FBI warns police chiefs of possible extremist threats linked to Jan. 1

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www.charlotte.com/1103y2k.htm

FBI warns police chiefs of possible extremist threats linked to Jan. 1 By LEIGH DYER

Hundreds of police chiefs from across the country crowded into a behind-closed-doors meeting in Charlotte Tuesday to hear FBI warnings of possible threats from extremists who might view New Year's Day 2000 as the beginning of the Apocalypse.

In their public comments, FBI officials struck a balance between warning of the need to be vigilant and assuring the public that they know of no specific threats of widespread violence on Jan. 1.

"We aren't suggesting that there is in fact going to be terrorism. This isn't the FBI pushing the panic button," said Neil Gallagher, assistant director of the FBI's national security division in Washington, D.C., and one of the workshop's leaders. The workshop was part of the annual convention of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which has drawn an estimated 15,000 chiefs and guests to the Charlotte Convention Center.

Also Tuesday, the FBI publicly released a 32-page report titled "Project Megiddo" that analyzed the potential for terrorism from extremist groups across the United States. The report is an edited version of a confidential report the FBI shared with the police chiefs.

The report, available on the FBI's Web site and on www.charlotte.com, said two types of groups are most likely to be violent. The first are those motivated by religious beliefs tying the year 2000 to the Apocalypse; the second are conspiracists who believe the United Nations has a secret plan, known as the New World Order, to conquer the world. The takeover will begin, many of the groups believe, with computer disruptions on Jan. 1.

The report takes its name from a hill in northern Israel whose name led to the term "Armageddon," which refers to God's final battle with evil.

The FBI's report and warnings have drawn a swarm of publicity and curiosity in recent days, but FBI officials declined repeated requests from The Observer and other media to allow reporters into the meeting.

"What we don't necessarily want to do is tell the extremists what we're telling the police chiefs," Gallagher said.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Darrel Stephens, who attended the standing-room-only meeting, said afterward that most police departments are likely already taking the steps the FBI recommended.

"(They) were actually common-sense things to do," he said.

Robert Clifford, the FBI's supervisory special agent for counterintelligence and terrorism in North Carolina, said the Carolinas have at least three types of organizations that law enforcement will be keeping close eyes on at the dawn of the millenium.

Agents are monitoring right-wing extremist groups in Western North Carolina, he said, including those sharing the beliefs of fugitive Eric Robert Rudolph, who is charged with four bombings, including two at abortion clinics and the 1996 Olympics Centennial Park bombing.

Agents are also tracking left-wing extremists who oppose the military and might target area military bases, Clifford said. And, the state's rapid growth has led to a growth in new residents with ties to international terrorism, he said. Two Islamic men charged with attempting to bomb a subway in New York City in 1997 were from Ayden, N.C., Clifford said.

Earlier in the day, John Koskinen, the chair of President Clinton's Council on Year 2000 Conversion, delivered mixed news on the country's readiness for Y2K.

Government computer systems are 99 percent ready, along with much of the private sector, he said.

But more than one-third of the nation's elementary, secondary and higher educational institutions are not yet ready, along with many of the country's smaller health-care institutions, he said.

Law enforcement needs to be prepared in case minor problems on Jan. 1 are magnified due to the public's fearful reactions, Koskinen warned the assembled chiefs.

"We will not be guaranteeing perfection, and it's easier to guarantee that there will be some glitches," he said.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reach public safety reporter Leigh Dyer at (704) 358-5058.



-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), November 03, 1999

Answers

Roland, didn't you basically put up the same thread twice yesterday? It's posted more often than Stan Faryna's 14 Days of Preps.

-- Not too interesting (the@thirdtime.around), November 03, 1999.

YESTERDAY, I posted to link to the FBI report.

If you don't find the thread interesting, skip it.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), November 03, 1999.


Roland, I am here to HUMBLY apologise. You are ExTremely good at what you do, and it isn't YOU I am tired of. I'm kind of tired of the fbi, or maybe it should be spelled fib.

-- You're interesting (interesting@who.comm), November 03, 1999.

No offense taken. I'm relatively thick skinned. :-)

I'm pretty sick of all things Federal myself. Have the feeling I'm about to get sicker over the next few months...

R.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), November 03, 1999.


Slick is a traitor, and should be tryed and exicuted for his TREASON. Most(if not ALL) of of polititans are criminals and sellout commie basterds. We are too late to do anyhting about but to preapre for the day when we must do our duty to the constitution and fight. Don't bother trying to convince anyone they are all fools, over excited about their 401k's and stocks. They willingly set aside honor for money. Fools. You can see, so prepare!

-- Crono (Crono@timesend.com), November 03, 1999.


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