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FBI Seeking 'Terror Trio' Believed Sent by al-Qaeda Boss

At least one man in suspected plot is believed to be US citizen: ABC

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 8, 2011 7:07 PM CDT | Updated Sep 9, 2011 7:48 AM CDT

(Newser) – The FBI, CIA, and police are attempting to track down a trio of men they believe arrived in the US last month to launch a terror attack on the anniversary of 9/11. The men, who officials believe were sent by al-Qaeda boss Ayman al-Zawahiri, are suspected of plotting a car bomb attack in New York or Washington, officials said at a Manhattan press conference late yesterday. Zawahiri vowed earlier this year to seek revenge for the killing of Osama bin Laden. Details of the suspect attack followed earlier official reports of intelligence concerning an upcoming attack involving "credible, specific" information that has not yet been confirmed.

Sources told ABC News that investigators believe at least one of the men may be a US citizen, and that two of them may have some kind of official US documentation, such as green cards. Their identities are not known but investigators are poring through the names of individuals who entered the US in the last few weeks, likely from the tribal areas of Pakistan. Though information has not been confirmed, "we live in a world world where we must take these threats seriously and we certainly will," vowed New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The FBI and Homeland Security has issued a bulletin with the information to some 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the US.

File photo of an airport security check by a TSA agent
File photo of an airport security check by a TSA agent   (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser, File)
Janice Fedarcyk, assistant director of the FBI's New York office, holds a news conference about a suspected terror plot intended to be launched on the anniversary of 9/11.
Janice Fedarcyk, assistant director of the FBI's New York office, holds a news conference about a suspected terror plot intended to be launched on the anniversary of 9/11.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
This photo provided by IntelCenter, an American private terrorist threat analysis company, purports to show Al-Qaida's new leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
This photo provided by IntelCenter, an American private terrorist threat analysis company, purports to show Al-Qaida's new leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.   (AP Photo/IntelCenter)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 47 comments
HarryBeaver
Sep 9, 2011 7:18 PM CDT
No sarcasm, this is great information.  This detailed, specific information is so much more useful than telling us that "chatter" has caused Homeland Security to raise the threat level to Code Orange and we should all seal off an interior room with plastic wrap.
baranoww
Sep 9, 2011 6:12 PM CDT
We figure we know who sent the Terror Trio. I just want to know who sent Obama?
The_Truth
Sep 9, 2011 5:13 PM CDT
This is the most secure nation in the world. You couldnt take a dump without the government knowing. Just more lies to strike fear through you. Al-Qaeda is a coert branch of the CIA, that's why the US and it's NATO allys are backing them in overthrowing Ghaddafi. http://www.mathaba.net/news/libya/
 

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