Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Al Qaeda "Coming Soon" Poster Rattles NYC, NYPD, FBI
By
Garth Johnston
Published Apr 3, 2012
Modified Apr 3, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Apr 3, 2012
Modified Apr 3, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
An actual threat, or an amateur Photoshop? The FBI and the NYPD are currently investigating a disturbing mock movie poster that warns Al Qaeda is "coming soon again in New York." The image reportedly popped up on some Arab-language sites on Monday and has the cops spooked—or at least ready to be spooked. "It’s something we’re looking into," NYPD spokesman Paul Browne told reporters. "We’re trying to determine the origins of it. We take all things like this seriously."
According to Browne the image appears to have been created on foreign soil. "We’ve done an analysis. He’s not an American. We’re leaning toward (him being) an Egyptian, using Arabic, to create communications on this site," Browne explained.
Meanwhile the FBI is also looking at the image. "The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is aware of the posting and investigating its authenticity and origin," the bureau said in a statement. Still! "The FBI takes all threats seriously and there is no specific or credible threat to New York at this time."
And to that end, according to Browne, there is little intelligence to suggest the Big Apple is going to be hit by another terrorist attack. But better safe than sorry? In the meantime, nice Photoshop skills, random guy threatening us anonymously on the Internet. Thanks to TinEye we found the skyline portion of the image. Haven't found the original sidewalk portion yet, though. Anyone?
Tagged
al-qaeda
fbi
nypd
paul browne
photoshop
terrorism
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .