Terror expert: NYC an attractive target for Iran

NYPD security and bomb-sniffing dogs posted outside the Israeli consulate in Manhattan. / (CBS News/CBS 2)

This story originally appeared on CBS New York

NEW YORK - There are new concerns that Iran may be plotting a terrorist attack on U.S. soil and that New York City could be the number one target, according to an NYPD terrorism expert.

The latest alert comes from NYPD's director of intelligence analysis Mitchell Silber in an editorial appearing in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal. It also comes on the heels of three coordinated bombings in the last two days in India, the nation of Georgia and Thailand -- all thought to be connected to Iranian terrorists.

This month, heavily armed police and bomb sniffing dogs have been posted outside the Israeli consulate on Manhattan's east side.

Thailand: Bomb "targets were individuals"
Israel to "settle the score" for Bangkok attack
Panetta doubts Israel has decided on Iran attack

Government buildings have been placed on high alert and so have Jewish synagogues and community centers.

In the article, Silber says "the NYPD must assume that New York City could be targeted by Iran or Hezbollah. Indeed, as the west's conflict with Iran over its nuclear program continues to heat up, New York City, especially with its large Jewish population, becomes an increasingly attractive target."

The article cites a number of foiled plots as evidence that Iranian terrorists have targeted New York City in the past and likely will in the future, including three separate occasions between 2002 and 2004 when suspected agents were caught conducting surveillance on city landmarks and on subways.

"Unfortunately, the Iranians don't like Israel and they don't like the United States, so we become right at the top of their list in terms of targets," said security expert Bob Strang. "They're capable of actually committing a crime here whether it be murder, whether it be activating some type of terrorist attack."

But while the warning is new, Silber says the threat is not.

[thomasmc1957]

Textbook Mossad false flag op.

Patriotic Americans must stop the parasite Israel from dragging the USA into World War Three.

[aaheart]

NYC has already been targeted by Israel's Mossad on September 11, 2001 and by the FBI in 1993. Nineteen a n FBI handler ordered his stooge to use real explosives instead of faking it. Does Mitchell Silber have dual loyalty from his dual citizenship, too? Perhaps Mr. Silber has another reason to be pointing the finger at Iran.

[LittleShaitan]

And what is your evidence the Mossad was behind 9/11? Dancing israelis? See here:

http://www.911myths.com/html/dancing_israelis.html

Anything else? Please peddle your antisemitism elsewhere.

[vanadde]

Not a myth. Just Google "official FBI report on the dancing Israelis". Or "official police report on the dancing Israelis". No myth. Just facts.

[Jhihmoac]

Always pickin' on NYC - SHEESH!

[MrsNatural]

You mean an attractive target for the Mossad, again.

[speakthetrut]

Right on!

[MichaelRivero]

Of the three nations, United States, Israel, and Iran, Iran is the one nation trying to avoid a war. Indeed since becoming an Islamic state in 1979 Iran hasn't tried to invade or conquer anyone; a claim neither the United States nor Israel can make! So Iran is the last nation to suspect if something goes "bang!" Why would they do something that stupid? Why, when Iran wishes to avoid a war, would they carry out the very sort of attack that allows the US and Israel to justify their long-sought invasion?

Meanwhile, re-read the history of the Lavon affair in which Israel bombed British and American targets inside Egypt and planted evidence to frame Egyptians. Then there is the bombing of the King David Hotel, carried out by Israelis dressed as Arabs. According to ex-Mossad agent Victor Ostrovsky, Israel used fake radio messages to convince President Reagan Libya was about to attack, tricking Reagan into bombing Libya and killing Qaddafi's 5-year old daughter! Or maybe we should recall the attack on the USS Liberty in which Israel blamed Egypt until the crew of the ship managed to get a radio message out identifying Israel as the attacker, whereupon Israel claimed it was a simple mistake that caused them to murder 34 American sailors. Finally, please recall that the only people actually arrested near the World Trade Towers on 9-11, the so-called "Dancing Israelis", turned out to be Mossad agents!

Then come back and tell me again why Iran is the mean old boogeyman we are all supposed to be worried about!

[LittleShaitan]

The Dancing Israelis story is a myth, debunked by the same sources the bad reporting initially came from. http://www.911myths.com/html/dancing_israelis.html

Please stop repeating such lies. There are many questions about that day, but there are also many motivations for people to give all sorts of varied answers. I recommend looking at both sides. Don't be afraid to look at debunking sites just because the answers you might find aren't comfortable.

[expatriate2]

Terrorism expert my arse. Can we ever stop beating the drums to stir panic in the populace so that anti-terrorism funding will continue or the Bushism dream of another MIddle Eastern invasion can be given the illusion of justification?

By all indications, 13 Moslem fanatics caused 9/11 but Homeland Security continues to dilute civil rights and Iran becomes the new haven of all that is wrong with the world.

The tragedy of 9/11 taught us that America is not, after all, immune from the realities of our times. But fear does not need to be kept alive by wyly politicians, exploited by Homeland Security or taught to citizens as the new way of life.

[mooring7]

Im not quite sure that as a result of looking at "all indications" it could be proven that 13 moslem fanatics "caused " 9/11. If it were so then all of the terrorists in the world died on 9/11. They may have carried out the attack but they are not the "cause" ofthe attack. History and more words than I could write in a day couldnt establish the "cause" of the attack on 9/11.

[expatriate2]

Was not the tragedy of 9/11 caused by 13 moslem radicals???? I don't see the reasoning in claiming that if this is true "all terrorists in the world died on 9/11."

No matter what exterior influences such as financing or the diary statement that they were "inspired" by bin Laden, they were still the executors of the event and thus caused it.

[tiredofeverything]

"Terror expert: NYC an attractive target for Iran"

Wow, I wonder what kind of 7 figure salary they paid him to figure that one out.