U.S. President Barack Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi make a few comments during their bi-lateral meeting at the U.N. in New York on September 24, 2014. (UPI/Alan Tannenbaum/Pool) |
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NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The White House responded Thursday to a comment from Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi regarding intelligence suggesting Islamic State militants were plotting to attack subway systems in the U.S. and France.
National Security Council spokesperson Caitlin Hayden acknowledged the White House was aware of Abadi's comments but said in a statement: "We have not confirmed such a plot, and would have to review any information from our Iraqi partners before making further determinations."
Abadi disclosed the purported threat information while speaking with reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
"Today, while I am here, I am receiving accurate reports from Baghdad" that Abadi said were obtained from the "arrest of a few elements."
"There are networks planning from inside Iraq to have attacks... They plan to have attacks on the metros of Paris and the U.S."
When asked about the credibility of the threat, Abadi responded, "From the details I have received, yes, it looks credible."
The prime minister did not specify the timing or method of attack.
"We take any threat seriously," Hayden underlined, "and always work to corroborate information we receive from our partners."
Hayden seemed to suggest that Abadi's readiness to publicly disclose the threat information may have been influenced by the U.N. Security Council resolution adopted yesterday concerning state's obligations to counter the threat posed by foreign fighters. "We're obviously very focused on the issue of foreign fighters, as you saw evidenced yesterday at the Security Council session the President chaired."
