Baltimore Terror Threat Lifted

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2005 — -- Authorities have reopened Baltimore's Harbor and Fort McHenry Tunnels, after investigating a general threat regarding a possible terrorist attack on one of the tunnels along the I-95 corridor.

The security threat prompted Maryland Transportation Authority police to close and divert traffic away from the tubes earlier today.

The federal government, meanwhile, is still analyzing the credibility of the threat.

An informant told authorities late last week that a plot was in progress to blow up one of the tunnels under Baltimore's harbor, ABC News has learned.

According to the informant, who is in detention overseas, at least six Egyptian terrorists were going to receive bomb materials that would arrive by ship at Baltimore's harbor in a container marked "Cocoa." The informant said the terrorists would then use the material to assemble explosive devices, which would be planted in cars as part of a plot to bomb one or both of the tunnels.

The Department of Homeland Security, however, has some doubts about the source's credibility.

According to a senior law enforcement official, analysis of the threat concluded that it was not credible based on the clear motive of the detained informant, his "questionable" performance on a polygraph test, and the lack of any corroboration by individuals named and detained in the United States.

"While the information was somewhat specific, to date, the intelligence community has not found evidence that corroborates the information," the FBI and DHS said in a joint written statement. "However, this is an ongoing investigation. Therefore, we support whatever protective measures taken out of an abundance of caution that state and local law enforcement authorities deem appropriate to ensure the safety and security of their community until we can complete the investigation."

The FBI along with local officials, according to the law enforcement source, have spent the week locating individuals named by the informant.

ABC affiliate WJLA-TV in Washington is reporting that several individuals are in custody and are being interviewed by the Maryland/Delaware Joint Terrorism Task Force.

ABC News' Pierre Thomas, Chris Isham, Richard Esposito and Jason Ryan contributed to this report.