FBI Asks Terror Squads To Be On Alert For Threats To Jewish Targets In U.S.
February 14, 2008 by national
Filed under Homeland Security News
The FBI has put its domestic terror squads on the alert for any threats against synagogues and other potential Jewish targets in the United States following the killing of a Hezbollah commander.
U.S. law enforcement officials say there have been no specific threats so far against any Jewish centers.
On Thursday the FBI ordered terrorism task forces nationwide to reach out to community sources for any information about stepped-up Hezbollah activity following the death Tuesday of commander Imad Mughniyeh (ee-MAHD’ MOOG’-nee-yuh).
A law enforcement official says this kind of high-priority order is not often issued to joint terrorism task forces. The task forces are located in about 100 cities around the country.
Israelis traveling abroad warned of kidnap danger; high terror alert
The Counter-Terrorism Bureau issued a severe travel advisory yesterday to all Israeli citizens traveling abroad because of grave concerns that Hezbollah will attempt to launch terror attacks or kidnappings in retaliation for Tuesday night’s assassination of its senior military commander, Imad Mughniyah, in Damascus.
In parallel, the Israel Defense Forces have stepped up their levels of readiness in the Northern Command and the Air Force, fearing retaliatory action by Hezbollah along the northern border. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered the heads of the defense establishment to maintain a high level of alert and take all necessary measures to prepare for the possibility that Hezbollah will try to avenge Mughniyah’s killing, which it accused Israel of carrying out.
The Shin Bet has been ordered to bolster security in Israeli missions abroad, and the Counter-Terrorism Bureau issued a travel advisory cautioning Israeli travelers abroad to be vigilant.
Olmert held a series of meetings yesterday at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, where he was briefed on the situation in Lebanon. Among those he met were Mossad chief Meir Dagan, Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
One of the central issues discussed was the pre-recorded address by Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah during Mughniyah’s funeral in Beirut yesterday. [See story page 2]
Nasrallah vowed revenge and specified that Hezbollah would seek out Israeli targets abroad.
“Nasrallah’s statements were very clear. When there are such threats there is no need for intelligence,” a security source said yesterday.
Security sources said that there was high probability that Hezbollah would try to carry out an attack in the immediate future. In the medium future, the same sources believed that it was likely that Hezbollah would attempt a showcase attack that would require a great deal more planning and effort.
