Incidents using ambulances to deliver bombs occur with some regularity in the Middle East and U.S. officials believe that these vehicles, filled with explosives, could be used to quickly gain access to secure emergency scenes, as terrorists target first-responders. Recently, 10 people were killed in one such incident in Iraq.
Police1 has warned of such attacks in earlier alerts.
U.S. officials warned that al- Qaeda terrorists could be planning attacks on financial institutions in New York City, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. on Aug. 1.
Authorities in the Northeast are investigating at least four incidents where people asked suspicious, detailed questions of fire fighters and emergency personnel about how ambulances are operated - how fast they go, and when drivers should turn on the siren, according to ABC News.
New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey issued an alert on the incidents to law enforcement agencies.
“Within the past week, the Office of Counter-Terrorism received three reports of suspicious activity concerning ambulances,” New Jersey Infrastructure Advisory Bulletin No. 143 began. “The most recent incident involved an individual who attended an open-house at an ambulance squad in Middlesex County.
“The man, who claimed he was from Pakistan and a physician, asked a series of questions that related exclusively to the operation of the emergency vehicles, including the speed at which the vehicles responded to calls, and the use of the lights and sirens. “The individual appeared very nervous, did not ask about patient care, and left the premises when asked to complete a membership application.”
The other two incidents cited in the New Jersey bulletin were also specific in nature, and according to Sidney Casperson, Director of the State Office of Counter-Terrorism, a warning was also sent to those in the health-care professions.
Officials said explosives carried in large vehicles -- such as trucks, limousines or ambulances -- were a major source of concern, since they are believed to be the most likely way the terrorist would deliver on their threat against U.S. financial institutions.
The three incidents occurred within just a few days in the last two weeks. That pattern, as much as the incidents themselves, is a focus of the investigation.
A fourth such incident occurred in a New York City, Bronx neighborhood over the weekend, according to a public safety official in New York. This incident is also under investigation.
In at least three cases, when the questioners were asked about their own identity, they gave vague answers and departed the area before police could be notified.
These incidents are being taken very seriously, since ambulances, like tanker trucks and limos, could deliver large amounts of explosives with the added benefit of lowering the guard of security personnel at any potential targets.
In Britain, police fear terrorists may be rebuilding, old discarded emergency vehicles that they have procured through sellers on auction websites. An internal police alert noted the high number of ambulances and surplus police cars listed for sale on an online auction websites.
Eight men charged with terrorist offenses were due to appear in court in London today. Intelligence sources have said one of the men is a major al-Qaeda operative known as Abu Eisa al-Hindi or Abu Musa al-Hindi. He is suspected of being involved in the surveillance of financial institutions in Washington, New York and New Jersey.
Also review these Police1 Critical Alerts:
FBI Warns of Possible Suicide Attacks, May Be Disguised As First-Responders
FBI Again Warns of Secondary Explosive Devices, Cautions Officers To Watch Surroundings
Source: ABC News; ERRI