The Latest from National Terror Alert Response Center

Somali Pirates Seize Italian-flagged Tugboat, 16 crew Posted: 11 Apr 2009 11:10 PM PDT Pirates captured an Italian-flagged tugboat with 16 crew including 10 Italians on Saturday, in the latest hijacking in the busy Gulf of Aden. The tugboat, with enough fuel and food on board to last a month, was believed to be heading toward the Somali coast, the head of the Italian company that owns the boat told Reuters. “I’ve entered into contact with the families (of the crew),” Claudio Bartolotti, head of Ravenna-based Micoperi Srl, said, adding there were also five Romanians and one Croatian on board. Bartolotti denied reports the 75-metre-long tugboat was U.S.-owned, saying his company had recently purchased it. NATO alliance officials on a warship in the region had previously described the boat as U.S. -owned, Italian-flagged. Andrew Mwangura, of the Mombasa-based East African Seafarers’ Assistance Programme, said the tugboat’s crew were believed to be unharmed. He said the tugboat was towing two barges at the time of capture but there were no details about their cargo. “This incident shows the pirates are becoming more daring and violent,” Mwangura told Reuters by phone. via Reuters AlertNet - Pirates seize Italian-flagged tugboat, 16 crew. This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. Share this post

Residue On Money Causes Scare At Bank Posted: 11 Apr 2009 08:32 PM PDT A teller at a Plainfield National City bank branch became nauseated and dizzy this afternoon after accepting a deposit which had white powder residue on the money, causing an emergency response and closing the bank for the day. Police said the teller vomited and was treated by paramedics, but did not need to be taken to a hospital. The teller said she received the deposit money from a customer around 12:20 p.m. and placed the money in a drawer. Within minutes, she began feeling dizzy, according to police. A Will County hazmat team arrived at the bank, 24821 W. 135th St., and after about three hours determined the bills were not a serious threat. The bank was closed for the day. The money is being tested to identify the residue, authorities said. Source This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. Share this post

Israeli Jets Scramble After Delta Flight Activates Hijack Alert by Mistake Posted: 11 Apr 2009 12:46 PM PDT Israeli fighter jets were scrambled to escort a Delta Air Lines plane flying from New York to Tel Aviv after the pilot activated a hijacking alert by mistake. Transportation ministry official, Dani Shenar, told Israeli media Saturday that nobody was hurt in the incident. He said two jets hovered briefly over the plane carrying over 100 people and escorted it safely to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport. A technical malfunction had prevented the pilot from communicating with the airport’s control tower. The transportation ministry said it will launch an investigation. Source This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. Share this post

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