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NYC mayor defends publicizing threat
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-08 08:46
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his police chief insisted
Friday they did the right thing by going public with a terrorist threat to bomb
the New York subway, brushing aside suggestions from Washington that they
overreacted to information of dubious credibility.
While the mayor and federal officials weighed the threat's severity, the
investigation into the alleged plot advanced as a third suspect was arrested and
authorities looked into whether a fourth person took part in the scheme.
A law enforcement official in New York, speaking on condition of anonymity,
said the tightening of security was prompted by an informant's report of a plot
to attack the subway system with bombs hidden in bags and possibly baby
strollers.
"If I'm going to make a mistake, you can rest assured it is on the side of
being cautious," Bloomberg said.
The dispute came as thousands of extra police officers poured into the city's
subway system, pulling commuters out of rush-hour crowds and rifling through
their bags or briefcases in a crackdown that was announced late Thursday
afternoon and continued on Friday.
The city's announcement of the alleged plot — and the warning to New Yorkers
to keep their eyes open for anything suspicious — led to jostling between city
officials and homeland security officials in Washington, who downplayed the
threat.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg rides
the subway downtown to City Hall in New York October 7, 2005, amid reports
of a terrorist threat to the NYC subway system was revealed last
night.[Reuters] | Homeland Security spokesman
Brian Doyle said Friday: "The specified intelligence was checked out through the
intelligence agencies. They looked at all the information and couldn't put a
credible factor on it."
But Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly vigorously defended their
decision to go public.
"We did exactly the right thing," Kelly said.
The mayor's chief spokesman said the city had been working closely with the
FBI and characterized the disagreement as a dispute within the federal
government.
"When different federal agencies have different interpretations of the
intelligence, the mayor doesn't have the luxury of knowing which one is right,"
Ed Skyler said. "He has to make a decision that provides the maximum level of
protection to the people of New York."
A Department of Homeland Security memo obtained by The Associated Press said
the attack was reportedly scheduled to take place Oct. 9, with terrorists using
timed or remote-controlled explosives hidden in briefcases, suitcases or in or
under strollers.
The memo said the department had received information indicating the attack
might be carried out by "a team of terrorist operatives, some of whom may travel
or who may be in the New York City area."
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