8.29.2004
VA hospitals could be terrorism targets, FBI says
Associated Press
Curt Anderson
August 27, 2004
Al-Qaida may attempt to attack Veterans Affairs hospitals as an alternative to more heavily guarded U.S. military installations, the FBI and Homeland Security Department warn in a new nationwide terrorism bulletin.
VA personnel believe the hospitals may be potential threats because of their close relationship to the U.S. military and because the hospitals care for the nation's heroes.
Although U.S. authorities say there is no credible intelligence regarding a specific threat against such hospitals, the bulletin said there have been persistent reports of "suspicious activity" at medical facilities throughout the United States.
That includes "possible reconnaissance activities" this year at unspecified military medical facilities in Bethesda, Md., and Aurora, Colo., the bulletin said. Even though later investigation of these two incidents uncovered no links to terrorism, the bulletin urges vigilance at VA hospitals on the part of police and security personnel.
"These facilities may be considered attractive targets due to their association with the military and a perception that such an attack may be more successful than an attack against traditional military targets, which generally maintain a more robust security posture," the bulletin says.
Read the rest here
Maybe I'll send my wife down to pick up my prescriptions.
# posted by Frank_D @ 09:57 
