New York terror alert 'was hoax'

12th October 2005 - TimesOnline

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1821988,00.html

The subway terrorist threat to New York last weekend was a hoax stemming from false intelligence provided by a normally reliable informant, US security officials were quoted as saying.

According to newspaper and television reports, the unidentified officials said that the informant — believed to be from Pakistan — had admitted leading investigators astray about a bomb plot.

The threat, which was unusually specific as to time and place, was taken seriously by city officials, who issued a high alert and flooded the subway network with extra police and National Guard troops.

News that the threat was based on bogus information will increase the pressure on Michael Bloomberg, the New York Mayor, and his police commissioner, Ray Kelly, who have been criticised for overreacting. Mr Bloomberg, who is seeking a second term in mayoral elections next month, said that he had no regrets about his decision to inform the public and increase security.

“We’re going to take every single threat that has any chance of being credible seriously,” he said. (AFP)