The FBI uncovered a plot to bomb New York’s Holland Tunnel, subways and other tunnels by Muslim extremists, one of whom has been arrested in Beirut, The Daily News reported on Friday.
Counterterrorism officials were alarmed by the ”lone wolf” conspiracy because it allegedly got a pledge of financial support and assistance from Jordanian associates of al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi before he was killed by a United States air strike in Iraq last month, a counterterrorism source was quoted as saying.
It was unclear whether the aid was delivered, the newspaper said.
One of the targets of the plot was to bomb the Holland Tunnel connecting the New York City borough of Manhattan to New Jersey.
The daily said the terrorists hoped to flood lower Manhattan’s financial district.
Other targets of the bombing plot were the New York subway system and other tunnels connecting the New York boroughs.
The newspaper said one of the alleged conspirators, identified as Amir Andalousli, was arrested in Beirut in recent months at the request of US officials, and that agents were ”scrambling yesterday [Thursday]” to track down other suspects, the daily said, citing sources close to the situation.
”This is an ongoing operation,” one source told the daily.
The FBI on Friday confirmed that it had uncovered a terrorist plot to attack unspecified targets in the New York transit system. — AFP
