San Francisco Bay Terror Fears

The Examiner ^ | 6/16/2002 | Richard Byrne Reilly

[ex-Texan]

San Francisco Bay Terror Fears

Suspicious Ferry Boat Surveillance

By Richard Byrne Reilly

6-16-02

A frightening sequence of events and clues gleaned by U.S. intelligence has some in law enforcement believing that a maritime terrorist attack against San Francisco could be imminent.

Local ferry operators became alarmed last week when someone described as Middle Eastern man boarded a ferry to Alcatraz but did not leave the boat when it reached the island. Instead, the man videotaped boat traffic and used a stopwatch to time the route.

"He got on the boat to go to the island, but never got off when the other tourists did. Instead, he asked unusual questions about the timing and frequency of the trips, all the while videotaping and using the stopwatch," a source told The Examiner.

The frequency of suspicious activity in San Francisco became apparent to the feds and local law enforcement in October when three men, described as Middle Eastern, boarded a ferry at Pier 41 for a trip to Alameda. The boat's crew became alarmed when one of the men made his way to the upper deck to observe the captain piloting the ferry, another man used a stopwatch to time the route and a third man videotaped the Anchorage 9 terminal, a source said. The crew noted the men did not appear interested in filming standard tourist attractions like bridges or other known sites.

The report stated in part: "While it is not an overt act of terrorism, it is not (considered) normal passenger activity."

This was preceded by an alarming incident that occurred in Daly City on Oct. 20. Six Blue and Gold Fleet and Golden Gate Transit uniforms were stolen from a ferry employee's car, in addition to ferry schedules, maritime maps and a copy of the U.S. Coast Guard's Rules of the Road. Anyone wearing the uniforms is automatically granted unlimited access to "all the ferry boats and buses in the Bay Area."

The employee told authorities the thieves didn't bother to take money or a cache of CDs left inside the car. According to a report of the theft: "Maybe it's nothing, but when you put it all together, it starts to add up," a source said.

An incident that occurred Oct. 8 still makes Erin Everett cringe with fear. Everett, an employee at the St. Francis Yact Club, was approached by a man she described as Arabic who wanted to rent a large boat "to see the beautiful coast of California."

When Everett told the man the club wasn't in the business of renting boats, the man became agitated and insisted money wasn't a problem. He was willing to spend whatever it took, Everett recalled, to rent a large boat. When Everett suggested he try Fisherman's Wharf, he said he never heard of it and abruptly left the office. He returned a few minutes later demanding directions to the popular tourist destination.

Suspicious, Everett called the Coast Guard and FBI, who sent an agent the next morning to retrieve a security videotape of the man. "He kept saying money wasn't a problem. I don't know what it means, but it was scary," Everett said.

Recent terrorist alerts by the Coast Guard, the FBI and the California Anti-Terrorism Warfare Center in Sacramento point to growing concerns among those in the intelligence community that a seaborne attack against the country is imminent. The FBI contacted San Francisco Police Chief Fred Lau last week requesting information on The City's dive shops. The feds issued similar appeals to other law enforcement agencies situated near waterways or harbors.

Ferry operators told the Examiner of efforts to beef up security on their boats plying the Bay, saying crews are on the lookout for suspicious activity and that engine rooms and pilot houses are now sealed to the public. During the summer peak season, 4,000 people travel to Alcatraz every day.

"We have good reason to believe that something is being planned," said another law enforcement source. "When you begin putting pieces of the puzzle together, it starts to make sense."

[vikingcelt]

The people who live in the Bay Area and regard terroism as an "East Coast thing" are completely out of their minds. I had a mini nervous breakdown when we returned here last October after some weeks away (Ireland where I saw more American flags flying than the Bay Area and Rhode Island where everyone was flying the flag.) I came back here to culture shock. I truely thought that people's mindset would have changed after 9/11...even here (Oakland...6 miles from Berkeley) I was naive enough to think people would have changed. One of my first conversations upon returning here was with a neighbor who was obviously against our retaliation in Afghanistan. She said something about "big corporations" and that she felt the way she did because she had lived in other countries. She and her partner wanted to sit down over a cup of coffee and discuss "things"....I said there was nothing to discuss. They seemed shocked that I said that. We get truely frustrated here. The fact that Barbara Lee is ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE our Congress person just makes it that much worse.

[EggsAckley]

Now, if they can just keep the terror attack within the city limits, and NOT miss City Hall, maybe SF
can start over again and make the RIGHT decisions next time.

I know, I know, I'm bad.......

