Ft. Bliss Implements Increased Security Policy

Fort Bliss officials released a statement Sunday afternoon shortly before 3 p.m., hours before President Barack Obama confirmed the death of Osama bin Laden, the United States’ most-wanted terrorist.

In the statement, post officials announced a change in current security measures. To increase threat awareness, guards at all post entrances will conduct random ID checks, among other unspecified security measures.

Easy access through the gates will be temporarily suspended. Those who don’t have a military ID or prior Ft. Bliss approval will be required to obtain a pass through either the post website or the pass offices at the Robert E. Lee and Biggs Army Airfield entrances.

ABC-7 asked post officials to specify what “world events” Ft. Bliss cited as cause for the increase, but the deadly attack on bin Laden’s million-dollar compound north of the Pakistan capital of Islamabad is likely the cause. Ft. Bliss officials would not specify at that time, but did state in the news release that there is no information about increased threats to the post or El Paso.

The heightened security is temporary, but there is no word at this point how long the added measures will be in effect.