WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has no evidence to back up an Iraqi claim that Islamic State forces were plotting to attack U.S. subway systems, two senior U.S. government security officials told Reuters on Thursday.
In the past, the United States had received threats that various militant groups were targeting such transportation systems but there is no recent information about an imminent plan by Islamic State, one official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
A separate source in Congress said lawmakers and staff had not been briefed on any current Islamic State threats against subways in U.S. cities.
Earlier on Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Iraq had received "credible" intelligence that Islamic State militants plan to attack subway systems in Paris and the United States.
No Threats on Washington Metro, Spokesman Says
There is no specific or credible threat against Washington's area rail or bus systems, a spokesman for the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority said on Thursday.
"We are aware of the reporting out of the Middle East," spokesman Dan Stessel said in an email. "Based on the information we have at this time, there remains no specific or credible threat against the Metrorail or Metrobus systems."
Iraq to Investigate Reports
Iraq is assessing the veracity of purported threats to the U.S. and French subway systems and has passed the information to "appropriate security authorities of our partners," a senior Iraqi official said on Thursday.
"A full assessment of the veracity of the intelligence and how far the plans have gone into implementation is ongoing. We cannot further discuss the nature of the threat in the media, except to reaffirm that Daesh (Islamic State) will continue to endanger international peace and security unless it is eradicated," he said.
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