Thread: DHS Statement on Increased Security Precautions

DHS Statement on Increased Security Precautions

Release Date: October 29, 2010

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

"As a precaution, DHS has taken a number of steps to enhance security. Some of these security measures will be visible while others will not. The public may recognize specific enhancements including heightened cargo screening and additional security at airports. Passengers should continue to expect an unpredictable mix of security layers that include explosives trace detection, advanced imaging technology, canine teams and pat downs, among others. As always, we remind the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to local law enforcement."

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This page was last reviewed/modified on October 29, 2010.

http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1288373834911.shtm

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/10/29/au ... latestnews

Authorities Investigating Several Suspicious UPS Packages That Originated From Yemen

Published October 29, 2010
FoxNews.com


Law enforcement agencies are investigating whether packages found on UPS planes at Philadelphia International Airport, Newark Airport, East Midlands airport in central England, two UPS truck in New York City, and a FedEx facility in Dubai were part of a dry run mail bomb plot.

The FBI reported that two of the suspicious packages were addressed to religious institutions in Chicago.

"All churches, synagogues and mosques in the Chicago area should be vigilant for any unsolicited or unexpected packages, especially those originating from overseas locations," Chicago FBI spokesman Ross Rice said.

Ross would not identify the intended recipients of the packages but said they had been contacted.

U.S. officials were placed on high alert after intelligence and law enforcement agencies discovered suspicious packages on two planes in transit to the United States late Thursday night.

"Based on close cooperation among U.S. government agencies and with our foreign allies and partners, authorities were able to identify and examine two suspicious packages, one in London and one in Dubai. Both of these packages originated from Yemen," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement. "As a result of security precautions triggered by this threat, the additional measures were taken regarding the flights at Newark Liberty and Philadelphia International Airports.

Federal law enforcement said a suspicious device which resembled a toner cartridge with white powder and wires coming out of it was removed from the a flight in a distribution center at East Midlands Airport in the U.K.

Officials for FedEx said the company confiscated a suspicious package in Dubai that was shipped from Yemen and is cooperating with the FBI.

A crew member aboard a UPS plane arriving to Philadelphia from Paris, France later notified authorities on approach about a suspicious package. The crew member described a possible radiological component to the package, the incident report said. The two occupants safely exited the aircraft after landing in a remote area of the airport.

A second UPS plane was isolated near the UPS terminal at the Philadelphia airport before take off, the report said.

A third UPS plane, which arrived at Newark Liberty Airport from East Midlands in the U.K., was investigated, but UPS says it was cleared and proceeded on to Louisville, KY.

Two UPS trucks in Brooklyn and Queens were also investigated and cleared, officials said.

Law enforcement officials also are investigating a suspicious packages in Portland, Maine. No word on whether that package has any links to UPS or Yemen.

As an additional safety measure, FedEx embargoed all shipments originating from Yemen," said Maury Lane, spokesman for FedEx.

Grag Palkot just reported on FoxNews that while there are no UPS flights out of Yemen itself, the packages are handled by other airlines to get the packages to Europe and to a UPS facility in order to get them into the US

Swell, now if we can just keep people from wandering across the border bringing who knows what with them.

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