Fort Bliss security enhancements go into effect; post spokesman explains timing
Security enhancements went into effect Monday morning at Fort Bliss.
Lt. Col. Lee Peters, the post’s spokesman, said it was coincidental that the security changes occurred around the same time as the Sept. 11 anniversary and rumors circulating that Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants are based in Juarez and planning attacks in El Paso and Fort Bliss.
Watch ABC-7’s interview with Peters about the security changes at http://bit.ly/1uGzTMe
ABC-7 contacted the Department of Defense Monday to see if other posts or bases around the country had also recently changed security and if it had anything to do with ISIS rumors.
“Individual base commanders have the authority to raise their individual security postures as they see fit,” Lt. Col. Tom Crosson said in an email to ABC-7. “USNORTHCOM maintains a baseline force protection posture for all bases in the continental United States, Hawaii and Alaska. USNORTHCOM has not directed a baseline change in force protection measures.”
Regarding ISIS in Juarez rumors, Crosson pointed to the Department of Homeland Security’s Aug. 29 statement on the United Kingdom’s decision to raise its threat level and what it meant for the U.S.
“Today, the United Kingdom raised the domestic threat level from international terrorism from “Substantial” to “Severe,” related to developments in Syria and Iraq. I have spoken to U.K. Home Secretary Theresa May about these changes.
“At present, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are unaware of any specific, credible threat to the U.S. homeland from ISIL. Plainly, however, violent extremists who support ISIL have demonstrated the intent and capability to target American citizens overseas, and ISIL constitutes an active and serious threat within the region.
“Additionally, in response to recent threats generally from overseas, the Department of Homeland Security over the past several weeks has taken a number of steps to enhance aviation security at overseas airports with direct flights to the United States, and the United Kingdom and other nations have followed with similar enhancements. This government, in close collaboration with our international partners, has also taken a series of steps to track foreign fighters who travel in and out of Syria, and we are contemplating additional security measures concerning foreign fighters. Some of the security measures will be visible to the public and some understandably will be unseen.
“At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security is mindful of the potential for homegrown violent extremism inspired by radical ideology overseas, and, both through law enforcement and community outreach, we are taking steps to counter that potential threat.
“The Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. government are deeply concerned about the current situation in Iraq and Syria. We will continue to evaluate and adopt serious and prudent homeland security measures as the situation warrants.”
The information about ISIS allegedly being in Juarez was first reported in late August by Judicial Watch, citing unnamed federal sources, and then picked up by other online publications, including National Review.
Breitbart Texas says it has obtained a leaked document warning federal agents about an ISIS related terrorism threat across entire U.S.-Mexico border. Read the Breitbart Texas story athttp://bit.ly/1wPeci8
A federal law enforcement source familiar with border security told ABC-7 it is “unverified and unlikely” that ISIS is in Juarez.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in an Aug. 29 news release that there is no specific, credible threat to the U.S. homeland from ISIL, aka ISIS.
“At present, theU.S. Department of Homeland Securityand the FBI are unaware of any specific, credible threat to the U.S. homeland from ISIL. Plainly, however, violent extremists who support ISIL have demonstrated the intent and capability to target American citizens overseas, and ISIL constitutes an active and serious threat within the region.”
A DHS spokesman was bewildered by the Judicial Watch report and told the UKDaily MailOnlinethat “we are aware of absolutely nothing credible to substantiate this claim” made by Judicial Watch.
“In Mexico?” told the Daily MailOnline on the phone. “I haven’t seen that at all.”
