NYPD Vigilant Amid Report of Unspecified Terror Threat on Election Eve

Authorities are working to assess the credibility of the claim

What to Know

  • There is no specific threat and the credibility level is unclear, Mayor de Blasio said
  • De Blasio said the NYPD is already stepping up security ahead of the election and marathon and would remain vigilant
  • Officials urged New Yorkers to go about their business as usual

The FBI and NYPD say they are assessing the credibility of information they received of a possible al Qaeda terror attack against the U.S. on the eve of Election Day, though several sources familiar with the investigation say the intelligence behind the alleged threat is "pretty thin."

Officials say Friday that counterterrorism investigators were reviewing the information that mentioned New York, Texas and Virginia as potential targets. One official in New York said there's nothing about the alleged threat that makes it stand out from the multitude that come in before a major event.

"We get stuff like this all the time," the official said, stressing the information is of "unknown veracity." 

Federal intelligence officers are trying to run down the claim, and, as is customary in such situations, the local joint terrorism task forces in the three states mentioned were informed of the investigation. 

Mayor de Blasio said he was briefed on the situation a few days ago; he reiterated the claim was unspecific, and said it's level of credibility was unclear. The mayor said the NYPD, already ramping up security for the marathon this Sunday and Election Day on Tuesday -- with both presidential candidates planning to hold their parties in the city -- was being vigilant. 

"In every case, we take any intelligence reports regarding New York City seriously. In this case, I would point out that the credibility those reports is still being assessed and the information lacks specificity," NYPD spokesman J. Peter Donald said in a statement. "Our security remains a shared responsibility. We continue to encourage anyone with any information that could be relevant to the safety of our city to contact law enforcement." 

De Blasio said New Yorkers could expect an expanded police presence Monday, but urged them to go about their business as usual. 

CBS News first reported of the potential threat.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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