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Investigators Searching for Bomb Factory in Terror Plot
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 24, 2009
Modified Sep 24, 2009
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By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 24, 2009
Modified Sep 24, 2009
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Though the NYPD and federal agents say they've "successfully disrupted" an alleged terror plot targeting public transportation in NYC, officials are still uncertain whether more suspects remain to be captured. There's also the question of a bomb factory or an explosives stockpile, which would obviously have been an indispensable part of the plot. Four "anonymous government sources" tell Newsweek that more suspects (perhaps over a dozen) are being sought, and investigators are urgently searching for the explosives. Hopefully, the NYPD will be a tad more discreet from now on.
The unidentified officials also say there are similarities between "explosives recipes and schematics" found on a seized computer and materials used in the homemade bombs used to attack the London public-transportation system in July 2005. Three suspects—a Queens imam, a former Queens resident and his father—have been been arrested in the plot. According to Newsweek, investigators haven't found a link between them and Al Qaeda's core leaders, but one of them men, Najibullah Zazi, allegedly spent time in a Pakistani training camp, colluding with militant factions tangled in the longstanding war over Kashmir.
Zazi has denied any knowledge of an explosives stash, despite the notes on his computer detailing such materials. But officials also cautioned that the "circumstantial" evidence gathered thus far does not include anything about identified specific targets for attack. So, as usual, New Yorkers can enjoy the be afraid/don't panic feedback loop.
Tagged
bomb factory
explosives
fbi
investigation
nyc
plot
queens
subway
terror threat
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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