Law enforcement agencies asked “to be extremely vigilant ... report anything that seems to be peculiar.”
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WASHINGTON -- The FBI warned police in New Mexico and California that it received information about possible terrorist activity in their states. However, the warning wasn’t specific about particular targets or a method of attack, a federal law enforcement official said Thursday.
The FBI decided to pass along the threat information but warned it was considered unsubstantiated and uncorroborated, said the official, who spoke only on condition of anonymity. The vague warning was distributed to authorities in California, New Mexico and some other Western states the federal law enforcement official did not identify.
Peter Olson, a spokesman for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, said state officials have been told only that there were reports of possible al-Qaida elements in New Mexico.
“There are no specific dates, times, locations or any other specific information that we have at this time,” he said. He also said the state has no information on why the warning was issued now.
Law enforcement agencies were being asked “to be extremely vigilant ... report anything that seems to be peculiar,” Olson said. However, no one was put on heightened alert and the state did not activate its Emergency Operations Center, he said.
“This is our normal procedure. If we receive specific information, then we act on that,” Olson said. “But we have nothing at this point.”
Gov. Bill Richardson, in a statement released from Boston where he is chairing the Democratic National Convention, said residents should exercise caution, but follow their normal routines.
“My homeland security director is in close contact with the FBI as part of an ongoing effort to counter the threat of terrorist cells in the region,” he said.
Officials at Albuquerque’s airport said they were not taking additional security steps. Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque and Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo also did not go to heightened security, spokesmen said.
New Mexico National Guard spokesman Tom Koch said the guard was aware of the FBI warning but had not been asked to do anything.
Kevin Roark, a spokesman for Los Alamos National Laboratory, and John German, a spokesman for Sandia National Laboratories, said they had nothing indicating any specific threat against the labs.
“We have been notified by the FBI but it’s nothing specific,” German said. He said guards and employees have been told to be on the alert.
Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said he had no details of the warning. He applauded the FBI for issuing it, although he also said he did not believe any terrorist action was imminent.
“It just means they heard chatter. ... It also means that if we didn’t tell the people and something happened, they would be very, very upset,” he said.
New Mexico “has several prominent installations, so it is important that the FBI pass along any relevant information that it receives to local law enforcement officials,” Domenici said.
He said he hoped to get with the FBI in a few days “and find out what this is all about.”
Doug Mosier, a Border Patrol spokesman, said the agency has not received any specific information on terrorist activity.
“But we are closely monitoring the situation and are taking all necessary precautions,” he said.
U.S. officials earlier this month warned that a regular stream of intelligence indicates al-Qaida wants to attack the United States to disrupt the upcoming elections.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has said the government does not have specific knowledge about where, when or how an attack might take place.
Source: FBI; The Associated Press