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Iraqi Leader Says ISIS Militants Plotted Against Subways Iraqi Leader Says ISIS Militants Plotted Against Subways
(about 1 hour later)
Iraq’s prime minister said on Thursday that his government had gathered intelligence from captured militants indicating that the Islamic State was planning to attack targets in Europe and the United States, including subways.Iraq’s prime minister said on Thursday that his government had gathered intelligence from captured militants indicating that the Islamic State was planning to attack targets in Europe and the United States, including subways.
American intelligence officials expressed some skepticism about the assertion, pointing out that it was inconsistent with other information they had gathered about the Islamic State. But they were looking into it nonetheless.American intelligence officials expressed some skepticism about the assertion, pointing out that it was inconsistent with other information they had gathered about the Islamic State. But they were looking into it nonetheless.
The prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, said that the plotting was being carried out by foreign fighters who had joined the Islamic State’s offensive in Iraq.The prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, said that the plotting was being carried out by foreign fighters who had joined the Islamic State’s offensive in Iraq.
He said that he had been informed of the information on Thursday morning and that Iraq was sharing it with the United States.He said that he had been informed of the information on Thursday morning and that Iraq was sharing it with the United States.
“From the details I have received, yes, it looks credible,” Mr. Abadi told a group of reporters in New York, where the prime minister and his aides were attending the United Nations General Assembly meeting.“From the details I have received, yes, it looks credible,” Mr. Abadi told a group of reporters in New York, where the prime minister and his aides were attending the United Nations General Assembly meeting.
“Today, while I am here, I am receiving accurate reports from Baghdad,” said Mr. Abadi, adding that they came following the “arrest of a few elements.”“Today, while I am here, I am receiving accurate reports from Baghdad,” said Mr. Abadi, adding that they came following the “arrest of a few elements.”
“There are networks planning from Inside Iraq to have attacks, he said. “They plan to have attacks on the metros of Paris and the U.S.” He added, “There are networks planning from Inside Iraq to have attacks. They plan to have attacks on the metros of Paris and the U.S.”
Caitlin Hayden, the spokeswoman for the White House’s National Security Council, said in a statement that it was aware of Mr. Abadi’s reported comments.Caitlin Hayden, the spokeswoman for the White House’s National Security Council, said in a statement that it was aware of Mr. Abadi’s reported comments.
“We have not confirmed such a plot, and would have to review any information from our Iraqi partners before making further determinations,” she said. “We take any threat seriously and always work to corroborate information we receive from our partners.”“We have not confirmed such a plot, and would have to review any information from our Iraqi partners before making further determinations,” she said. “We take any threat seriously and always work to corroborate information we receive from our partners.”
Referring to President Obama’s warnings on Wednesday at a special session about foreign fighters of the United Nations Security Council, Ms. Hayden said: “We’re obviously very focused on the issue of foreign fighters.”Referring to President Obama’s warnings on Wednesday at a special session about foreign fighters of the United Nations Security Council, Ms. Hayden said: “We’re obviously very focused on the issue of foreign fighters.”
A senior administration official said that nobody in the administration had been aware of such a plot and it was not raised when American and Iraqi officials met at the United Nations earlier this week. F.B.I. officials also reacted to Mr. Abadi’s remarks. George Venizelos, the F.B.I.’s assistant director-in-charge, said in a statement that its agents “are in contact with our law enforcement and intelligence community partners as we assess the validity of this threat.”
Apparently referring to the New York subway system, the country’s largest, Mr. Venizelos said: “The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with the New York City Police Department, remain committed to protecting this city.”
A senior administration official said that nobody in the administration had been aware of such a plot and it was not raised when American and Iraqi officials met at the United Nations earlier this week. But Mr. Abadi said he had only learned of the intelligence Thursday morning.
Mr. Abadi also said that he had conveyed a message to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria before the American-led air attacks there that the scope of the bombing would be limited to Islamic State targets and would not extend to targets connected to Mr. Assad’s government.Mr. Abadi also said that he had conveyed a message to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria before the American-led air attacks there that the scope of the bombing would be limited to Islamic State targets and would not extend to targets connected to Mr. Assad’s government.
“As a neighbor, I don’t want to be party to the disintegration of Syria or to have diminished sovereignty of Syria,” Mr. Abadi said. “So I find it fit to send my adviser to inform the Syria regime this is our vision, this is our aim, they should not misunderstand it.”“As a neighbor, I don’t want to be party to the disintegration of Syria or to have diminished sovereignty of Syria,” Mr. Abadi said. “So I find it fit to send my adviser to inform the Syria regime this is our vision, this is our aim, they should not misunderstand it.”
Mr. Abadi said that Obama administration had informed the Iraqi government that the goal of the airstrikes was not to destabilize the Assad government, and that Iraqi had passed this message to the Syrian government as well. Mr. Abadi said that the Obama administration had informed the Iraqi government that the goal of the airstrikes was not to destabilize the Assad government, and that Iraq had passed this message to the Syrian government on behalf of the Obama administration.
“We have been given that message by the Americans,” Mr. Abadi said, “although we just relay a message without any comment.”“We have been given that message by the Americans,” Mr. Abadi said, “although we just relay a message without any comment.”
The Obama administration has said it notified Mr. Assad’s government of its intention to bomb Islamic militant targets in northern Syria, but has said nothing about having offered other assurances to Mr. Assad.The Obama administration has said it notified Mr. Assad’s government of its intention to bomb Islamic militant targets in northern Syria, but has said nothing about having offered other assurances to Mr. Assad.
A senior administration official would not comment directly on Mr. Abadi’s comments regarding Mr. Assad. But he said the purpose of the United States’ own message to the Assad government was to dissuade it from taking military action to interfere with the bombing. A senior administration official would not comment directly on Mr. Abadi’s comments that Iraq had passed an American message to Mr. Assad. But he said the purpose of the United States’ own message to the Assad government was to dissuade it from taking military action to interfere with the bombing.