The FBI has launched an investigation after air traffic controllers in New York received a message warning of a potential terrorist attack. The anonymous message warned that a plane would be crashed into the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday (January 6), during a joint session of Congress in retaliation for the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani last year.
"We are flying a plane into the Capitol on Wednesday. Soleimani will be avenged," the message, which used a digitized voice, reportedly said.
Officials do not believe the threat is credible and are trying to locate the person responsible for sending the message. It is a felony offense to make threats over aviation frequencies.
"The United States Capitol Police takes all threats of violence to the U.S. Capitol and the Congress very seriously, and is working closely with our Federal law enforcement partners," U.S. Capitol Police spokesperson Eva Malecki told CNN.
As a precaution, air traffic controllers were told to be extra vigilant and report any instances of aircraft veering from their flight path.
Soleimani was killed in Iraq on January 3, 2020, in a drone strike ordered by President Donald Trump. Over the weekend, thousands of Iraqis gathered in Baghdad to peacefully protest Soleimani's killing.
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