Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The Latest from National Terror Alert Response Center






The Latest from National Terror
Alert Response Center

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Bombs Found Metro Manila, Terrorists Planning To Destabilize?


Posted: 30 Jun 2009 12:27 AM PDT


manila


Is there an ongoing destabilization operation? Yesterday, a
bomb was found at the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Quezon City, a day
after the Office of the Ombudsman, also in Quezon City, was bombed.


Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap told reporters the DA incident
might be part of a concerted effort to sow destabilization or
confusion.


A “suspicious package” was also found outside a condominium
across Ateneo de Manila University along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon
City.


President Arroyo and her family had once occupied a penthouse
suite at the condominium – the One Burgundy Plaza. As of last night,
police have not confirmed whether the package contained an explosive
device.


Police suspect the DA and Katipunan incidents are related.


Witnesses told reporters the package was contained in a red
belt bag that a security guard found outside One Burgundy Plaza at around
7 a.m.


The police blotter at Anonas police station showed the security
guard had reported his find.


Witnesses said the package was found near an electric post
between One Burgundy Plaza and Prince David condominium.


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.






Warren Air Force Base Conducts National-level Terror Exercise


Posted: 30 Jun 2009 12:22 AM PDT


af_terror_drill


A simulated terrorist attack on a 90th Missile Wing ICBM launch
facility provided the exercise scenario for Nuclear Weapon
Accident/Incident Exercise 2009.


This national-level exercise involving 11 federal agencies and
1,300 personnel was the largest and most complex exercise ever conducted
at a missile base.


Accident response and associated consequent management
procedures are routinely practiced by local responders and the 90th
Missile Wing; however, this exercise was made far more complex by the
criminal aspect associated with terrorist activities.


Close and careful coordination with a number of federal
agencies, particularly the FBI, was essential to gather information
swiftly to identify and capture the terrorists responsible for the
attack.


The exercise challenged responders in several ways. Balancing
the need for personnel safety in a potentially hazardous situation while
allowing law enforcement officials to gather time critical evidence for
criminal response, required a clear understanding of the risks
involved.


Minutes counted in determining which terrorist group was
responsible and developing courses of action to track and capture
them.


As response elements arrived from across the nation, the wing’s
initial response force transitioned to a response task force with a formal
transfer of incident command between the wing commander Col. Mike Morgan,
90th MW commander, and the


Twentieth Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Roger W. Burg.


General Burg then led the federal agency response for
consequence management along with supporting the FBI in their
counter-terrorism mission.


In addition to the FBI, major exercise players included the
Department of Energy providing weapon system technical expertise, Homeland
Security and FEMA for consequence management, US Northern Command for
operational command of the IRF/RTF, the State of Wyoming and the Wyoming
Guard for initial response and logistical support, and Air Force Space
Command for filling key RTF leadership positions.


“This is the first time the country has brought together
military operators with a very robust interagency package,” said Exercise
Director and Director of Nuclear Support at the Defense Threat Reduction
Agency U. S. Army Brig. Gen. Ernie Audino “This is a complex exercise with
many moving parts.” “It is critical to make the U.S. military the best in
the world,” he continued. “And it’s not just the extensive training we go
through, but it’s how we capture the lessons learned from that training.
It is an endless, necessary cycle.”


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.






DHS Report Concludes General Aviation Security Threat is
Limited


Posted: 30 Jun 2009 12:05 AM PDT


airlines


The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) recently
welcomed a conclusion in a recent report conducted by the Department of
Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General (DHS-0IG) that “general
aviation presents only limited and mostly hypothetical threats to
security.”


“This report validates what we in the general aviation
community have said before: General aviation does not represent a
significant security threat,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “The
industry has always emphasized security, and in the years since the 9/11
attacks, we have remained diligent and adopted numerous measures to ensure
that our aircraft, crews and passengers are safe and secure.”


Following are the key findings included in the 30-page study by
the DHS-OIG:


* “We determined that general aviation presents only limited
and mostly hypothetical threats to security. We also determined that the
steps general aviation airport owners and managers have taken to enhance
security are positive and effective.”


* “The current status of [general aviation] operations does not
present a serious homeland security vulnerability requiring TSA to
increase regulatory oversight of the industry.”


* “Although [TSA's Office of Intelligence] has identified
potential threats, it has concluded that most [general aviation] aircraft
are too light to inflict significant damage, and has not identified
specific imminent threats from [general aviation] aircraft.”


“We recognize that this report doesn’t mean our industry can
take its eye off the ball on security,” Bolen continued. “We will continue
working with policymakers to promote effective proposals for enhancing
security while recognizing the business aviation community’s need for
mobility and flexibility. At the same time, we welcome this recognition of
our industry’s long-standing commitment to security, and the effective
measures we’ve taken to minimize security threats.”


