U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder discussed the alleged terror plot involving suspect Najibullah Zazi, the former Queens/current Denver resident, and others. Holder said it was "one of the most serious terrorist threats to our country since Sept. 11, 2001... This wasn't merely an 'aspirational' plot with no chance of success. This plot was very serious and, had it not been disrupted, it could have resulted in the loss of American lives."

Zazi was charged with one count of terrorism conspiracy; he has pleaded not guilty, though has admitted to talking to Al Qaeda. His visit to NYC in early September set off a flurry of raids on Queens homes, where authorities allegedly found backpacks for a possible mass transit bombing. Plans for bomb making were also allegedly found on Zazi's laptop and Zazi was seen buying large quantities of beauty supplies, such as hydrogen peroxide and acetone, which can be used to make bombs.

During his talk with Justice Department reporters, the Washington Post reports that Holder went on to say the threat "very serious" and "could have resulted in the loss of American lives... It is our intention to bring all who were involved to justice. We have a good sense of who these people were, and I can say the investigation is pretty far along and I think we've got a pretty good handle on who was involved." Holder would not say when more arrests were coming.