ati2d
Feb 23, 03, 1:00 pm
L.A. airport tops terror targets listed by state attorney general
ASSOCIATED PRESS
February 23, 2003
LOS ANGELES – Disneyland, the Golden Gate Bridge and even a Modesto winery are among 624 potential terrorism targets identified by the state attorney general's office.
Los Angeles International Airport is ranked as the top target on the list distributed to law enforcement agencies during the past two weeks. Next are the Oakland and Long Beach ports, the Golden Gate Bridge and Disneyland. The Port of San Diego is No. 10.
The list was compiled using techniques developed after World War II to identify sites that, if hit, would cause the most damage or fear.
"The reason we create lists like this is so we could deploy limited resources in the best manner possible to protect our infrastructure in California," said Patrick Lunney, director of the law enforcement division of the California Department of Justice.
"We can't protect everything, but we can give the law enforcement responsible for local protection all the information that is available. If we limit ourselves to the obvious targets, we might miss some things."
The Los Angeles airport, which was the target of a terrorist bomb plot in 1999, began randomly searching cars recently and has increased its patrols of terminals, said David Stone, LAX federal security director for the Transportation Security Administration.
Harbors and a number of government buildings made the list, along with churches and tourist spots such as Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and the Queen Mary in Long Beach.
Also on the list are an interchange between the Pomona and Orange freeways, the Exxon-Mobil refinery in Torrance, and a postal service processing plant in Long Beach.
Less obvious potential targets include the Ernest & Julio Gallo winery and bottling plants. Coast Hills Community Church in Aliso Viejo was No. 463.
"It does make me want to take the next step and get prepared," said Barry Fager, executive pastor of the 3,500-member congregation.
The list, obtained by the Los Angeles Times, is one of several created by various agencies in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It was prepared by the California National Guard and the state's Anti-Terrorism Information Center.
The Department of Defense has also created a list of potential federal targets that prompted the Bureau of Reclamation to announce Thursday that it will close a road across the top of the 350-foot Folsom Dam on the American River, 20 miles east of Sacramento, bureau spokesman Jeff McCracken said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
February 23, 2003
LOS ANGELES – Disneyland, the Golden Gate Bridge and even a Modesto winery are among 624 potential terrorism targets identified by the state attorney general's office.
Los Angeles International Airport is ranked as the top target on the list distributed to law enforcement agencies during the past two weeks. Next are the Oakland and Long Beach ports, the Golden Gate Bridge and Disneyland. The Port of San Diego is No. 10.
The list was compiled using techniques developed after World War II to identify sites that, if hit, would cause the most damage or fear.
"The reason we create lists like this is so we could deploy limited resources in the best manner possible to protect our infrastructure in California," said Patrick Lunney, director of the law enforcement division of the California Department of Justice.
"We can't protect everything, but we can give the law enforcement responsible for local protection all the information that is available. If we limit ourselves to the obvious targets, we might miss some things."
The Los Angeles airport, which was the target of a terrorist bomb plot in 1999, began randomly searching cars recently and has increased its patrols of terminals, said David Stone, LAX federal security director for the Transportation Security Administration.
Harbors and a number of government buildings made the list, along with churches and tourist spots such as Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and the Queen Mary in Long Beach.
Also on the list are an interchange between the Pomona and Orange freeways, the Exxon-Mobil refinery in Torrance, and a postal service processing plant in Long Beach.
Less obvious potential targets include the Ernest & Julio Gallo winery and bottling plants. Coast Hills Community Church in Aliso Viejo was No. 463.
"It does make me want to take the next step and get prepared," said Barry Fager, executive pastor of the 3,500-member congregation.
The list, obtained by the Los Angeles Times, is one of several created by various agencies in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It was prepared by the California National Guard and the state's Anti-Terrorism Information Center.
The Department of Defense has also created a list of potential federal targets that prompted the Bureau of Reclamation to announce Thursday that it will close a road across the top of the 350-foot Folsom Dam on the American River, 20 miles east of Sacramento, bureau spokesman Jeff McCracken said.