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.






U.S. Adm. Mike Mullen Outlines Top U.S. Threats


Posted: 29 Jun 2009 10:00 PM PDT


mike_mullen


At any given moment, U.S. Adm. Mike Mullen is juggling at least
a half dozen critical situations around the world.


The final hours before taking off for Moscow to iron out
details of a military cooperation agreement with Russia were no different
for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.


Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the fight against the Taliban
inside Pakistan, al-Qaida’s intent to attack the U.S. and Iran are the
issues Mullen says he is grappling with right now.


“The biggest concern I have right now is in the broader Middle
East,” says Mullen. “We are in a position in Iraq where we’re decreasing
our footprint over the next year and a half, considerably to meet the
president’s direction to have all troops out of Iraq by the end of
2011.”


At the same time Mullen says, “We’re increasing the number of
forces we’ve got in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is in that region — in
Afghanistan and Pakistan — I think the No. 1 threat that we have right
now, is al -Qaida.”


Mullen says al-Qaida’s main goal “is to attack Western
interests.”


But another threat, North Korea, is most pressing.


“What is most important in my view is that somehow this leader
gets the message that he’s just continuing to isolate himself and his
people,” says Mullen.


He pulled no punches when discussing Kim Jong il’s
behavior.


“He is somewhat unpredictable. Clearly that’s the case,” says
Mullen.


When asked about U.S. military preparation to deal with a
possible missile launch in the direction of Hawaii, Mullen responded
confidently.


“I think we’re very well postured and in a position to be able
to address the threat. I have great confidence in our forces and our
ability to do that.”


When pressed on just what would be done, Mullen says the U.S.
would “take all necessary measures to defend our people.”


While clear on the threats, he’s keenly aware of the advantage
he has.


via Mullen outlines top U.S. threats – wtop.com.


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.






Planned Racial Violence Spurs Lockdown By Sherriff Arpaio


Posted: 29 Jun 2009 07:22 PM PDT


maricopa_jail


Ten thousand inmates in Maricopa County jails were placed on
lockdown after authorities got word of a planned race riot.


The lockdown means visitation, phone calls and nonessential
movement will be restricted and SWAT teams will be on standby, according
to Lt. Brian Lee, sheriff’s spokesman.


Inmates will be allowed out of their cells for court
appearances only.


Lee said in a press release that the planned riot was spurred
by the inmates’ dislike of sharing cells with people of other races.


The lockdown will continue until tensions subside.


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.






Detonated Blasting Cap Found On Tracks Near Train Station


Posted: 29 Jun 2009 07:06 PM PDT


train_track


Wenham Mass. Kids looking for rocks along the train
tracks yesterday made a puzzling discovery: a detonated blasting cap on
the tracks near the commuter rail station.


The discovery temporarily shut down a section of the parking
lot near the Shoppes at Hamilton Crossing and police made a passing train
continue to the Ipswich station without stopping.


Police Sgt. Jeffrey Tobey said there was no evidence of any
explosive material on the tracks or else they would have shut down the
Newburyport line.


In fact, the detonated blasting cap wasn’t even on the tracks
anymore.


Tobey said the two kids brought their discovery to the Hamilton
police station down the road.


Hamilton police contacted MBTA police who are now working with
the FBI on an investigation, Tobey said.


via Detonated
blasting cap found on tracks near train station – SalemNews.com, Salem,
MA
.


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.






Yemeni Jet Crashes Near Comoros Islands – 150 Onboard


Posted: 29 Jun 2009 06:51 PM PDT


yemenia
A Yemeni airliner with 150 people aboard has
crashed near the Comoros Islands, an aviation official in Yemen says.



An airliner with 150 people on board belonging to Yemeni
state carrier Yemenia Air crashed in the Indian Ocean archipelago of
Comoros Tuesday, a senior government official said.


“We don’t know if there are any survivors among the 150
people on the plane,” Comoros vice-president Idi Nadhoim told Reuters
from the airport at the main island’s capital Moroni.


Nadhoim said the accident happened in the early hours of
Tuesday, but could not give any more details.


The location was not immediately known, but a medical
worker in the town of Mitsamiouli, on the main island Grande Comore,
said he had been called into the local hospital.


“They have just called me to come to the hospital. They
said a plane had crashed,” he told Reuters.


A Comoran police source said the plane was believed to
have come down in the sea. “We really have no sea rescue capabilities,”
he added.


Read More


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Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for
homeland security news and information.














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