A terrorist plot to blow up the fuel lines that supply JFK airport in New York has been foiled by police, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies.
Passengers line up at a security checkpoint at JFK International Airport in New York REUTERS/Chip East
Described as "one of the most chilling plots imaginable," the arrests were reported by New York affiliate NewsChannel4's Jonathan Dienst, and detailed the three people who were arrested and one other was being sought Saturday in connection to a plot to blow up jet-fuel lines at John F. Kennedy International Airport, officials said.
Four people have been charged. Three suspects are in custody: Russell Defreitas, aka Muhammed, a Guyana national, Kareem Ibrihim and Abdul Kadir. Suspect Abdul Nur, a citizen of Guyana, is believed to be in Trinidad and is still at large.
CNN reports Defreitas is to be arrainged today in Brooklyn on terror conspiracy charges.
"To hit John F.Kennedy, like wow, the whole country will be in mourning, it's like killing him all over again," allegedly said on tape by Defreitas, reports CNN.
Defreitas is reportedly a former cargo worker at JFK who allegedly began to plot attacking the US over a year ago. Defeitas sought help in carrying out a plan and unwittingly went to an FBI informant, who culled the information about their plot, reports CNN live.
CNN says the coalition of counter-terrorism law enforcement officials have been following the plot for some time, they cited on CNN live that the investigation was initiated in January of 2006.
Sources said the plot involved a plan to blow up a BuckEye jet-fuel pipeline at JFK setting off a potential massive explosion. BuckEye provides fuel to all three NYC-area airports.
CNN reports that the planning stages of the plot involved surveillance of JFK airport as well as scouting out US properties in Guyana for possible attacks. Aviation officials said there is no major threat to today's air travel since the plot was caught in the early developmental stages.
One law enforcement official said: "[There was] credible intent to commit violence but it was not operational."
Officials said the suspects never got hold of explosive devices.
Pat D'Amuro, a security analyst for CNN, says "we have known for some time that Al Quaeda has tried to use other methods to send terrorists into the United States, and other areas of the globe to gain access the United States."
"Terrorists know that by attacking the infrastructure they are going to have significant impact on the United States."
"Technology and background checks are going to have to be improved, to make sure people are who they say they are."
"There are third world countries now that are more advanced than the USA in issuing identifying cards to their citizens," said D'Amuro on CNN.
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