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Harrisburg and Lancaster Airports Shut Down Because of Threat at Three Mile Island
AP ^ | 10/18/01

Posted on 10/18/2001 12:39:15 AM PDT by kattracks

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant received a "credible threat" on Wednesday, prompting officials to shut down two nearby airports and dispatch military aircraft to protect the facility.

The plant was placed on a high state of alert as the FBI, state police and military planes scrambled to protect the facility.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokeswoman Diane Screnci declined to discuss the type of threat, or how the agency received it. The commission told Three Mile Island about the threat between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., and the airports were shut down about 9 p.m., she said.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown said a "temporary flight restriction" extended to a 20-mile radius around the Harrisburg airport after the threat.

Three Mile Island is located just outside Harrisburg, which is 35 miles northwest of Lancaster.

Ralph DeSantis, a spokesman for Three Mile Island, confirmed the plant's high state of alert, but also declined to discuss the type of threat or the additional security measures.

He said Three Mile Island was the only nuclear power plant threatened.

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the power plant had already taken additional security measures, but Wednesday's alert tightened security further, DeSantis and Screnci said.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
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1 posted on 10/18/2001 12:39:15 AM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks
"The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant received a "credible threat"

But bin Laden specializes in surprise attacks so it makes me think it's not his doing. This is getting worse and worse. It's like being in a fun house with mirrors everywhere.

2 posted on 10/18/2001 12:45:45 AM PDT by Theresa
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: kattracks
WGAL and Metro Source new report the airports reopened early Thursday morning. Seems like it's all quiet on the homefront again.

prisoner6

5 posted on 10/18/2001 2:31:15 AM PDT by prisoner6
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To: kattracks
It's hard to avoid the plant when landing or taking off at Harrisburg's Middleton airport...they're both right there. I'm going to guess this is precautionary for the moment.
6 posted on 10/18/2001 2:37:57 AM PDT by The Raven
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To: Unalienable
There's nothing fun about a nuclear meltdown

Who said anything about a nuclear meltdown?

7 posted on 10/18/2001 2:50:48 AM PDT by Fzob
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To: Unalienable; prisoner6
Unalienable : it's a hoax ...
so that prisoner6 & Co. (make you) believe that it's all quiet on the homefront again ...
while they play Russian roulette (Sept. 13)
8 posted on 10/18/2001 3:32:22 AM PDT by Milosevic2
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To: kattracks
Meanwhile, I'm 25 miles downwind sleeping peacefully, oblivious to what's going on.
9 posted on 10/18/2001 3:32:50 AM PDT by airborne
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To: airborne
...downwind...

hope my snoring didn't wake you J

[50mi upwind]

10 posted on 10/18/2001 3:35:17 AM PDT by tomkat
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To: tomkat
I doubt you snore any louder than my wife...or my dog! Besides, I was tired from a late night at the hockey game.
11 posted on 10/18/2001 3:44:45 AM PDT by airborne
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To: airborne
your dogs do that too ?

LOL !

12 posted on 10/18/2001 3:51:42 AM PDT by tomkat
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To: Unalienable
It is a hoax. "Nuclear meltdowns" are hoaxes while melt-downs of hysterics are not.
13 posted on 10/18/2001 3:55:28 AM PDT by dhuffman@awod.com
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To: tomkat
I am about 60 miles away, where in PA are you from? I didn't hear anything about TMI until this morning - nothing on tv last night, unless I missed it.
14 posted on 10/18/2001 5:17:40 AM PDT by angelgirl
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To: Theresa
"Bin Laden specializes in surprises...so it's not his doing."

I agree it's not Bin Laden's doing. But, he's called for a Jhihad against America. So I truly believe that we have thousands, if not tens of thousands of hateful Islamic potential terrorists in this country, some operating in organized groups and some operating alone, waging war against us.

I'm familiar with both the design and some of the security measures at nuke plants. For those of you living near one, please don't lose any sleep over these scares. It would be extremely difficult for a terrorist to do any type of damage that would affect people offsite. Plus, all nuke plants are at a heightened state of security and have been since 9/11, as well as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The armed and well-trained guards at each plant have instructions to shoot to kill.

It's just that the word "nuclear" in the title make nuke plants such an attractive target for instilling terror, whether the culprits have full intensions to carry any actions out or not.

Hope this little bit of info. helps you guys in Lancaster County sleep better.

15 posted on 10/18/2001 5:32:34 AM PDT by Chick-with-a-brain
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To: airborne
DITTO!
16 posted on 10/18/2001 5:48:49 AM PDT by deathtoallterrorists
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To: kattracks
I live in Elizabethtown, PA which is about 10 miles from TMI. The helicopters circling above woke us up this morning. Now I know why they are there. Thanks FR.
17 posted on 10/18/2001 5:52:24 AM PDT by massadvj
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To: kattracks
Why does AP think telling this is helpful? They should've kept quiet and let the government capture or kill the people who might attempt this.

Oh well, I guess it is (all together now) "the people's right to know."

18 posted on 10/18/2001 5:56:47 AM PDT by SpinyNorman
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To: Chick-with-a-brain
I agree it's not Bin Laden's doing. But, he's called for a Jhihad against America.

It's called "leaderless resistance": cells which self-organize and do not maintain contact with any leadership or other cells. Each cell, given an objective (wage jihad) figures out something useful that they can do, makes its own plan, and carries it out.

Since cells do not communicate with each other, or know about each other, arresting the members of one cell does not provide clues about other cells, or even how many other cells there are.

19 posted on 10/18/2001 5:57:21 AM PDT by SauronOfMordor
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To: SauronOfMordor
I live near TMI, too. I wouldn't be too quick to fear that any threat is related to OBL. We have our own local group of fervent anti-nuke knuckleheads (nukleheads?); they periodically lead small protests at the plant. In the past, what has happened at these things could even have been controlled by the Seattle police. My guess is that in this heightened state of alert, their goofiness is going to be responded to with a higher degree of seriousness. At least that's what I hope.
20 posted on 10/18/2001 6:09:14 AM PDT by UserFPC
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