EXCLUSIVE
“The letters stated that bombs would be detonated at crowded areas, such as Times Square, and hotels near Times Square.”FBI MEMOThe FBI is probing a possible terrorist plot to bomb New York hotels and other city targets during the first two weeks of November, The Post has learned.
The threat was contained in letters received Oct. 17 by two Big Apple hotels, according to an FBI memo obtained by The Post. A third, identical threatening letter was received by The Washington Post.
“The letters contained a warning that a group of Palestinians is planning to bomb several locations in New York during the first two weeks of November,” the memo sent from FBI headquarters in Washington read.
“The letters stated that bombs would be detonated at crowded areas, such as Times Square, and hotels near Times Square.”
The missives, mailed to the Marriott Marquis on Broadway and the Sheraton on Seventh Avenue, also mentioned the Javits Center, which will be hosting a hotel and motel trade show Nov. 11-14, the memo stated.
The letters turned up five days after suicide bombers attacked the USS Cole, killing 17 sailors and injuring 39 others.
Hotel officials and the newspaper turned the threat letters over to the FBI, which is probing the matter, federal law-enforcement sources said.
“This message was sent out of an excess of caution,” one source said. “These are threats from a source of unknown reliability.”
The FBI memo was part of an attempt to alert other law-enforcement agencies to a possible attack, but also to gather information that would either help assess its credibility or catch a suspect, the sources cautioned.
The campaigns of Rick Lazio and Hillary Rodham Clinton will hold their election eve bashes at other city hotels, while George W. Bush and Al Gore will have their festivities in Texas and Tennessee, respectively.
NYPD officials declined comment. Hotel officials also were mum.
“I have nothing for you on that,” said Sheraton spokeswoman Elizabeth Maguire.
A Marriott spokeswoman said, “We would take any security issue very seriously.”