The New York Daily News is reporting on a plot to blow up the Holland Tunnel in New York City, which was hoped to cause the flooding of Lower Manhattan and the incredible economic disruption that would entail, along with massive loss of life.

The FBI has uncovered what officials consider a serious plot by jihadists to bomb the Holland Tunnel in hopes of causing a torrent of water to deluge lower Manhattan, the Daily News has learned.

The terrorists sought to drown the Financial District as New Orleans was by Hurricane Katrina, sources said. They also wanted to attack subways and other tunnels.

Counterterrorism officials are alarmed by the "lone wolf" terror plot because they allegedly got a pledge of financial and tactical support from Jordanian associates of top terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi before he was killed in Iraq, a counterterrorism source told The News.

It's not clear, however, if any cash or assistance was delivered.

The News has learned that at the request of U.S. officials, authorities in Beirut arrested one of the alleged conspirators, identified as Amir Andalousli, in recent months. Agents were scrambling yesterday to try to nab other suspects, sources said.

This is a plan that could have actually worked, according to some experts.

It was uncovered by monitoring Internet chat-rooms, and there are additional individuals being sought besides Andalousli.

The New York Times indicates that Senator Chuck Schumer and Rep. Peter King are confirming the report. So are law enforcement sources -- but with a possible twist.

Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York Representative Peter T. King of Long Island confirmed a report in The Daily News today, which said that the man arrested in Lebanon and an unknown number of other people had discussed exploding a bomb to disrupt the system.

The News said the plot focused on the Holland Tunnel, and said the plotters hoped that a bomb detonated under the Hudson River would crack the tunnel and flood Lower Manhattan.

But a law enforcement official said today that the tunnel was not the target of the plot, and Mr. King said in an interview that he "would agree" with that assessment. In a televised interview, Mr. Schumer referred to the Lincoln Tunnel, rather than the Holland.

Mr. King and Mr. Schumer both said that the plot had been caught in its early stages. Mr. King said that he had been informed on an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department nine months ago.

I just overheard a report on the television that the plan may have been directed at the subway system and not the roadway system -- which would make more sense, given the widespread system of tunnels underneath Manhattan.

I certainly hope that the investigation did not involve monitoring phone calls or financial transactions -- the Times will becalling for this mutt's release from jail and the prosecution of those who saved New York from another terrorist attack.

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