WASHINGTON DC – The U.S. has received specific and credible intelligence showing al Qaeda militants in Pakistan may be preparing to carry out car bombings in Washington, D.C., and New York City, timed to coincide with the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, a U.S. counterterrorism official told the Wall Street Journal Thursday night.
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The U.S. received the intelligence about the possible attack within the past 48 hours. Officials said al Qaeda leaders in Pakistan were believed to be behind the alleged plot.
“For the first time, the U.S. has received specific and credible but unconfirmed threat information linked to the 9/11 anniversary,” the counterterrorism official said.
Al Qaeda has “been knocked back on their heels, but they will try to attack the U.S. any way they can,” the official added.
The U.S. has long been aware of al Qaeda’s interest in carrying out a 9/11 anniversary attack, in part because of materials seized by U.S. forces in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May.
Counterterrorism officials briefed and updated President Barack Obama Thursday on the threat, a White House official said.
The Obama administration said it has already beefed up security in anticipation of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which is Sunday. Still, the official said, Obama directed the counterterrorism community to redouble its efforts in response to “this credible but unconfirmed information.”
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