Plotters Plan Mass Suicide on Train on 9/11/06

Abc News ^ | 07/07/06 | Brian Ross

[SleekMaid]

Federal law enforcement officials tell ABC News a plot designed to use 15 to 20 suicide bombers on one commuter train as close to Sept. 11 as possible was well underway.

The specific target was the PATH commuter trains that run in a tunnel under the Hudson River into New York City.

"This is a plot that would have involved martyrdom, explosives and certain of the tubes that connect New Jersey with lower Manhattan," said Mark Mershon, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the FBI New York Field Office. "We're not discussing the modality behind, beyond that."

But law enforcement officials say the plotters had already accessed detailed blueprints and drawings of the PATH tunnels, available on the internet.

And like the London bombers, the plan was to load backpacks with explosives.

All 15 to 20 bombers were to board one car and detonate when the train was under the river, according to officials.

"There's no question that they are vulnerable. With the right amount of explosives, the tunnel could be compromised," said Gerry Hauer, former Director of New York City's Office of Emergency Management and now an ABC News consultant.

The FBI identified the ringleader as 32-year-old Assem Hammoud of Lebanon.

Lebanese officials arrested him in April at the request of the FBI, and he reportedly has now admitted he was about to go to Pakistan for training at an al Qaeda camp. "We know that he has acknowledged pledging a bayat or allegiance to Osama bin Laden, and he proclaims himself to be a member of al Qaeda," said Mershon.

Security was stepped up today at the PATH tunnels.

Officials said today two other alleged plotters had also been arrested, but at least five of them remain at large.

"This shows we are able to disrupt terror plots such as this," said New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. "Secondly, it shows that New York remains in the terrorists' cross hairs."

Officials say the plot was uncovered more than a year ago by U.S. and Canadian intelligence agents watching a jihadist internet chat room.

Officials say the suspects communicated freely, thinking that no one could track them.

Similar chat rooms were used by the alleged terrorists arrested recently in Toronto and Miami.

"The chat rooms have literally exploded since 9/ll because we are now right in the midst of electronic jihad," said Jack Cloonan, former senior agent on the FBI's bin Laden squad in New York and now an ABC News consultant.

Officials say none of the plotters was in the United States but that several of them were nearby in Canada. Others had planned to travel to New York from Saudi Arabia.

Officials say even after their leader was arrested in April, the plotters continued to make plans, and officials say they can't be sure the plan is fully stopped, even now.

[letsgonova19087]

I'm out of Philly and I take the Philly transit to Trenton and NJ Transit to Newark....where I take the PATH into downtown Manhattan. That's some scary shit. But that many bombers in one car? Why??? The effect would be ten times worse if they detonated 10 bombs in 10 places rather than just one...why waste taht many on a single target?

[The Brush]

Officials say the suspects communicated freely, thinking that no one could track them.

I'm going to reserve my comments until I learn how Cindy Sheehan wants me to handle this information.

[Fudd Fan]

I think this is a feint. They will strike somewhere else.

I think you could be on to something.

Islamic fascist suicide bombers returned to the WTC after failing to bring it down in 1993. On 9/11 they failed to get the White House and/or Congress. That does not bode well for future attacks but it does provide a decent clue.

[Fudd Fan]

None of this would be happening if Al Gore would have won...

Of course it wouldn't. No Americans would be left on the planet by now.

[Fudd Fan]

Keith Overbite is a very sick individual.

[Fudd Fan]

Maybe these particular plotters are evil and stupid.

[festus]

Since 'they' all want to become martyrs so badly , what is wrong with killing them all ?

Ya got me. They wanna die we wanna kill em. Thats called a win win.

[festus]

You forgot to add "....they are all named Mohammed.

[SleekMaid]

I'm out of Philly and I take the Philly transit to Trenton and NJ Transit to Newark....where I take the PATH into downtown Manhattan. That's some scary shit. But that many bombers in one car? Why??? The effect would be ten times worse if they detonated 10 bombs in 10 places rather than just one...why waste taht many on a single target?>>>>>

It probably would have been an attack on both PATH tunnels at once.

Different Path train cars all synced up.

What creeps me out is how normal the mastermind for this plot looks. If this guy boarded a PATH train I dont know if anyone would raise an eyebrow.

This is a photo released by the Hammoud family of Lebanese suspect Assem Hammoud seen in this undated picture, center, with his friends in Canada. Assem Hammoud, the detained al-Qaida operative, has confessed to plotting to attack New York City tunnels later this year and says he was acting on Osama bin Laden's orders, Lebanese officials say

[Right Wing Assault]

Yes, it's a dumb headline. Makes it sound like they are going to all slit their wrists or OD.

[sheik yerbouty]

Well said! No jihadists, no jihad!

[toldyou]

"It makes me glad I live in the sticks."
"This affirms my decision to live in the sticks."


I hope you guys don't drive automobiles. Approximately 50,000 deaths occur a year.

I'm just saying, to each his own. For me, NYC is a fun place to be. I don't live there, but I visit as much as possible. And I ride the PATH and subway every time. I think that when our time is up, it's up, whether you live in the "sticks" or in a big city. Those $#@%* terrorists won't keep me away.

[don-o]

The headline makes you go hmmmmmmm. How about

Plotters Plan Mass Suicide Murder on Train on 9/11/06

BTW, I sympathize with the worry and anxiety of all who live in our cities in the troublesome times. May God bless and assist our leaders and guardians.

[don-o]

You said it better than I did down the thread

[jan in Colorado]

Officials say none of the plotters was in the United States but that several of them were nearby in Canada. Others had planned to travel to New York from Saudi Arabia.

Can we STOP letting them in? Sheesh...

[upchuck]

It makes me glad I live in the sticks.

Amen Brother and BUMP to the sticks :)

[cripplecreek]

I hope you guys don't drive automobiles. Approximately 50,000 deaths occur a year.

Those are city slickers and we just make em look like accidents. ;~)

[TeleStraightShooter]

{hand picked biased opinionators}.. are questioning whether the government is forgetting an element central to any case: the actual intent to commit a crime.

I dunno, actually planning of and 1st perp testimony of intent might actually constitute intent.

[TeleStraightShooter]

IMO the best descriptive is the same one used in domestic life taking: Murder-Suicide