Authorities Warn of Possible Terrorist Attacks on Banks, CEOs

Authorities have warned executives at major investment banks that a Qaeda terrorists in Yemen may be planning attacks against financial institutions or their top employees.

Intelligence analysts are concerned that operatives in Yemen may try to send package bombs or chemical agents to Wall Street bankers through the mail, NBC New York reported. Authorities are also concerned that terrorists may be discussing the names of top bankers.

Still, the threat is general in nature and there is "no indication of a targeted assassination plot," NBC New York reported, citing unidentified security sources.

Officials from the FBI and NYPD have briefed bank executives on the possible threats. They cite writings such as the Inspire magazine that recently warned of attacks against financial institutions and mentioned using anthrax in an attack.

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An al Qaeda blogger named Abu Suleiman Al-Nasser recently wrote,"Rush my Muslim brothers to targeting financial sites and the program sites of financial institutions, stock markets and money markets."

Al-Nasser has previously written about al Qaeda plots before much of the information was public knowledge.

Banks including Goldman Sachs (GS), Citibank (C) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) have all been briefed by security officials, NBC New York reported.

Congressman Peter King (R-Long Island), chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, warned that such threats have to be taken seriously.

"Whenever a name is included ... it's always a cause for more concern because again the fear is that that's sending a specific signal to specific operatives in this country to take action," King said.