WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2006
Official: NFL Hoax Part Of Sinister 'Duel'
Milwaukee, Brownsville Men Competed To See Who Could Post Scariest Threat
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Play CBS Video Video Officials Doubt NFL Threat Homeland security officials say they are skeptical about a bomb threat against seven pro football stadiums. As Bob Orr reports, they say there is no information to back up the threat.
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Houston's Reliant Stadium is one of seven NFL stadiums mentioned in an Internet dirty bomb threat (AP)
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Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals watches from the sidelines of the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, is one of seven NFL stadiums mentioned in an Internet dirty bomb threat (GETTY)
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Interactive America On Guard The Homeland Security Department, the terror alert system, preparedness quiz and more.
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The threats, which were posted on a Web site last week and mentioned stadiums in seven U.S. cities, were deemed to be false by the FBI on Thursday after agents questioned a 20-year-old Milwaukee man.
“This is a hoax,” said Special Agent Richard Kolko, a spokesman at the FBI's Washington headquarters. A joint statement from the FBI and Homeland Security said fans “should be reassured of their security as they continue to attend sporting events this weekend.”
An FBI official in Washington, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is still under investigation, said the Milwaukee man acknowledged posting the phony stadium threat as part of a “writing duel” with a man from the Brownsville, Texas, area to see who could post the scariest threat.
The Texas man corroborated the story during questioning Thursday by FBI agents, the official said. Investigators also searched the Milwaukee man's computer, the official added.
No decision has been made yet on whether charges will be filed, the official said.
Erik Vasys, spokesman with the FBI in San Antonio, said any comment would have to come from the Department of Homeland Security, but the FBI was “aware of the Brownsville aspect of it” and would pursue it if anyone is determined to have committed a crime.
Milwaukee police contacted the FBI about the 20-year-old man Wednesday night.
“From the information we have, we believe he was involved to some extent, but we don't know at what level,” said FBI agent Douglas E. Porrini. He added, “That person was released, but we're not saying that he won't be charged.”
The threat, dated Oct. 12, appeared on a Web site, The Friend Society, that links to various online forums and off-color cartoons. Its author, identified in the message as “javness,” said trucks would deliver radiological bombs Sunday to stadiums in New York, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Cleveland and Oakland, Calif., and that Osama bin Laden would claim responsibility.
“The information posted on this Web site we viewed with strong skepticism and there was no credible intelligence to suggest there was a threat,” said Russ Knocke, a spokesman at the Department of Homeland Security.
The agency alerted authorities Wednesday in the cities mentioned, as well as the NFL and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. But the FBI and Homeland Security said there was no intelligence indicating such an attack might be imminent.
“I don't think it was put out there to be real,” said FBI agent Linda Krieg in Milwaukee. “Whoever put it out there is not in a position to actually carry through on it.”
The man questioned did not appear to have any ties to terrorist groups, according to the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said stadiums are well protected through “comprehensive security procedures” that include bag searches and pat-downs.
©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- janem
He probably got it at that time but it came from Dan Crane's place! - Reply to this comment
- Remember to Vote Republican and get a free gift, Mr. Foley%u2019s %u201CSoap on a Rope%u201D guaranteed to help you achieve Mission Accomplished, especially made for those of you who are having trouble Staying the Course.
Special Note: This product will be discretely delivered in plain brown paper wrapping complete with plausible deniability and I do not recall disclaimer instructions. - Reply to this comment
- Yes that page I sent you was just a picture of El-Shukrijumah, I think I did make a wrong connection, cause I woke up this morning turned on Fox News, and they were showing this guys picture while they were talking about this Milwaukee man in custody, so I just put the picture and what they were saying together, but didn't hear the full report...so probably just overreacting on my part, yes I have tried searching other sites to find out who this "javness" supposedly is, but none do point to them being El-Shukrijumah, at least not yet. Ah, so sigh of relief. We also have realize that elections are coming up and Homeland Security has to "make themselves look good" amongst all these reports on how "well protected" our border along Mexico is. So if they catch someone that had a threat like this just makes themselves look good of course and makes us think they are all doing their jobs trying their best to protect this country.
- Reply to this comment
- Are we sure someone said DIRTY BOMB..?
I'm would more likely believe someone said BUTT... - Reply to this comment
- The person, described only as a young adult, did not appear to have any ties to terrorist groups, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.
No where does it give an individuals name,not here,not CNN,ABC, or the WASHINGTON POST OR TIMES.Get real this is fabricated. - Reply to this comment
- http://www.fbi.gov/terrorinfo/elshukrijumah.htm
THIS IS THE SUSPECT HMMM...it's the same guy who is known to be plotting the "American Hiroshima" They are showing him as the one in custody in connection with these NFL threats.
WAKE UP AMERICA!!! - Reply to this comment
- You people are tripping. This is obviously one stupid, goofy kid pulling an incredibly crass and dangerous prank.
- Reply to this comment
- This what happens when you profile the wrong people. We should send the ACLU into the stadiums.
- Reply to this comment
- I think all threats should be taken seriously, we live in a country that has brought this about because of lack of security, now everything has to dealt with!!!!
- Reply to this comment
- (I'm sorry I left out a need)
We NEED MORE SECURITY
WE N E E D ... ...MORE GOVERNMENT
(How can we PEASANTS Govern ourselves...)
(we N E E D these wise men in black robes telling us how many times to wipe,
and with how many squares ....one ply... two ply ... Oooh the decisions...)
HOMELAND SECURITY needs to hire more PROCTOLOGISTS
All it takes is ONE bad apple, to ruin the game for US at home.
When (IF) I watch that game of TV
I want to be ASSURED that everyone of those people
at the game (in the stadium)
are safe as the LAW will allow...
We need to REGISTER every sports fans, and
do background checks on EVERY ONE, NO EXCEPTIONS..
unless you are a government employee with IMMUNITY
to commit CRIMES against the people..
The TRUTH IS IT all comes down to the COURTS and
COURTS are CORRUPT
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
James B. Veasaw v. Cari M. Domingues,et al.
No: 05-1467
the U.S. SUPREME COURT COVERED UP GOVERNMENT CRIME
even when the CRIMES showed up
on paper in the COURT RECORD..!
I guess we have a DOUBLE STANDARD JUSTICE SYSTEM
you know
ONE for the GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
(Bureaucrats / Politicians)
and
ONE FOR THE PEASANTS
(The People)..! - Reply to this comment
