The Latest from National Terror Alert Response Center

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• Bombs Found Metro Manila, Terrorists Planning To
  Destabilize?
  
  
• Warren Air Force Base Conducts National-level
  Terror Exercise
  
  
• DHS Report Concludes General Aviation Security
  Threat is Limited
  
  
• U.S. Adm. Mike Mullen Outlines Top U.S.
  Threats
  
  
• Planned Racial Violence Spurs Lockdown By
  Sherriff Arpaio
  
  
• Detonated Blasting Cap Found On Tracks Near Train
  Station
  
  
• Yemeni Jet Crashes Near Comoros Islands – 150
  Onboard

Bombs Found Metro Manila, Terrorists Planning To Destabilize? Posted: 30 Jun 2009 12:27 AM PDT 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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