Iraq PM says Islamic State plans attacks on US and Paris subways
Islamic State jihadsts plan to attack subway railways systems in the United States and Paris, according to Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi
Iraq has “credible” intelligence that Islamic State militants plan to attack underground railway systems in Paris and the United States, the prime minister said on Thursday, but US and French officials said they had no evidence to back up his claims.
Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi’s comments were met with surprise by security, intelligence and transit officials in both countries. In New York, leaders scrambled to travel on the subway to reassure the public that the nation’s largest city was safe.
“The terrorists have a massive international campaign. Don’t underestimate it.”
Abadi said he received the information on Thursday morning from militants captured in Iraq and concluded it was credible after requesting further details. The attacks, he said, were plotted from inside Iraq by “networks” of Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL.
“They plan to have attacks in the metros of Paris and the US,” Abadi told a small group of US reporters while in New York for the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly. “I asked for more credible information. I asked for names. I asked for details, for cities, you know, dates. And from the details I have received, yes, it looks credible.”
Some Iraqi officials in Baghdad questioned Abadi’s comments. One high-level Iraqi government official told reporters it appeared to be based on “ancient intelligence”. Another called it “an old story”. Both spoke on condition of anonymity.
Abadi did not provide further details. A senior Iraqi official travelling with him later said Iraqi intelligence had uncovered “serious threats” and had shared this information with its allies’ intelligence agencies.
