NYPD Closes Parts of Penn Station for Suspicious Substance & More on Yesterday's Threat Report - Suspect Arrested in Iraq (updated)
By Andrew Cochran
Penn Station partially shut down after Amtrak found a suspicious package near the ticket counter. CNN & MSNBC cite NYPD sources: "Soapy" or "bubbly" green substance in soda can found there and sent to New York EPA for testing (MSNBC showed video of something on floor) - Amtrak spokesman says nothing toxic. Mayor Bloomberg & NYPD supposed to hold press conference soon. Entrance at 33rd & 8th was closed, as was portion of concourse above tracks, but Amtrak boarded some trains throughout the incident, and Penn Station back to normal operations.
Yesterday's Threat Report: Fox News reports that DHS is still dubious about yesterday's threat announcement, but the suspect who was source of threat apparently passed a lie detector test. ABC News reports that the threat source "has identified at least one of the attackers by name and claims that the man already is in the United States" and "one of two Iraq insurgents who were sources for the threat information said when arrested, reportedly in perfect English: 'You f�-ing can't stop us now; it's too late.'" The "Terrorism Unveiled" blog has some interesting details on the background of the Iraq arrestees.
SUSPECT ARRESTED IN IRAQ: "(T)hird suspect was arrested in Iraq and authorities looked into whether a fourth person had traveled to New York as part of the scheme, officials said...'Does that mean a fourth person he identified is in fact in New York? We don't know that.' The official added that authorities had not confirmed whether the fourth man even exists."