November 22, 2008
Suspect eyed NY subways
Accused PATH terror mastermind had plot to emulate London underground blasts using suicide bombers
BEIRUT, Lebanon - The Lebanese man accused of masterminding a plot to bomb PATH trains also considered sending suicide bombers into New York subway cars with explosive-filled backpacks, a Lebanese security official said yesterday.
Assem Hammoud was apparently inspired by four suicide bombers who carried out their attacks on London's transit system last year with backpacks, killing 52 people, the official said.
"Hammoud and the others discussed this possibility, but then they abandoned it," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Newsday reported Sunday that Hammoud and his associates had considered several targets before settling on a plan to bomb the PATH train tunnels under the Hudson River.
The earlier discussions, according to Lebanese officials, focused on bombing the Brooklyn Bridge and San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, as well as setting wildfires in California.
Lebanese investigators found maps and other information about the Brooklyn and Golde Gate bridges and the California forests when they raided Hammoud's home and office in Beirut after his arrest on April 27, the official said.
Lebanon's acting interior minister, Ahmed Fatfat, told Lebanese TV on Sunday that Hammoud's computer also "contained maps and bombing plans that were being prepared."
Hammoud, 31, is the alleged mastermind of the plot by eight al-Qaida followers scattered across six countries.
He is being held in Lebanon. U.S. and Lebanese officials unraveled the plan by monitoring Internet chat rooms used by Islamic militants before the plot moved into an operational phase.
Officials say there's no evidence that any of the suspects had tried to secure financing or explosives, or had even found a way into the United States to carry out attacks.
Hammoud visited California in 2000, but U.S. officials said they found no link between that trip and the alleged plot.
U.S. authorities said last week that two other plotters were in custody but would not say where.
Lebanese officials said Hammoud was in contact with militants in Iran, Syria, Pakistan, Denmark and Canada and that the other suspects are in those countries.
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