US casts doubt on IS subway plot but still increases security
Haider al-Abadi says Iraq has information that IS plans to bomb New York City and Paris metro stations, but the White House dismissed the claim
(L-R) George Venizelos, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the FBI, NY Field Office, NY City Mayor Bill de Blasio and NY Police Commissioner (AFP)
Published date: 13 February 2015 00:45 GMT
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Last update: 9 years 2 months ago
US authorities said on Thursday that they had no knowledge of a supposed plot by Islamic State radicals to attack subway systems in the United States and Paris, following reported comments by Iraq's leader about such a threat.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York that his country’s intelligence operations had received information about a potential attack from an IS militant arrested in Iraq.
"Today, while I'm here I'm receiving accurate reports from Baghdad that there were arrests of a few elements and there were networks from inside Iraq to have attacks... on metros of Paris and US", al-Abadi told reporters, speaking in English.
Abadi said he believed in the seriousness of the report after hearing the details, including names, dates and the planning, however, he declined to give further details.
Responding to a question of whether the plot was prevented or still active, Abadi said it is impossible to stop a plot of this nature simply by arresting a few militants as it is planned and put in action by a militant network.
Addressing the nationalities of the militants detained, Abadi said, "They are not Iraqis. Some of them are French, some of them are Americans. But they are in Iraq."
Despite denying any knowledge of such a plot, New York police nevertheless stepped up security at subway stations across the city, while stressing that they had no specific information of an imminent threat.
"We've seen the reports of Prime Minister Abadi's comments," said National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden.
"We have not confirmed such a plot and would have to review any information from our Iraqi partners before making further determinations.
"We take any threat seriously and always work to corroborate information we receive from our partners."
People briefed on the matter told AFP that US authorities did not believe there was a "current" or "specific" threat to subway systems.
A senior US official, meanwhile, said that no one in the US government was aware of such a plot.
"It was not raised with us in our meetings with Iraqi officials here in New York," said the official.
Despite that, New York Police Chief William Bratton announced heightened security measures in the city.
"We do not have any confirmed threat directed against New York City or its subway system," Bratton said.
"We always err on the side of caution."
Bratton added that extra police officers had been placed throughout the city and at the subway's 450 stations.
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge George Venizelos said the bureau was aware of the Iraqi prime minister's statements.
He said the FBI was in touch with law enforcement and other intelligence authorities to assess the validity of the threat.
"The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with the New York City Police Department, remain committed to protecting this city," he said.
French government sources also said they could not confirm the reported plot.
France, which has joined the United States in carrying out air raids on Islamic State targets in Iraq, earlier reinforced security in public places and on public transport.
But a government source said that the move was ordered before Abadi's comments out of a more general sense of caution.
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