U.S. Officials Have Received ‘Credible’ Terror Threat

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has “specific, credible but unconfirmed threat information” as the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks nears, agency spokesman Matt Chandler said in a statement.

The threat concerns a possible al-Qaeda-sponsored attack targeting New York or Washington on or near the anniversary of the attack, said a different U.S. official, who wasn’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The official said the intelligence concerns a possible vehicle-borne attack, perhaps on a transportation hub or bottleneck, and cautioned that the options may be broader than a car or truck bombing.

Another intelligence official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the information hasn’t been fully vetted.

President Barack Obama was briefed on the threat today and received updates throughout the day, according to a statement from a White House official who asked not to be identified.

Obama directed counter-terrorism officials to redouble their efforts, which had already been increased in advance of the anniversary of the 2001 attacks on New York City’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., the White House official said.

[Bloomberg.com]