NEW YORK – A terrorist organization has warned they may target three states the day before the Presidential election, CBS news reports.
U.S. intelligence has alerted joint terrorism task forces that al Qaeda could be planning the attacks, sources told CBS News senior investigative producer Pat Milton.
Though no specific locations are mentioned, the three states targeted are reported to be New York, Texas and Virginia.
U.S. authorities have not confirmed the credibility of these threats but CBS news reports that they are taking the threat seriously, and sources stressed the intelligence is still being assessed.
Counterterrorism officials were alerted to the threats out of an “abundance of caution.”
From the CBS news report:
A senior FBI official told CBS News, “The counterterrorism and homeland security communities remain vigilant and well-postured to defend against attacks here in the United States. The FBI, working with our federal, state and local counterparts, shares and assesses intelligence on a daily basis and will continue to work closely with law enforcement and intelligence community partners to identify and disrupt any potential threat to public safety.”
Potential threats always increase during holiday seasons and when big events are approaching, intelligence said.
Increased security was already planned for Election Day, as federal law enforcement plan for “several worst-case scenarios.”