Pat Dollard

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UPDATE 18:45 PST – ABC NEWS: U.S. authorities are scrambling to sort through information that the CIA developed in the past 24 hours indicating that at least three individuals entered the U.S. in August by air with the intent to launch a vehicle-borne attack against Washington, D.C. or New York around the anniversary of 9/11, according to intelligence officials.

Officials say the alleged terror plot was initiated by new al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s successor.

Intelligence and law enforcement officials told ABC News that at least one of the individuals is a U.S. citizen and one official said that two of the individuals may have had U.S. documentation — whether green cards or passports was unclear.

As news of the information became public, authorities began weighing whether to raise the national threat level.

Although authorities said they had not yet identified the suspects, the operatives are believed to have embarked on their journey to the U.S. from the tribal areas of Pakistan, according to two senior officials. One official said the route may have taken them through Dubai.

The information on the plot was “very specific ” said one official, adding ” It seems like the information has been worked for a while.” A second and third official confirmed the specifics of the possible plot added that a declassified bulletin is expected to be issued shortly.

Multiple sources say that federal authorities will send a bulletin to law enforcement tonight. The threat, one official told ABC News, is credible. Now authorities are making every effort to confirm it and to hunt down any plotters.

Initially, one of those officials added that at least two rental trucks — one from Penske and one from Budget — were being sought nationwide. Those trucks have since been recovered and appear to have had no connection to the plotters.

The threat information was obtained recently and originated from overseas sources — Pakistan, according to one official.

According to a White House official, “The President was briefed on this specific threat information this morning and has been updated on it throughout the day. The United States government has already significantly enhanced its security posture in advance of the 9/11 anniversary to protect the country against possible terrorist threats. Nevertheless, the President directed the counterterrorism community to redouble its efforts in response to this credible but unconfirmed information.”

Earlier this evening, top Congressional leaders were briefed on the terror threat by White House counterterrorism advisor John Brennan.

UPDATE 16:52 PST, Fox news’s Shepard Smith and Ed Henry just reported that the threat involves a car bomb, is revenge for Osama’s killing, and is “very serious”.

DOJ chief Eric Holder will be sending out a national bulletin, shortly.

Business Insider:

Fox News congressional reporter Chad Pergram tweets the following:

“My colleague Mike Levine reports Feds have what they believe is a credible terrorist threat to US homeland around 9-11. Target: NYC/DC.”

“More on potential terrorist threat, from my colleagues Jennifer Griffin & Justin Fishel: Sources say “it feels more than aspirational.”"

“My colleague Ed Henry says Obama has been briefed on “credible terrorist threat” tied to 9-11 anniversary. Bulletin being prepared right now”

Fox News White House correspondent Ed Henry adds: “Senior admin official also tells me President Obama has been briefed on specific, credible threat tied to al-Qaeda — but threat unconfirmed”

NBC News reports that the administration is now discussing whether to raise the threat warning status.

Developing…