NEW YORK – Two men have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to bomb a subway station in midtown Manhattan, sources said early Saturday.
At least one of the men may have an affiliation with a terrorist organization, according to two law enforcement sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The sources said the group in question was not believed to be Al Qaida (search).
Attorney Tom Dunn said his client, whom he identified as James L. El Shafay, faced a charge of conspiracy to damage the subway. The second suspect was not immediately identified.
The men appeared to be acting independently, and there was no evidence that the alleged plot to bomb the subway station at 34th Street was an attempt to disrupt the Republican National Convention (search), which is taking place a block away, the sources said.
The two men tried get explosives to bomb the station but did not succeed in obtaining any, the sources said. There was no timeline for the plot, which was first reported by WNBC early Saturday.
The men were arrested Friday, and were expected to face charges in federal court in Brooklyn. Spokesmen for the New York Police Department (search) and the U.S. Attorney's office in Brooklyn did not immediately return calls for comment early Saturday.
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