[SSN558]

Remember the Exon-Valdeze ? Creating a huge environmental disaster is a piece of cake with an oil super tanker. Just run it into the rocks or ram it with another boat. I understand most of the newer tankers are being built with double hulls but even they have problems. The object of many Middle Easterns terrorists would be to get the U.S. out of the oil business with Saudi Arabia, Kuait, and others. Maritime attacks have already occured in the past by the terrorists. Even Sadam has tried to use oil as a weapon.

[Endeavor]

"We need to stop handing out visas like candy and call a 2-3 year moratorium on immigration;"

You are so right.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

San Francisco has a large July 4th fireworks celebration over the Bay, I believe in the area of Alcatraz.

I can also see these terrorists grabbing a boat and steering it right under a bridge, then................

[TexKat]

Just like the caller into Fox last Monday that said, that there of thousands of them here, waiting for the word to destroy America. He said the American people were still sleeping.

Wasn't it just last Sunday when we were told of the threat that they had the right to kill 4 million of us, with 1 million being our children. Maybe talk, but I for one don't take them lightly.

[ExSoldier]

Think the dive shops in CA have been hard pressed by the Feds? You should see what they have done here in Florida! Sort of warms the heart. 'Course a scuba attack isn't the only thing such a pressurized tank is good for....those and those big industrial sized fire extinguishers would be great if pressurized with VX or GD Soman Nerve Agent....think of it, what could present a more normal, indeed more comforting appearance????

[ExSoldier]

Nuke SF and Berkley? What's the down side?

[LikeLight]

TK, it seems there are two obvious possiblities:

1) All these suspicious ME guys are part of a massive coordinated psych job, videotaping, timing, photographing, etc., just to freak us all out, or;

2) All these suspicious ME guys are practicing and preparing for a massive coordinated attack on America - shipping, bridges, buildings, water supplies, dams, etc.

I'm somehow thinking the second option seems more realistic (why waste all that time and energy on the first?). We're in a war, and even in the "best" of wars, the winning side loses some battles . . . I get the horrible feeling that we may be about to lose our second battle (911 being the first, if you want to count that, since most of us didn't really know we were in a war yet). I know in my heart that we will prevail in the end, but it won't necessarily be easy or clean.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Why would the anti American ME want to terrorize their biggest allies and enablers?

[LikeLight]

And I guess a third possibility is that most of these suspicious ME guys are part of a massive diversion campaign to keep our law enforcement agencies off balance and spread too thin, while the real core group of terrorists goes about its preparations for attack quietly and unmolested.

[Dialup Llama]

When a terrorist cases your boat why do you not have a squad of cop cars or FBI agents waiting at the dock?

[Dialup Llama]

>The report stated in part: "While it is not an overt act of terrorism, it is not (considered) normal passenger activity."

Clue train coming through. This is a real part of terrorism which occurs before the overt act of terrorism you are supposed to be preventing.

If it looks suspicious, it probably is. Trust your instincts Luke and call the cops. Let has have no more of these tales about the one who got away.

[Dialup Llama]

>Last summer, before 9/11, I noticed quite a lot of young Arab men walking around downtown San Francsico in pairs.

It was San Francsico.

[Dialup Llama]

>2) All these suspicious ME guys are practicing and preparing for a massive coordinated attack on America - shipping, bridges, buildings, water supplies, dams, etc.

Then they will discover the meaning of the word backlash.

[CyberAnt]

Yes, I see your point.

I think the reason the feds looked so closely at San Diego was because of the same routine which happened in San Francisco. Several Middle East looking men were seen around Long Beach harbor for several days, taking tours and photographing cruise boats; and inquiring at several scuba shops for certain types of gear.

I used to think they wouldn't pick on San Diego's harbor because of the large military presence there - and the fact that our Coast Guard unit here has beefed up, but ever since these reports, I have noticed the Hamas and Hezbollah attacks have centered on military personnel.

I'm concerned again. I was planning to take my grandchild on a tour of several military places next weekend - Now I'm wondering about that wisdom. Maybe we'll just stick to the museums instead. No use in putting yourself in harms way.

[TexKat]

I tend to go with your second suggestion. Remember Atta visited the WTC right before they hit.

[TexKat]

LikeLight, did you read this article that happened at Fort Bragg - Questions, ammo land felon in jail Do a search on Fort Bragg or search my comments for the article.

[goodnesswins]

"Nuke SF and Berkley? What's the down side?"

LOL........SSHHHHHH....you're saying what others are thinking....

[Nouge]

"Nuke SF and Berkley? What's the down side?" LOL........SSHHHHHH....you're saying what others are thinking....

You people make me sick... That's really funny, whish for the death's of entire US cities... Think about what you are saying before you post, There's no humor in this at all, it doesn't matter how many liberals there are. If these are your true thoughts then you should be deported as well.