Threat to Portland ME's Casco Bay Bridge

Portland Press Herald ^ | 1/7/04

[MrsEmmaPeel]

PORTLAND — The Casco Bay Bridge is still standing. That's despite a threat that something bad would happen at 12:59 p.m.

The bridge over the Fore River between Portland and South Portland was shut down from 12:45 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. because of a threat overheard on a marine radio channel.

Portland FBI Supervisor Jim Osterrieder said the Coast Guard overheard someone make a threat on the bridge over VHF Channel 16. That happened around 12:30 a.m. and the bridge was closed shortly thereafter.

Officials searched the area and the bridge reopened around 6 a.m., in time for the morning rush hour.

Officials aren't specifying what the threat was, but say they have a tape of it. The Coast Guard has been patrolling the Fore River, and there are about 10 police cruisers in the area.

ANOTHER SOURCE: Our Maine.Com

[MrsEmmaPeel]

I live very close to this bridge in South Portland, and all I can tell you is that the Coast Guard helicopters have been out in force all afternoon.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Not sure if you heard about this one ...

[Cagey]

Boy, if terrorists are using Marine VHF channel 16, we are in trouble.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Is that the distress channel? I found a channel list

[Cagey]

Yes, 16 should only be used for distress and hailing. This sounds like a prank but the Coast Guard is pretty good lately in tracking where distress calls come from and maybe they'll catch the person that did this.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Out my office window is Portland harbor. I saw one helicopter hover (without moving from side to side) for 3 minutes -- I timed him. He was only a couple hundred feet above the water. I was thinking at the time that I was watching one skilled pilot in action. He would go away, circle another area, then hover again. This went on at about 12:30 EST (lunchtime) for about an hour. The bridge was closed after midnight, but clearly they were still looking for something 12 hours later.

[cowworker]

Thanks for the alert. It looks like one of our home grown psychos are at it. I've seen so many warnings and alerts -- it's getting old.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

This one surprised me, as so much activity was literally happening outside my window.

[gridlock]

How far is it to Lewiston?

[MrsEmmaPeel]

30 miles north.

[gridlock]

We all know where OBL got his start after leaving Afghanistan... Wonder if some of his loyal followers haven't settled down in Lewiston.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

That's a creepy thought.

[MoralSense]

This is Maine, not Oregon, for Freepers who may not know.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

"ME" in the title = State code for Maine

[Lijahsbubbe]

Illegals will guard the bridge for low pay. /sarc

[Peach]

Keep us posted.

LOVE your screen name; that was a great show.

[flutters]

Ping

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Just heard on the radio that the bridge was closed twice: once at midnight, the other time at lunchtime. (News said 12:45 to 1:15 pm) However, I noticed the coast guard helicopter hover right out my office window at 12:39 pm.

The radio news said that the coast guard had received a telephone call from a woman who threatened to blow up the bridge. This is slightly at odds from the Portland press Herald that was reporting the threat was over marine channel 16 - the distress channel. As the radio report was just given (4:04 pm) I think its probably more up to date. I suppose its possible that there could have been 2 threats.

No information on the nationality of the woman, but if a phone call was made, I'd imagine that it could be traced fairly easily.

[Peach]

Thanks for that update. Given how the press gets so much wrong, it's entirely possible that both reports are incorrect.

Will check in later...

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

Where did he get his start after leaving Afghanistan?