Alert ripples across region

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 12, 2001

Law enforcement and security officials throughout the Tampa Bay area went on high alert Thursday after the FBI issued a stark warning that more terrorist attacks may come in the next few days.

The FBI said it received information that new terrorist acts may be imminent, either inside the United States or abroad. The bureau's information did not identify specific targets, so the FBI asked all Americans to be wary of suspicious activity.

Florida government agencies, power plants, theme parks, airports and seaports, already in a state of high alert, took further steps Thursday in response to the FBI warning, though officials would not disclose specifics.

At locations such as the Crystal River nuclear plant in Citrus County, security has never been tighter, with sheriff's deputies augmenting the plant's armed security force and Coast Guard boats patroling the nearby Gulf of Mexico.

"It's as if we had received a direct threat," said Florida Power spokesman Mac Harris. "It's that level of awareness we're in." The plant has not received a threat.

The FBI posted the warning on its Web site and notified law enforcement agencies across the country to be on "highest alert" to terrorist activity.

The New York Times reported that the warning was issued after the CIA received information Wednesday about a planned attack. The information came from a foreign source whom the agency had determined from past experience to be credible.

In recent days, counterintelligence officials have told the White House and Congress in classified briefings that the al-Qaida terror network headed by Osama bin Laden presented a continuing threat fully capable of renewed attacks in the United States.

According to Knight Ridder Newspapers, intelligence officials said the FBI warning was the product of two things: evidence that al-Qaida members were studying new targets, and a new "indicator" that al-Qaida members have been told to launch their attacks in the next few days.

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks led almost every Florida institution from Disney World to MacDill Air Force Base to tighten security.

Local police agencies say they are working closely with each other, the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

"What we're doing is shoring up our intelligence-gathering capabilities," said St. Petersburg police Chief Mack Vines. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has reallocated its force and added more patrols in various parts of the county.

Spokeswoman Debbie Carter would not elaborate on specific moves by the sheriff's office, which also is in charge of patroling the Port of Tampa.

Renewed security concerns have been evident in recent days at Tampa International Airport, where armed National Guard troops have been standing guard.

Airport spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan said TIA has been working with the Federal Aviation Administration on security.

"We're already on a heightened alert at the airport," she said.

-- Times staff writers Alex Leary, Tamara Lush and Deborah O'Neil contributed to this report, which contains information from Times wire services.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright