Police in New York City are investigating a terror threat to the NYC subway system. ABC News reports:

The New York City Police Department is investigating what it deems a credible tip that 19 operatives have been deployed to New York to place bombs in the subway, and security in the subways will be increased, sources told ABC News.

While the police department is taking the threat seriously, it is also urging the public not to be alarmed because – while the source is credible – the information has not been verified.

A tidbit I noticed in Newsday‘s report is not reassuring:

Police sources also said that cops were expected to be kept on 12-hour tours over the weekend.

Police could not yet identify the source of the threat, other than to call it “credible.”

It comes as the city emerges from two days of hightened alert during the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana. Police officers patrolled outside of synagogues as thousands of congregants attended services.

MTA officials said they were unaware of the threat until alerted by a reporter.

Homeland security? What homeland security?

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The indispensable Counterterrorism Blog has running updates on the case.

More: Athena at Terrorism Unveiled notes…

Apparently a news outlet had information on this threat two days ago, but they were asked to hold the information, and they did. Most likely, this is because our law enforcement had to undertake operations or at least investigate without causing attention and tipping off the suspects.

“This is the first time we’ve had a threat with this level of specificity” comments Bloomberg as well as “If you see something, say something.” As always, he’s downplaying.

This really comes as no surprise. France just interdicted a threat that was to bomb their metro system and the Italian authorities have recently been practicing what to do in case of an attack—and there is information that Italy is a major target as well. Keep in mind it’s also Ramadan, the period of victories for the Prophet Muhammad (such as the battle of Badr), and it takes on a special significance for Islamist terrorists.

The details of the threat are classified. If I knew the nationalities, I could provide write much more, but since I do not, following leads of threats in Europe would be conjecture.

Read the whole thing and click through all of Athena’s links for deeper background.

Liveblogging: Confederate Yankee

Jason Smith: “Is this the great Ramadan offensive?”

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Previous:

Hey, terrorists: We’re still not profiling
NYC plays eeny meeny miney mo
Heather Mac Donald: Looking the wrong way
Paul Sperry: Politically Correct Suicide: Still No Subway Profiling
The 7/7 attacks: Looking homeward

See also: Dennis Bailey, The Open Society Paradox