The Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle area is “disproportionately” targeted for attack by Islamic terrorists, partly because of low law enforcement staff levels, the head of the local FBI office says.
Charles Mandigo, FBI special agent in charge, also told King County Council members that international terrorists consider the area an “easy target” and that an undisclosed number of potential local collaborators are “willing and able” to help commit terrorism.
Mandigo gave his assessment Wednesday in a homeland security hearing that was closed to the public shortly after it began. His prepared remarks were released afterward by Sheriff Dave Reichert, who objected to the closure, and were reported Friday by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
“We have significant international terrorism matters related to Islamic fundamental extremism in this state, in particular, in King County,” Mandigo said.
“It has been noted by the highest level of our government in our nation’s capital that the Seattle area has and continues to receive a disproportionate high number of terrorism threats as compared to other parts of the country, many of them coming from overseas.”
None of the threats has been substantiated, but the trend is “very disconcerting,” Mandigo said.
“Although I’m not aware of any international terrorist residing in this state, we do have individuals who have been in contact with known terrorists, who are ideologically committed to Islamic fundamentalist extremism and would provide a willing and able support for international terrorists if they were to enter the state,” he added.
The FBI is conducting “a significant number” of terrorism-related investigations in Washington state, particularly in the Seattle area, and “several of these investigations are considered to be very significant,” he said.
In an interview Thursday, Mandigo would not say how many investigations were being conducted or discuss potential terrorist supporters or cells, types of threats, potential targets, likelihood of arrests and monitoring of people viewed as potential suspects.
He did say residents should not take his assessment to mean the area is under terrorist siege but should continue to report suspicious activity without overreacting.
His briefing paper singled out law enforcement staffing as a central concern.
“The FBI has intelligence that those individuals who would provide support to terrorists have ... the perception that there is a lack of law enforcement and they can go about their activities undetected,” Mandigo said.
The metropolitan area ranks 13th in population nationally but has the fifth highest crime rate, 27 percent higher than the national average, while the state has one police officer per 615 residents, compared with than the national average of one per 405 residents.
Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske said Mandigo’s comments on potential terrorist threats are in line with other recently released information.
Kerlikowske also expressed concern about staffing, which has remained about the same for his force for the last 20 years while the city has grown by 50,000 people.