please pray for Bostons safty
Posted by: empalo <empalo@...>
Ashcroft made separate calls to Swift and Menino on Thursday to inform them the government had information about possible attacks, but stressed there were no specific threats, anonymous sources told both The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald.
The Globe said the attacks could come this weekend; the Herald mentioned Friday and Saturday.
Menino confirmed that Ashcroft called him Thursday morning, but would not say what specific issues were discussed.
Thursday night, Justice Department spokeswoman Mindy Tucker confirmed that Ashcroft and Swift had talked, the Globe said, but she also refused to say what they discussed.
The FBI issued new warnings to local enforcement on Thursday, based on uncorroborated intelligence, to be on guard against possible attacks. Authorities said the warning was not based on any evidence of a direct threat but rather on raw information that there could be more strikes.
Last week, the cities of Atlanta, Richmond, Va., and Boston received warnings from the FBI of possible strikes, but the warnings later were rescinded.
Authorities have said intelligence intercepts, witness interviews and evidence gathered in hijackers' cars and homes have made them increasinly certain that a second wave of violence was planned by collaborators of the hijackers. Earlier this week, they said Sept. 22 -- Saturday -- had emerged as an important date in the evidence.
Authorities have evidence that at least four people targeted by the terror investigation were booked on one or more flights that day leaving San Antonio, Texas, for California or Denver.
But the sources said Wednesday that an intensive investigation had developed no information suggesting any attacks were planned on flights or in other cities on Sept. 22 -- a day with many college football games and the Miss America contest on the schedule.
"We absolutely have no credible evidence to substantiate any major threat on that date although it did raise some suspicion," one official said.
It was unclear whether new information has emerged since then.
Menino and a Swift spokesman refused to comment on the conversations with Ashcroft, but confirmed they did occur.
"People should not be alarmed," Menino told the Globe, when asked about the threat. "At this point people should go about their daily routines. The police will be observant."
Swift spokesman James Borghesani said Ashcroft was returning an earlier call by Swift, and that they discussed state and federal cooperation into the ongoing investigation into the attack.
According to the Herald, Swift will meet with safety officials Friday to discuss her conversation with Ashcroft.
A state official told the Globe there was no cause for alarm.
Boston has seen increased security measures since the Sept 11. terror attacks on New York and Washington. Four planes, including two originating from Boston, crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and rural Pennsylvania.
An unidentified source told the Herald that following Thursday's telephone call, law enforcement agencies will be out in force at places such as Logan airport and the Quabbin Reservoir, which provides Boston with much of its drinking water. (AP)
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