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U.S. Alerts Schools About Terror Threat
Yahoo News ^ | 43 minutes ago | Ben Feller

Posted on 10/07/2004 10:14:24 AM PDT by crushelits

WASHINGTON - The Education Department has advised school leaders nationwide to watch for people spying on their buildings or buses to help detect any possibility of terrorism like the deadly school siege in Russia.

The warning follows an analysis by the FBI (news - web sites) and the Homeland Security Department of the siege that killed nearly 340 people, many of them students, in the city of Beslan last month.

"The horror of this attack may have created significant anxiety in our own country among parents, students, faculty staff and other community members," Deputy Education Secretary Eugene Hickok said in a letter to schools and education groups.

The safety advice is based on lessons learned from the Russia incident. But there is "no specific information indicating that there is a terrorist threat to any schools or universities in the United States," Hickok said.

Federal law enforcement officials also have encouraged local police to stay in contact with school officials and have encouraged reporting of suspicious activities, the letter says.

In particular, schools were told to watch for activities that may be legitimate on their own — but may suggest a heightened terrorist threat if many of them occur.

Among those activities:

_ Interest in obtaining site plans for schools, bus routes and attendance lists;

_ Prolonged "static surveillance" by people disguised as panhandlers, shoe shiners, newspaper or flower vendors or street sweepers not previously seen in the area;

_ Observations of security drills;

_ People staring at or quickly looking away from employees or vehicles as they enter or leave parking areas;

_ Foot surveillance of campuses involving individuals working together.

The effort is the latest by the Education Department and other federal agencies to encourage school officials to maintain and practice a plan for responding to emergencies.

After the terrorist takeover of the Russian school, President Bush (news - web sites) asked his top advisers to review their strategies for dealing with hostage situations, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has said.

The federal government is advising schools to take many steps to improve the security of their buildings. Those include installing locks for all doors and windows, having a single entry point into buildings and ensuring they can reach school bus drivers in an emergency.

The Education Department sent its letter by e-mail Wednesday to school police, state school officers, school boards, groups representing principals and many other organizations.

The Homeland Security Department also sent a bulletin Wednesday to federal, state and local emergency officials to provide fresh guidance based on the review of the school siege in Russia.


TOPICS: Breaking News
KEYWORDS: dhs; ihateislam; islamstrikesagain; jihadinamerica; schools; targets; terrorthreat; us
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To: crushelits; struwwelpeter

>>>The warning follows an analysis by the FBI (news - web sites) and the Homeland Security Department of the siege that killed nearly 340 people, many of them students, in the city of Beslan last month.

To Beslan, to her son's grave
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1224334/posts

A Dead City
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1232826/posts

Latest Follow Up on Beslan Children
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1236066/posts


21 posted on 10/07/2004 10:35:54 AM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: monkeywrench

Yes, disguised as or working as construction workers.

The activities of the terrorists may not appear to be suspicious to a casual observer. And ordinary activities may appear to be suspicious when observed with great scrutiny. Recall the Hitchcock film, "Rear Window."

This alert should serve only as a reminder to those who have been charged with the responsibility of protecting school children. Communication, physical barriers, and observation are each only part of any thoughtful school security plan.


22 posted on 10/07/2004 10:36:06 AM PDT by Unknowing (Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.)
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To: Blzbba; freeperfromnj

>>>>_ Prolonged "static surveillance" by people disguised as panhandlers, shoe shiners, newspaper or flower vendors or street sweepers not previously seen in the area

How about a Fruit Vendor?


23 posted on 10/07/2004 10:37:02 AM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: crushelits

I wanted to make a pun about "being more sensitive", but this is too real.


24 posted on 10/07/2004 10:37:20 AM PDT by Sleeping Freeper
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To: appalachian_dweller

THANK YOU for the ping AD.


25 posted on 10/07/2004 10:38:15 AM PDT by Cindy
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To: MOgirl

Suppose there were any illegal aliens working on that school construction project?


26 posted on 10/07/2004 10:38:43 AM PDT by Redbob
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To: Calpernia

This alert is definitely giving us something to go on. What did you think about that strange car explosion that happened not too far from the Lincoln Tunnel? I've been checking for updates for a name ID.


27 posted on 10/07/2004 10:40:07 AM PDT by freeperfromnj
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To: workerbee

Great - I hope there are lots of other soccer moms out there just like her!


28 posted on 10/07/2004 10:40:30 AM PDT by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace (Michael <a href = "http://www.michaelmoore.com/" title="Miserable Failure">"Miserable Failure"</a>)
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To: MOgirl

FWIW,

There was a construction project going on at the WTC before the 9/11 incident also.


29 posted on 10/07/2004 10:41:02 AM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: freeperfromnj; Old Sarge

In the thread I just posted on Weehawken, Old Sarge said the guy had no ID.


30 posted on 10/07/2004 10:42:54 AM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: crushelits
We home school. Every time we read something about the government schools, the more we know we've made the right decision. Our kids are safe from both demonic liberals and Islamofacists.
They're right here with me now. They're safe, sound, and loved.
31 posted on 10/07/2004 10:43:07 AM PDT by concerned about politics (Vote Republican - Vote morally correct!)
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To: Redbob
Hello,

If you mean the construction project at my son's school, I suppose it is possible. I really don't know, other than to say the company that is doing the project is a very well known and well respected firm.

Glad to be here, MOgirl
32 posted on 10/07/2004 10:45:48 AM PDT by MOgirl (In memory of Walton Wayne Callahan, I love you forever.)
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To: Calpernia

Reminded of a number of aliens either were working at or wanted to work the Texas firm that was produced MRE food packs for our Armed Forces.


33 posted on 10/07/2004 10:46:21 AM PDT by Semper Paratus
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To: Semper Paratus

Bump!


34 posted on 10/07/2004 10:47:03 AM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: crushelits
We are going to see middle schoolers in body bags before we even discuss CCW in the schools.

Government schools kill the mind, spirit and soon the bodies of American children.

35 posted on 10/07/2004 10:47:05 AM PDT by AdamSelene235
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To: crushelits
"The horror of this attack may have created significant anxiety in our own country among parents, students, faculty staff and other community members," Deputy Education Secretary Eugene Hickok said in a letter to schools and education groups.

Glad to be homeschooling. I pity parents who don't have the means to get their children out.

36 posted on 10/07/2004 10:48:13 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: Calpernia

:-(


37 posted on 10/07/2004 10:48:34 AM PDT by struwwelpeter
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bttt


38 posted on 10/07/2004 10:48:56 AM PDT by Mo1 (The President's job is not to pass a global test, but to protect the American people.)
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To: freeperfromnj

What explosion by the Lincoln Tunnel? Which side? I will be using the tunnel later today.


39 posted on 10/07/2004 10:50:27 AM PDT by Attillathehon
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To: Calpernia

Hello,

Thanks, I had forgotten that, and I do believe that it is an aspect to the terrorists' MO that we need to keep an eye on. How to protect against this threat is a question that is "above my pay grade", as it is a difficult problem.

Glad to be here, MOgirl


40 posted on 10/07/2004 10:50:40 AM PDT by MOgirl (In memory of Walton Wayne Callahan, I love you forever.)
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