New York

2 arrested in alleged plot to bomb subway

A U.S. citizen and a Pakistani national were arrested in an alleged plot to bomb a subway station in Manhattan and possibly other locations around the city, police said Saturday.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the men were not thought to be connected to al-Qaida or any other international terrorist organization, although he said they expressed hatred for America.

The arrests came two days before the start of the Republican National Convention, which is drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the city.

The men had been under police surveillance and had discussed placing explosives at the Herald Square subway station and stations at 42nd and 59th streets, Kelly said. The men never obtained explosives. He identified the men as Shahawar Matin Siraj, 21, a Pakistani living in Queens, and James El Shafay, 19, a U.S. citizen living on Staten Island.

New York

Poll: 9-11 families want convention elsewhere

Nearly half of the relatives of victims who died in the World Trade Center attack say the Republican National Convention should have been held elsewhere, and about a quarter believe the GOP chose New York “to capitalize on Sept. 11,” according to a new survey.

But one out of four of those questioned said the Republican Party brought its convention to Manhattan “to support the city” and “show it’s safe,” according to a survey of victims’ relatives by The New York Times.

The convention, which starts Monday at Madison Square Garden, will end a week ahead of the third anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack.

New York

Signs point to rude welcome for GOP

If Republicans are wondering how they’ll be received in New York during the convention, the signs aren’t good.

In fact, neither are the buttons, pins, magnets, T-shirts and bumper stickers.

The past few weeks have brought a slew of anti-Bush — paraphernalia to the streets and shops of New York, just in time for the four-day convention.

“There are so many (anti) Bush things everywhere,” said Alice Silva, who works at Hudson Street Papers.

The store sells buttons with slogans like “Someone less dumb for President” for $1.50 each. Magnets, like one with W’s mug that reads, “My Daddy bought me an election and all I got was this lousy war,” go for $4.95.

“The magnets are selling like crack,” Silva said.

Even as they fly in over Brooklyn, delegates will be welcomed by giant signs urging travelers to vote Kerry. The project has grown to almost 90 people who are creating giant blue banners legible from above.

Washington

Kerry in ‘fighting mood’; Clark blasts Bush

Democratic Sen. John Kerry said Saturday he was in a “fighting mood” with two months to go to the presidential election as his allies defended him from questions about his valor in Vietnam.

“For the last four years, we’ve had a dark cloud over Washington,” Kerry told several thousand people gathered under overcast skies in Tacoma. “We’re going to get rid of it on November 2.”

In a 45-minute speech, Kerry stuck to offense against Bush’s record and left defense against the Vietnam War criticisms that have dominated the race the last two weeks to veterans who introduced him.

Kerry’s Democratic primary rival Wesley Clark, his voice rising to a yell, suggested President Bush was behind the criticisms aired by veterans who say Kerry lied to get medals.

“I think that it’s outrageous that the president of the United States can question the medals and the service and the valor of American veterans who have served,” Clark said.

Bush has said he’s not behind the criticisms and he doesn’t think Kerry lied to get his medals.