Jersey Journal : Investigators knew about PATH terror plot last year

Investigators knew about PATH terror plot last year

Tuesday, September 5, 2006

In July, authorities said they defused a plot to detonate a bomb in a PATH commuter train tunnel between Jersey City and Manhattan.

Assem Hammoud, 31, a Lebanese native described as the mastermind of the scheme, was arrested in April and allegedly confessed his role and admitted his allegiance to Osama bin Laden. Two other men were detained overseas and five more, also foreign born, have been identified as suspects, agents said.

"This is a plot that would have involved martyrdom, explosives and certain of the (PATH) tubes that connect New Jersey to Lower Manhattan," said Mark Mershon, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York Division, said in announcing Hammoud's arrest July 7.

Investigators said Hammoud was planning to carry out the attacks in October or November - even though, authorities said, in July he still hadn't acquired explosives or even made travel plans to the U.S.

The FBI reportedly learned about the plot last year by monitoring Internet chat rooms, and had been watching Hammoud ever since. They disclosed the investigation after news reports of his arrest in Lebanon.

After learning of the plot, the FBI reportedly alerted the New York City and Port Authority police departments, which each increased the number of officers on PATH trains. The FBI also alerted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, New Jersey officials, and security agencies in at least six foreign countries.

However, Jersey City and Hudson County authorities said they didn't know about the investigation until the press conference announcing Hammoud's arrest.

JOURNAL STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS