An attack by ISIS’ foreign fighters on the United States and Paris’ subway systems is imminent, according to Iraq’s prime minister, the Associated Press is reporting.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he was told of the plot by Baghdad on Thursday, and that it was the work of foreign fighters of the Islamic State group in Iraq. Asked if the attack was imminent, he said, "Yes."
Asked if the attack had been thwarted, he said, "No." Al-Abadi said the United States had been alerted.
He made the remarks at a meeting with journalists on the sidelines of a gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly.
This news comes on the heels of the Pentagon’s announcement that the Khorasan Group was working to produce bombs that could go undetected by airport security and plotting an “imminent attack against America and Western interests.”
Update: While the threats are being taken seriously—and New York City is beefing up security—National Security Spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said the plot hasn’t been confirmed.
"We have not confirmed such a plot, and would have to review any information from our Iraqi partners before making further determinations," she said. "We take any threat seriously and always work to corroborate information we receive from our partners. We’re obviously very focused on the issue of foreign fighters, as you saw evidenced yesterday at the Security Council session the President chaired."