Police and fire officials in New York are being warned that terrorists may be trying to acquire surplus or replica emergency vehicles to use as car bombs that could be planted near government buildings or landmarks without drawing attention.
Officials were alerted to the plot when two unidentified Middle Eastern men tried to buy a replica ambulance at a northern New Jersey shop that builds copies of emergency vehicles, police cars and fire trucks.
The owner of the shop became suspicious when the men tried to pay cash, and the pair fled without leaving any identification. Among the sites officials fear could be targeted are City Hall, FBI offices, police department headquarters and even fire department facilities.
Fire department and police investigators have already begun efforts to ensure that unauthorized people cannot gain access to facilities where emergency vehicles are stored or repaired, fire department sources told the News.
“We’ve been told to watch our vehicles, all our vehicles,” a fire department official said. “It’s the vehicles that can get into areas that we are really concerned about. Who is not going to let a patrol car pass, or an ambulance, especially if we are in a state of emergency?”
One of the dangers here is that the vehicles are used as a secondary explosion. After detonating one bomb (or chemical attack in a subway), terrorists could potentially pull up in their fake ambulance and detonate a second bomb killing dozens of emergency workers and law enforcement officers.
Source: ABC News
Priority Level (1 = Lowest, 5 = Highest)
- National Level 3
- Region Level 5
- State Level 5
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