Found in the trash... NYPD left red-faced after top secret counter-terrorism plan discovered

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Updated:

  • Document should have been destroyed
  • NYPD labelled 'knuckleheads' by official

New York Police Department have red-faces after a member of the public discovered anti-terrorism plans... in a dustbin.

Bucky Turco found the eight-page document, from NYPD's Chemical Ordinance, Biological and Radiological Awareness (COBRA) task force, and decided to publish the contents online.

He wrote on his blog: 'This past Thursday night, I found this document sitting in the garbage can in front of the NYPD's Manhattan South Task Force stationhouse on 42nd Street. 

The top secret counter-terrorist document was recovered from this bin, outside an NYPD precinct

The top secret counter-terrorist document was recovered from this bin, outside an NYPD precinct

The eight-page document provides a check list for terrorists

The eight-page document provides a check list for terrorists

'And by sitting, I mean, it was the only piece of trash in the bottom of the can. (Don't ask me why I look in garbage cans - just a habit.)'

According to the post, the document, which indicates that it should have been 'destroyed upon completion', details COBRA teams' plans.

A number of locations where pockets of the counter-terrorist groups can be found are listed.

Times Square in New York is thought to be a top target for terrorists - and the COBRA document confirmed that

Times Square in New York is thought to be a top target for terrorists - and the COBRA document confirmed that

The COBRA document was found in a rubbish bin outside a NYPD building
The document, published online by a blogger, showed how COBRA would deal with terrorist threats around Times Square

The COBRA document, published online by a blogger, was found in a rubbish bin outside a NYPD building and showed how COBRA would deal with terrorist threats around Times Square

And the dossier also offers a guide to how they prepare for a terrorist hit on top New York destinations, including the popular Times Square, thought to be a terrorist red-alert zone.

In addition there is a check-list of what to look for when screening for potential threats - which, of course, in the hands of terrorists is a handy checklist of what not to do.

According to the discovery of Mr Turco, editor-in-chief of Animal New York, COBRA teams are looking for the following:

  • 'New or shiny bolts and/or screws'
  • 'Unusual fingerprints of grease and/or oil in otherwise clean areas'
  • 'Driver does not have a logbook

According to Mr Turco's blog, one New York city official who works closely with NYPD, said: 'I’m appalled that all this money is being spent on counter-terrorism and yet some knucklehead can leave a document lying around.'

While Mr Turco has faced criticism for posting the document on the Internet, NYPD said in a statement: 'The document involved the deployment of 20 highly visible uniformed officers whose assignments were obvious to anyone with eyes in their head.

'The assignment sheet was tossed out the day after the assignments were completed.

'Granted, we would have preferred it was disposed of more discreetly, but its discovery by a dumpster-diver posed no threat to the public or anyone else.'

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