Washington Says Not Aware of IS Plot to Attack U.S., Paris Subways

U.S. authorities said Thursday they had no knowledge of a plot by Islamic State radicals to attack subway systems in the United States and Paris, following reported comments by Iraq's leader about such a threat. 

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi was earlier quoted as saying at the United Nations that the alleged plot had been revealed following a series of arrests in Iraq.

"We’ve seen the reports of Prime Minister Abadi’s comments," said National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden.

"We have not confirmed such a plot and would have to review any information from our Iraqi partners before making further determinations," Hayden said.

"We take any threat seriously and always work to corroborate information we receive from our partners."

People briefed on the matter told Agence France-Presse that U.S. authorities did not believe there was a "current" or "specific" threat to subway systems.

A senior U.S. official, meanwhile, said that no one in the U.S. government was aware of such a plot.

"It was not raised with us in our meetings with Iraqi officials here in New York," said the official.

The FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge George Venizelos said that the bureau was aware of the Iraqi prime minister's statements.

He said the FBI was in touch with law enforcement and other intelligence authorities to assess the validity of the threat.

"The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with the New York City Police Department, remain committed to protecting this city," he said.

French government sources also said they could not confirm the reported plot.

France, which has joined the United States in carrying out air raids on Islamic State targets in Iraq, earlier reinforced security in public places and on public transport.

But a government source said that the move was ordered before Abadi's comments out of a more general sense of caution.

The reported comments came a day after U.S. President Barack Obama took the rare step for a head of state of chairing a U.N. Security Council meeting. 

Discussions at the meeting focused on the threat of Islamic State radicals armed with Western passports who officials fear could stage attacks in the United States and Europe.