WASHINGTON - The FBI said Friday that it had “unconfirmed information” that a domestic group plans to disrupt next week’s Democratic National Convention by targeting media vehicles.
The unnamed group may plan to attack vehicles with “explosives or incendiary devices,” according to a statement issued by the FBI’s Boston field office.
The Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating, the field office said.
“The FBI will make appropriate notification if there is any additional credible information,” the statement said.
A threat alert bulletin issued Thursday by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security reiterates a warning that terrorists may be planning a U.S. attack in the summer or fall but revealed no credible or specific threat concerning the convention.
The bulletin was sent to members of the Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force and Massachusetts homeland security officials.
The bulletin does mention the threat of civil disobedience or violence from domestic groups during the convention, which begins Monday. (CNN.com Special Report: America Votes 2004)
Homeland security officials said the bulletin mentions possible threats to aviation, mass transit and infrastructure in Boston.
One official said suspicious activity has been observed around bridges in the area, and an anonymous phone call threatened that a piece of critical infrastructure would be hit, but the official said there has been no corroborating intelligence.
Because of the security concerns and Logan International Airport’s proximity to Boston’s port and city center, the official said that more federal air marshals were being deployed on flights in and out of Boston and that passengers flying into the city were under special scrutiny.
The FBI/Department of Homeland Security bulletin mentions that several people seeking asylum in Boston were turned away recently, but the department official called that a common occurrence that may have no connection to the convention.
Source: CNN