04/18/97 - 09:15CDT
Terrorism Alarm Bells Ringing in Several Countries
By Paul Anderson, ENN Metro Correspondent
Chicago, IL (ENN) -- A multiplicity of terrorism threats and the reported discovery of several actual explosive devices in England has prompted the Emergency Response & Response Institute (ERRI) to issue a special terrorism awareness alert for the next 72 hours.
According to Clark Staten, Executive Director of ERRI, this alert is prompted by the following circumstances, that could contribute to the possibility of either a domestic or international terrorist attack involving the United States or her allies:
ENGLAND -- This morning, two small
explosions were reported in Doncaster and Leeds, England. Several
IRA code-worded bomb threats were also received which warned of
additional devices on the M6 roadway and at othertrain stations. Transportation systems in the North of England were reported to be "in chaos," as a result of these latest events.
ITALY -- Late Thursday, Italian
intelligence agencies warned that the countries international
airports and even Pope John Paul II could be targeted by Islamic
extremists. Neither the Vatican, nor the Interior Ministry, which
is responsible for internal security expressed any major alarm.
An Italian minister said that "vigilance to possible threats
[in Italy] is permanent and systematic." The country's
military intelligence agency SISMI, however, said that they had information about Iranian extremists moving their operations to Italy.
GERMANY -- A member of the Ansar'e
Hezbollah on Friday made very direct threats of "suicide
bombings" against Germany, if the Bonn government doesn't
publicly apologize for allegations that the Iranian leadership
participated in a plot to conduct political assassinations in
Berlin, in 1992. Protests and demonstrations have been held at
the German Embassy in Tehran, in Mecca, and in Berlin, in recent
days. Several European Union ambassadors have been recalled from
Iran in response to the flap. ERRI analysts say that Iran may
feel more isolated and likely to retaliate through terrorist
attack, as the result of these recent events. United States -- Military bases in
the United States have been told to "tighten general
security measures" and increase their awareness levels this
weekend by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs John Shalikashvili. The
U.S. Air Force had reportedly increased security measures at the
Colorado headquarters of NORAD on Thursday, following a
"specified third party threat" that was was eventually
discounted by military authorities. Gen. Shalikashvili also
commented on the fact that he "didn't have enough
information" to lead him to believe that the disappearance
of a A-10 tank-killer in Colorado had anything to do with the
April 19th anniversary of the fiery conclusion of a 1993 siege in
Waco, TX, or the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.Security has also reportedly been increased in Denver, CO, where alleged bomber Timothy McVeigh is on trial for his alleged participation in the destruction of the Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City, OK. Concerns have been raised of the possibility of a domestic act of terrorism in the Denver area. The Oklahoma City bombing occurred on
April 19th, allegedly in retaliation for the Waco incident.
In Atlanta, the scene of three bombings, possibly connected to domestic extremist groups, police and emergency planners have also announced an alert and have recalled all available police officers for duty this weekend. Concerns there have been heightened about a possible white supremacist attack on a "Black College Weekend" celebration informally called "Freaknik," that is being held in the Atlanta area all weekend. An unverified letter threatening violence, allegedly from a shadowy group called the "Party of God," was reportedly received by media outlets in Atlanta, approximately two weeks ago.
In light of the multi-dimensional nature and varied locations of these domestic threats, and the fact that large numbers of American troops are serving in Germany, Italy, and Great Britain, a general alert is being issued by ERRI. Staten said that this alert is intended to merely prompt additional caution, awareness, and preparedness on the part of military and emergency service agencies, not to prompt any sort of panic or alarm among the general population, who may be
largely unaffected.
Staten said that this sort of advisory is not uncommon when the threat assessment computers of the Chicago-based emergency service and counter-terrorism "think-tank" indicate an significant increase in the number of terrorist threats or actual incidents. He said that a similar alert was also issued in January of this year, following a spate of bombings at family planning facilities, courthouses, and federal offices.
(C) EmergencyNet News Service, 1997. All rights reserved.
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