NEW YORK (AP) -- A plan by foreign terrorists who wanted to bomb PATH train tunnels used by thousands of New York City commuters everyday was disrupted by federal agents.
Officials say the planning was in the early stages, and the tunnels never faced an immediate risk. Eight principal players -- none of them in the United States -- were involved. The alleged mastermind -- who had pledged allegiance to al-Qaida -- is in custody in Lebanon.
FBI Assistant Director Mark J. Mershon called the plot the ``real deal.'' Initial reports said that the terrorists wanted to attack the Holland Tunnel. But Mershon said the group had mentioned only the PATH train tunnels that commuters travel through between lower Manhattan and New Jersey.
A law enforcement official said the extremists discussed wanting to inflict damage on the U.S. economy. They believed that by bombing the train tunnels, they could unleash a flood on Lower Manhattan, including Wall Street.
Mershon said the plot had matured to a point where it appeared that the individuals were about to move forward.
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