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Nuclear plant target of attack, document warned

By Steve Young
CNN New York Bureau

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a warning that terrorists were plotting to crash a commercial U.S. jetliner into a nuclear power plant somewhere in the United States, according to a document obtained by CNN.

The document was distributed to all 103 U.S. power plants on January 23.

The NRC document indicates that a senior al Qaeda operative undergoing debriefing discussed with his interrogators plans to crash the commercial airliner into a nuclear target. It was to be chosen by a team on the ground in the United States, the memo said.

MORE STORIES NRC memo warning of terror attacks    RESOURCES Nuclear reactor sites  How prepared is your city?

The memo indicated three individuals were in the United States recruiting non-Arab operatives to take part in the attack.

The information indicated the group would divert the plane into a tall building if a military plane tried to intercept the flight. At the time the document was issued, the FBI said it could not assess the credibility of the threat.