Agency probes possible terror threat leak (AP) Updated: 2005-10-14 20:21
The Homeland Security Department is investigating whether department
officials privately tipped off relatives or friends about last week's subway
terrorism threat before the public was given the news, officials said Thursday.
The probe was announced as Gov. George Pataki and Police Commissioner Raymond
Kelly raised concerns about the possible leak, first reported in the Daily News.
"Obviously it's disturbing; it's just not right," Pataki said after an
official appearance in midtown Manhattan also attended by Kelly. "The public
should know at the same time. ... There should not be limited public
notification to a handful of people, or people who might be otherwise
politically connected."
The Daily News reported Thursday that police had obtained copies of personal
e-mails that alluded to an alleged al-Qaida plot, and had forwarded them to
federal officials.
A Homeland Security spokesman in Washington, Russ Knocke, said an internal
investigation was under way. "We take any potential leak of sensitive or
classified information very seriously," he said.
When FBI and police officials went public with the threat Oct. 6, Homeland
Security downplayed it, saying it was "of doubtful credibility." After four days
of high alert, local officials announced Monday there was no clear evidence an
attack would be carried out and scaled back the protection.
"It's ironic that on the one hand the department is saying this is not a
credible threat and then, if these e-mails are true, people within the
department with access to classified information felt it was worth contacting
their own families," said Rep. Peter King (news, bio, voting record), R-N.Y.,
chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.
The e-mails began circulating Oct. 3 — three days before Kelly and Mayor
Michael Bloomberg announced they were putting thousands of extra police officers
on patrol in the subways in response to the possible plot to bomb the subway
using briefcases or baby strollers packed with explosives.
The Daily News quoted one e-mail — purportedly penned by the unnamed son of a
high-ranking Homeland Security official — in which he warns recipients: "The
only information I can pass on to you is that everyone should at all costs not
ride the subway for the next two weeks in major areas of NYC."
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