U.S. Warns of Threat of Truck Bomb Attacks

Reuters ^ | Fri May 23, 2003 11:27 AM ET | Deborah Charles

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

A California Highway Patrol officer checks behind the seat of the driver in a random truck stop in the main truck artery of San Francisco on May 20, 2003. The Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin last week warning of the possibility of a truck bomb and spelled out measures to help preempt such an attack. Photo by Susan Ragan/Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin last week warning of the possibility of a truck bomb and spelled out measures to help preempt such an attack.

In a Homeland Security Information Bulletin dated May 15 and obtained by Reuters on Friday, the department gave detailed information on threats involving "vehicle borne improvised explosive devices" -- commonly known as truck bombs.

"The Department of Homeland Security believes that a truck bombing by terrorists may be preempted if the general public remains alert for certain indicators," said the bulletin, which was distributed to major U.S. companies among others.

"DHS has no specific information to indicate that a truck bombing of any kind is currently being planned in the United States," it said, adding that it wanted to advise the public as well as people who "own and operate facilities" about possible indicators of "terrorist attack planning."

The bulletin was issued to provide general information to help in recognizing potential truck bomb threats or incidents based on the recent bombings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

It was sent out days before the department on Tuesday raised the terror alert to its second-highest level, or "high" because of the renewed risk of attack in the United States.

"International terrorist groups have demonstrated the ability to plan and conduct complex attacks, simultaneously, against multiple targets," it said, recommending increased vigilance for companies.

It noted that the attacks in Saudi Arabia involved extensive surveillance and meticulous planning. The bulletin gave a detailed explanation of the attacks on each of the bombed compounds and explained how security was breached.

The bulletin then listed a number of potential indicators that a truck bomb may be in the works. It says the existence of any one indicator does not necessarily suggest "terrorist activity" but urged that it be assessed with other information to determine whether there is need for further investigation.

The list includes discovery of theft of blasting caps, explosives or chemicals used in the manufacture of explosives; rental of self-storage space in order to store chemicals; small test explosions in rural wooded areas or the discovery of someone with chemical burns or missing hands or fingers.

It also warns of the discovery of modification of trucks or vans with heavy duty springs to handle heavier loads or if someone notices chemical fires, toxic odors, brightly colored stains in hotel or motel rooms or self-storage units.

The bulletin said the listed indicators were present in previous truck bombing attacks.

After listing the possible threat indicators the bulletin gave a run-down of "terrorist surveillance" tactics and warned that "terrorists are known to use advances in technology" including night-vision devises an communications equipment.

The bulletin gave a list of suggested protective measures that companies could take, including erecting physical security perimeters set far from key buildings and barricades.

Companies were urged to encourage personnel to remain alert, to be aware of the measures and told to report suspicious packages or devices. The bulletin suggests random security guard shift changes, use of explosive detection devices and use of explosive detection dogs.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Related Story?

Al-Qaida planning U.S. attack on scale of 9/11: report

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

[GOP_1900AD]

Tip to CHP, Homeland Security et al. Instead of or in addition to checking trucks coming into SF, the gaze ought to at least include, if not turn to, trucks going up and down I-5 and Rte. 99. Why? That is where the CANADIAN and MEXICAN trucks mostly travel. With the revelation of MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS being insurgent in Sequoia Nat'l Park and throughout the San Joaquin Valley, combined with involvement of Hezbollah, let me repeat, trucks going up and down the valley particularly foreign ones NEED TO BE CHECKED!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up! BTW, I recall that there is also a history of terrorists being transported along drug routes...

[aculeus]

Bump for greater attention.

[gitmogrunt]

I have heard from OTR drivers that Vancouver and other areas in Western Canada were crawling with muslim truck drivers.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET


'Remember the Lost and Suffering on September 11, 2001'

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33


NEVER FORGET

[SpottedBeaver]

Hmmmm... There was a semi this morning in Dallas. The police were chasing him along I-20. The radio was reporting speeds of over 100mph.

18-wheeler driver captured following chase

Don't know if it means anything, but they were chasing him for a while.

[nicko]

there's been a heavy law enforcement presence along the I35 corridor between Waco and Austin...

[jgrubbs]

NEVER FORGET!

http://www.september-11th.us

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Excellent info. and suggestions.

[We Happy Few]

"A California Highway Patrol officer checks behind the seat of the driver in a random truck stop . . . ."

Random? I hope the CHP is also performing non-random stops.

By the way, for years all northbound traffic on Interstates 5 and 15 in southern California have gone through Border Patrol/INS checkpoints north of San Diego (at Camp Pendleton and at the Riverside County line, respectively).

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Interesting.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

ditto bump!

[SLB]

Every American needs to remember:

http://www.politicsandprotest.com/

[maestro]

BTTT

[Diddle E. Squat]

Texas DPS is performing stops on the pretext of speed warnings, even if you are not speeding. I regularly travel between Houston and Dallas, and this week I've seen more traffic stops than ever before. I even got pulled over, with the cruise set at the speed limit.

From another thread:

"This may be totally unrelated, but I had a slightly strange incident with Texas DPS tonight. Was driving between Dallas and Houston when I noticed 4 different traffic stops in just a 5 mile stretch south of Corsicana. I checked and made sure my cruise control was at the speed limit(65) but about 5 minutes later I was pulled over(while driving in the right lane in moderate traffic) and issued a warning. My cruise control is pretty good, only increases at most 2mph over set when going downhill, and I was traveling uphill from river bottoms then on flatland for 2 miles before being stopped. Nothing too unusual about the stop, just immediately told me to step out of the car, and gave it a good flashlight check, but didn't get in, open the trunk, no dogs, etc, and about 5 minutes of basic questions. My car isn't fancy, old, souped up, tinted, etc., or anything to stick out.

The only weird thing was the pretext for stopping me, twice he refused to answer when I asked what speed he had pulled me over for. Claimed on a warning they don't quote a speed, then when I noted my cruise was set at 65 and asked for a printout, he said there was no printout because it was a warning. Finally the third time I asked him what speed he pulled me over for, he hesitantly said I was doing 70 in a 65. A lie, which made me angry, but what can you do. I originally just chalked it up to a state budget deficit and trolling for a reason to stop and look for citable defects, but perhaps something else is up."

[thoughtomator]

If they even try, say goodbye to the fundies in Iran and Saudi Arabia, it's secular republic time, prodded along by a few of our 'explosive mood adjusters'.

[CedarDave]

Interstate 45 between Dallas and Houston is only 65 mph?!