Watchful waiting

The U.S. has received specific and “credible” intelligence that al Qaeda militants in Pakistan may be pursuing a plot to carry out car or truck bombings in Washington and New York City, timed with the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, officials said.

U.S. officials said they received the intelligence within the last 48 hours, and that they are taking it seriously because of its proximity to the 9/11 anniversary. As one sign of the importance with which it is being handled, President Barack Obama was briefed on the threat multiple times on Thursday, and directed U.S. intelligence officials to “take all necessary steps to ensure vigilance,” a White House official said.

Officials didn’t specify the nature of the plot, or whether it was to target tunnels, bridges or specific sites. Rep. Peter King, a New York Republican who is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said he was briefed twice on the threat Thursday and called it “very specific, and it’s credible, but so far it has not been confirmed.”

The U.S. has long been aware of al Qaeda’s interest in carrying out a 9/11 anniversary attack, in part because of materials seized by U.S. forces in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May. The government already had begun to intensify security at airports, train stations, military bases and public buildings in anticipation of a possible attack.

The threat comes as Americans and officials across the country, including President Obama and former President George W. Bush, are set to mark the anniversary of 9/11 on Sunday with high-profile events at each site of the attacks—New York City, Shanksville, Pa., and the Pentagon in Virginia. source – WSJ