U.S.: New York City Subway Threat

Summary

On Oct. 6, the New York City Police Department responded to a threat regarding bombs on the New York City subway system.

Analysis

On the afternoon of Oct. 6, New York City police raised the security level on the subway system and deployed to the Brooklyn Naval Yard. They are investigating what they said is credible intelligence from two sources that 19 "operatives" would attempt to place briefcase bombs on the subway system.

The initial tip came from one of three members of al Qaeda in Iraq that were arrested during a joint CIA-FBI raid conducted Oct. 5 in Musayyib, Iraq, located south of Baghdad. The FBI subsequently passed the information to the New York Police Department (NYPD). When the NYPD was unable to discredit information after investigating for several days, security measures were increased on the subways Oct. 6.

New York City and its subway system are currently at threat level Orange, the second-highest level in its alert structure. The NYPD has deployed additional officers, tactical heavy weapons teams and explosive-detecting dogs to the city's subways and commuter rail services. Meanwhile, the police are urging the public not to be alarmed because though the source is credible, the information reportedly has not been verified.

Although the Department of Homeland Security is not entirely convinced the threat is credible, New York City officials appear to be erring on the side of caution by announcing that the threat has been received and by taking extra security precautions.

New York City probably has the best police force and emergency services for dealing with this kind of threat out of any major U.S. city. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the NYPD has developed its intelligence, anti-terrorism and tactical response units to a very sophisticated and capable level.

Making the threat public could be an effort on New York officials' part to flush the attackers out or deter them from acting. If there was an operation in play against New York City or its public transit system, making it public could discourage the plotters from continuing with their plan. With the level of vigilance and situational awareness among New York's law enforcement agencies and public, any would-be terrorists will find the city a difficult environment to operate in.

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