NYC Herald Square Bomb Plot
So far from 9/11, the hope is that the greatest danger is behind us. But just as the Boston bombings brought terrorism back to the United States, two women were caught on Thursday for plotting a NYC Herald Square Bomb.
The two Queens women are Noelle Velentzas (28) and Asia Siddiqui (31), had been roommates who were in contact with Al-Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), discussing strategies and learning from them how to build explosives similar to the pressure cooker bombs used by the Tsarnaev brothers in the Boston Marathon bombings. They had been speaking to an undercover agent as well for several years, discussing their plan to use either pressure cooker or propane tank bombs in New York City, the likely target being Herald Square. Upon raiding Siddiqui’s apartment, authorities found several propane tanks and documents explaining how to make bombs out of them.
The justice department explained in a statement the dedication the women had to the plan, with Velentzas criticizing US Air Force veteran Tairod Pugh who was caught attempting to defect to Syria of not being committed enough to stay in the United States, “pleasing Allah” by attacking targets at home. Velentzas also praised Osama Bin Laden as a hero, and had pictures of him on her phone. The justice department noted the women wanted to make the bombing a historical event, researching bomb making, chemistry, and electrical systems since August.
New York City tourism plummeted after 9/11 to record lows; hotels were below a 40 percent occupancy rate. Though the plot by these women was not carried out, it gives pause as to whether New York City is a safe place to travel to, given its status as a high level target. An FBI spokesperson explained that the arrest was a joint effort from not only the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), but local NYPD officers, which suggests that local authorities are up to the task of preventing terrorist acts by people such as Velentzas and Siddiqui. New York City also has dedicated counterterrorism units.
If convicted, the women will face life imprisonment. They are due to appear before a federal court in Brooklyn Thursday afternoon.
