Islamic State plans subway attacks in US and Paris: Iraqi PM

Credit: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi during the United Nations General Assembly in New York September 24, 2014.

Abadi said the information, which he received on Thursday morning, came from militants captured in Iraq. He said he had asked for further details and concluded it appeared credible.

The United States and France have both launched air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq in an effort to curb the radical Sunni militant group's territorial gains.

'Today, while I am here, I am receiving accurate reports from Baghdad where there was (the) arrest of (a) few elements and there are networks planning from inside Iraq to have attacks,' Abadi told a small group of U.S. reporters.

The prime minister was in New York for the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.

'They plan to have attacks in the metros of Paris and the U.S.,' he added. 'I asked for more credible information. I asked for names. I asked for details, for cities, you know, dates. And from the details I have received, yes, it looks credible.'

Reuters could not immediately verify the information with French and U.S. authorities.

Two senior U.S. security officials, contacted by Reuters following the comments from Abadi, said the United States had no information to support the threat.

Earlier on Thursday, France said it would increase security on transport and in public places after a French tourist was killed in Algeria, and said it was ready to support all states that requested its help to fight terror.

(Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball. Editing by Jason Szep and Tom Brown)