Posted on 06/28/2002 12:11:44 AM PDT by sarcasm
Seattle and King County have been disproportionately targeted by Islamic terrorists for possible attack, according to the local FBI chief, who also warns that there are an undisclosed number of people in the region "willing and able" to help international terrorists.
Charles Mandigo, special agent in charge of the Seattle FBI office, told King County Council members in a closed-door briefing Wednesday that the region is seen by terrorists as an "easy target," caused by the reality of chronic understaffing among local police agencies.
Mandigo made his statement before a homeland security hearing that was abruptly closed to the public. His presentation was later made available by King County Sheriff Dave Reichert, who objected to the closure.
"We have significant international terrorism matters related to Islamic fundamental extremism in this state, in particular, in King County," Mandigo said in his prepared remarks.
"It has been noted by the highest level of our government in our nation's capital that the Seattle area has and continues to receive a disproportionate high number of terrorism threats as compared to other parts of the country, many of them coming from overseas."
Mandigo conceded that none of the threats has been substantiated but called the trend "very disconcerting."
"Although I'm not aware of any international terrorist residing in this state, we do have individuals who have been in contact with known terrorists, who are ideologically committed to Islamic fundamentalist extremism and would provide a willing and able support for international terrorists if they were to enter the state."
There are "a significant number" of terrorism-related FBI investigations ongoing in the state, particularly in the King County area, Mandigo said. "Nationally, several of these investigations are considered to be very significant."
In an interview yesterday, Mandigo largely declined to elaborate on his statement. He would not confirm the number of investigations or discuss potential terrorist supporters or cells, types of threats or possible targets, or whether suspects are being monitored or if any arrests are imminent.
Mandigo emphasized that citizens should not take his statement to mean that terrorists have the region under siege. Residents should continue to report suspicious activity but not overreact. He reiterated: "We have not been able to substantiate any of these threats."
Mandigo said in his briefing that police understaffing is at the center of his concerns. He brought along statistics to back up his claim.
The Seattle/Bellevue/Everett region ranks 13th in population among the nation's metropolitan areas but has the fifth-highest crime rate.
That crime rate is also 27 percent higher than the national average, he said.
At the same time, Washington has just one police officer per 615 residents -- far fewer than the national average of 405 per resident.
While praising local police for doing the best job possible given limited resources, Mandigo said all law breakers -- from bank robbers to terrorists -- have gotten it into their heads that the Seattle area is easy criminal pickings.
High-profile incidents such as those during the World Trade Organization meetings in 1999 and last year's Mardi Gras in Pioneer Square helped reinforce that perception around the globe, he said.
A significant number of bank robbers in the region are gang members from California, he said, because "the word on the street in Los Angeles is that bank robberies are easy in Washington due to the lack of law enforcement.
"The FBI has intelligence that those individuals who would provide support to terrorists have chosen to reside in this area for the very same reason -- the perception that there is a lack of law enforcement and they can go about their activities undetected."
Increased police resources are necessary, he said, so that these people, who sometimes subsist on lower-level crimes such as fraud and identity theft, could be more easily identified and tracked as possible terrorist suspects.
Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske yesterday said Mandigo's comments fit with other information recently made public regarding Seattle's place in the minds of terrorists.
"These things all raise our concerns," Kerlikowske said.
Prior to Sept. 11, Kerlikowske said, terrorism "wasn't always the highest priority on my mind. But now, there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about this or discuss it at meetings."
Kerlikowske said he also is concerned about local enforcement staffing -- which has remained about the same in his department for the last 20 years despite Seattle's growth by 50,000 people.
One main reason for adding officers, local and federal, Kerlikowske said, is illustrated by the case of convicted Algerian terrorist Ahmed Ressam, who was first noticed by U.S. Customs agents in Port Angeles in December 1999 as he tried to smuggle bomb-making materials into the state for use in Los Angeles.
"I think there's a very strong belief that it is going to be a front-line law enforcement officer" that's going to catch the next Ressam, he said.
The special council committee meeting regarding King County domestic security issues was closed to the public and media, moments after it began, by Budget Committee Chairman Larry Phillips.
Reichert, however, criticized the decision.
"I believe the public was robbed of the opportunity to hear from the highest level of federal, state and local law enforcement officials about our plans for domestic security in King County," the sheriff said in a written statement.
Neither Reichert nor Phillips could be reached for comment yesterday.
ISLAM means never having to say you're SORRY...or HUMANE...or care what happens to your children...
Secondly, Seattle is not far from the porous Canadian border. The Canadian authorities conceed they have a serious problem with terrorist cells.
And this ignores whatever domestic-based Muslim terror cells exist in the Seattle area.
Well, it's Seattle
Forget all those strategic/tactical considerations. While they're all convenient for the bad guys, the real reason is because Seattle has become a media/culture icon -- a symbol of infidelism.
Most excellent. Have bumper stickers printed.
Last week, a totally deranged, naked, crack-addicted violent felon(who had been let out after only 65 days of prison time for attacking and threatening the life of a female police officer just last year) took a White SEATTLE officer's gun away from him and KILLED him with it...emptying the gun into his head after chasing him down...Although the killer was BLACK, The Seattle Black Church leaders GRACIOUSLY offered that the killing was NOT race related...
THE HECK IT WASN'T!!! The reason the SPD officer didn't have the will to defend himself was because of all the SMEAR tactics the Black Church Community has raised in previous(ALL JUSTIFIED) police shootings in this area...The cops here are HELPLESS against minority attackers...Don't get me started...The officer would have been perfectly within his rights to shoot this MADMAN but because he was BLACK the officer hesitated...and leaves behind two children and 11 years of dedicated service...for NOTHING...The attacker didn't even notice the pepper spray the officer used first...in previous attacks it took four or more officers just to cuff him...NOT race related my left FOOT! growl...Hi LT...I hope you have a great fourth!
That building is obviously a concern. It is a trophy property. CLICK FOR BUILDING.
It is on the CMBS (commercial mortgage backed securities) watch list to be downgraded because of lack of terrorism insurance. Several buildings in New York are in the same position.
405 per resident? LOL
You mean... Sodom on the Sound?
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