New terror threat alert issued by government about small planes
CLEVELAND – The FBI and Department of Homeland Security say they do not have credible information or intelligence of an imminent attack being planned, but they have stepped up security nationwide as a precation.
the law enforcement bulletin says terrorists have considered renting private planes and loading them with explosives. Experts say Al-qaida is no longer determined to pursue only massive attacks like September 11, 2001. They are focused on smaller attacks that are less complicated.
“These planes are small. You might not be able to put some huge device aboard them but the other side of that is if you were to put some biological or chemical agent in them, clearly that could cause some major damage depending on your target,” security expert Brad Garret said.
There are 228,000 general aviation planes at 4,000 airports across the country. Officials say too many to monitor them all, but they are working to alert pilots.
Threats to small airplanes are nothing news. After 9/11 the government grounded thousands of crop dusters amid fears the planes could be used in an attack.
