Iraq: ISIL Plots to Attack US, Paris Subways

Local Editor

Iraq has received "credible" intelligence that the ISIL militants plan to launch attacks on subway systems in Paris and the United States, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Thursday.

"Today, while I am here, I am receiving accurate reports from Baghdad where there was the arrest of a few elements and there are networks planning from inside Iraq to have attacks," he told a small group of US reporters, speaking in English. "They are not Iraqis. Some of them are French, some of them are Americans. But they are in Iraq."

 "They plan to have attacks in the metros of Paris and the US," he added. "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."

Al-Abadi said the suspects included extremists from the United States and France who were fighting for the ISIL in Iraq. Asked if the attack was imminent, he said, "I'm not sure." Asked if the attack had been thwarted, he said, "No."

Al-Abadi said the United States had been alerted, but US government security officials told Reuters the United States has no evidence to back up the Iraqi information.

In the past, the United States had received threats that various militant groups were targeting such transportation systems but there is no recent information about an imminent plan by the ISIL, one official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

A separate source in Congress said lawmakers and staff had not been briefed on any current ISIL threats against subways in US cities.

Meanwhile, the New York Police Department said it was "aware" of the Iraqi inforation, and was "in close contact with the FBI' about the threat.

Earlier on Thursday, France said it would increase security on transport and in public places after a French tourist was killed in Algeria, and said it was ready to support all states that requested its help to fight terror.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team