DHS cautions NFL on stadium bomb threats
A threat of radiological bomb attacks at seven professional football stadiums was posted this week on an Internet site, but domestic security officials said this week that they had no reason to place credibility in it.
The statement, which said the attacks would come Sunday, was specific enough to lead officials of the Homeland Security Department to notify the National Football League and the seven cities, a spokesman for the department, Russ Knocke, said.
The notification was made out of an “abundance of caution,” Knocke said, rather than because officials believed that the stadiums might actually be attacked.
“We strongly encourage the American public to continue to go about daily lives, including going to football games,” Knocke said. “At the same time, the public should continue to be vigilant and report any abnormal or suspicious activity to authorities.”
The posting on an English-language Web site and under a title of “New Attack on America Be Afraid” appeared Monday. It said so-called dirty bombs would be detonated on Oct. 22 outside stadiums at professional football games in Atlanta; Cleveland; Houston; Miami; New York; Oakland, Calif.; and Seattle.
