Federal authorities on Thursday opened a criminal investigation into who wrote e-mails that warned private citizens of a possible terror threat to New York City subways days in advance of a city government decision to issue a public alert last week.
News of the probe followed a report Thursday in the New York Daily News that a "select crowd of business and arts executives" received e-mails tipping them off to a potential threat days before most New Yorkers heard about it from local officials.
NBC's Pete Williams reported that investigators were looking at the e-mails, which appear to be based on statements by government officials with knowledge of the potential threat.
A federal official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is under investigation, told NBC News that it was not clear whether the e-mails were written by government employees or by people who overheard discussion of the potential threat. But now, the fact there is a criminal investigation would indicate an interest in finding out whether government officials in possession of classified information were somehow involved in the unauthorized e-mail.
The Daily News reported that the city's Police Department confirmed it had learned of the e-mails on Oct. 3, three days before Mayor Bloomberg, police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and the FBI went public with the threat.
"I have just received a most disturbing call from one of my oldest friends from growing up in Washington," one e-mail reportedly began. "He called with a very specific caution to not enter or use the New York City subway system from Oct. 7 through 10th."
The information that led to concern about the plot to attack the subway system — using bombs hidden in briefcases, suitcases or strollers — has been largely discredited by federal officials.