09-10-2011, 01:04 PM
Sept. 10, 2011
New York (CNN) -- Two of the three suspects believed to be involved in a potential 9⁄11 anniversary plot against New York or Washington are of Arab descent and traveled to the United States last week, according to a U.S. government official.
Authorities are operating under the assumption that two of the suspects have arrived on U.S. soil, and have been piecing together clues gleaned from flight logs and manifests, among other sources, said the official, who declined to be named.
A third plotter is believed to be have traveling in Europe, though it is not clear whether that person has arrived in the United States, the official said.
A senior U.S. administration official said Friday that it is the "origin" of the intelligence information that is causing particular concern.
U.S. officials believe that operatives came out of the tribal Pakistan-Afghanistan border region -- a volatile semi-lawless area that is home to extremist groups -- and that they are part of al Qaeda "central."
Rep. Peter King, R-New York, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said specific details were revealed to lawmakers about the threat. "Many agencies are looking at this from every possible angle," he said.
But it is not known yet if the threat is real, he said, adding, "I would tell people now to go about their lives. There's no need to panic."
Snipped from:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/09/09/terrori...?hpt=hp_t1
New York (CNN) -- Two of the three suspects believed to be involved in a potential 9⁄11 anniversary plot against New York or Washington are of Arab descent and traveled to the United States last week, according to a U.S. government official.
Authorities are operating under the assumption that two of the suspects have arrived on U.S. soil, and have been piecing together clues gleaned from flight logs and manifests, among other sources, said the official, who declined to be named.
A third plotter is believed to be have traveling in Europe, though it is not clear whether that person has arrived in the United States, the official said.
A senior U.S. administration official said Friday that it is the "origin" of the intelligence information that is causing particular concern.
U.S. officials believe that operatives came out of the tribal Pakistan-Afghanistan border region -- a volatile semi-lawless area that is home to extremist groups -- and that they are part of al Qaeda "central."
Rep. Peter King, R-New York, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said specific details were revealed to lawmakers about the threat. "Many agencies are looking at this from every possible angle," he said.
But it is not known yet if the threat is real, he said, adding, "I would tell people now to go about their lives. There's no need to panic."
Snipped from:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/09/09/terrori...?hpt=hp_t1