, 19 Muslims from Egypt and Saudi Arabia hijacked the airplanes and murdered indiscriminately in the name of Islam.
Posted by: Max | Sep 9, 2011 12:55:36 PM
My view, for all religions, is that if you truly claim to be "peaceful" and "moderate", then you need make your holy book reflect that by eliminating the exhortations to genocide and revenge, and the callous treatment of LGBT people (among others).
Otherwise, you're just lying, either to yourself, the rest of the world, or both.
Posted by: Randy | Sep 9, 2011 2:06:20 PM
Islam uses a lunar calendar to identify significant dates. From that perspective, the 10th anniversary of 9/11 happened months ago, in late May. If somebody was going to mark the anniversary with another attack, wouldn't they have done it then?
Posted by: Dave | Sep 11, 2011 8:40:17 PM