New concerns are swirling about potential terror attacks on stadiums, hotels, and other places where large numbers of people gather. These concerns are outlined in a new warning from federal counterterrorism agents to police around the country.
The bulletins went out Tuesday, urging police to be on guard anywhere people come together in groups. The Las Vegas Strip and all local resorts certainly qualify.
These are not terror alerts but something less: a heads-up to police nationwide. The new federal bulletins remind local officials and law enforcement that terrorists would like to hurt a lot of Americans.
"We want to provide the correct amount of information to law enforcement so that they can act properly," explains Evan Kohlmann, Terror Consultant. "But we don't want to spread fear. Let's remember that Al Qaeda's main goal here is to spread fear among Americans."
After last week's arrest of three suspected terrorists in Denver and New York, the feds found backpacks and a formula for bombs made with Hydrogen Peroxide. Now, police are being told to look for suspicious backpacks in United States subways, hotels, and airports.
Also, there is a reminder that terrorists could use airliners as weapons again. But federal officials stress that they have no specific information about the timing or targets of any planned terror attacks.
The National Football League responded to all of this by saying these bulletins underscore the high levels of stadium security that will continue to be maintained at every NFL game.
These bulletins also mention hotels. News 3's Gerard Ramalho spoke with Metro Police to see if any precautions are being taken by our resorts to protect both tourists and local Las Vegans.
Mayor Oscar Goodman and others have said Las Vegas is one of the safest cities in the country: Not only do we have a fine police force but we have qualified security officers working at our resorts.
But when authorities say we need to remain vigilant, they're not just talking about police; they're also talking about everyday citizens.
A Homeland Security bulletin sent to several cities, including Las Vegas, urged more vigilance at sports arenas, luxury hotels, and entertainment complexes. On the east coast Tuesday, there were plenty of visible security and police officers at mass transit centers.
This is exactly what the FBI is encouraging.
"What we're simply doing is taking that information, seeing how it's pertinent to Las Vegas, and just getting the message out to all the citizens here that, number one, there's no credible threats," says Metro Police Captain Brett Primas. "But remain vigilant."
Local authorities believe Southern Nevada could be an attractive target for terrorism because of the Strip and the Hoover Dam. But the question is, do visitors feel the same?
"I think it's pretty secure because the air force base would take care of us," says one tourist.
Counters another, "It's been eight years since 9/11 and I think sometimes people forget that. Or get lulled into a sense of false security."
Local authorities also recently developed a facility called the Fusion Center where local, state, and federal agencies work together to combat all types of crime, including potential terrorist attacks.
If nothing else, the federal advisory should serve as a reminder to simply be aware of your surroundings and always report suspicious activity. The suggestion to "remain vigilant" can be a vague directive, but for your part it really means just be aware.
It's also important to remain patient here in Las Vegas. If you enter a resort and are asked to have the trunk of your car or your bag checked understand it's a security measure put in place to keep people safe.
The national threat level, run by the Homeland Security Department, remains elevated or "yellow." For domestic and international air travel, the level is high or "orange."
