Newz Forum: OTHER: COLLEGE: FBI: No credible terror threat for tourneys, but vigilance urged

Extreme caution has created a bit of a stir with the NCAA tournament set to begin next weekend. An extremist web site had a posting on it calling for suicide bombers to attack American sporting events. Let's hope that this is absolutely not credible, or if it is the authorities catch the perpetrators prior to any harmful situations.

Story Link

The FBI said Friday there is no specific, credible threat of a terror attack aimed at college basketball arenas or other sports stadiums but acknowledged alerting law enforcement to a recent Internet posting discussing such attacks.

The FBI and Homeland Security Department distributed an intelligence bulletin Friday to state and local law enforcement nationwide describing the online threat against sporting venues, said Special Agent Richard Kolko, an FBI spokesman in Washington.

"We have absolutely no credible intelligence or threats pertaining to this issue," Kolko said.

With conference tournaments taking place this weekend and the NCAA Tournament scheduled to begin Thursday, the bulletin was sent "out of an abundance of caution," Kolko said.

"We have been in touch with Homeland Security and the FBI about this issue," NCAA spokesman Erik Christiansen said.

"We do not believe there is an imminent threat. We are in constant communication with the local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security and the FBI. This is not new; we are in regular contact with all these law enforcement agencies at every level."

Supporting Links:

Yahoo Sports story

Fox Sports story

CBS Sportsline story