IAFC MEMBER ALERT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: IAFC Communications Department

703-273-0911

http://www.iafc.org/

Emergency Services Sector Asked to Increase Vigilance and Heighten Security Postures

Fairfax, VA, August 10, 2006…In a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conference call this morning at 8 am EST, Robert Stephan, assistant secretary of homeland security for infrastructure asked the emergency services sector to increase vigilance and heighten security postures in their communities. The conference call was in response to arrests of extremists plotting massive casualty events in airplanes en route from the United Kingdom (UK) to the United States.

“Currently, there is no indication, however, of plotting within the United States. We believe that these arrests have significantly disrupted the threat, but we cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated or the plot completely thwarted,” said Stephan. However, DHS is taking immediate steps to increase security measures in the aviation sector in coordination with heightened security precautions in the UK.

The U.S. government has raised the nation’s threat level to Severe, or “Red,” for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom bound for the United States. This adjustment reflects the “Critical,” or highest, alert level that has been implemented in the UK. To defend further against any remaining threat from this plot, DHS has also raised the threat level to High, or “Orange,” for all commercial aviation operating in or destined for the U.S.

Consistent with these higher threat levels, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is coordinating with federal partners, airport authorities and commercial airlines on expanding the intensity of existing security requirements. Due to the nature of the threat revealed by this investigation, TSA is prohibiting any liquids, including beverages, hair gels, and lotions in carry-on luggage on any airplanes; certain tightly-monitored exceptions are made for parents traveling with children and individuals carrying prescription medications. DHS issued the order at 4 am EST.

Stephan said the Federal Bureau of Investigation has no information of a plot in the U.S. The emergency services sector should maintain a high state of alert in case there are unknown remnants of this plot and to guard against would-be copycats.