{"id":16664,"date":"2016-12-06T11:27:57","date_gmt":"2016-12-06T11:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=16664"},"modified":"2016-12-06T11:27:57","modified_gmt":"2016-12-06T11:27:57","slug":"warning-about-plot-to-blow-up-universal-city-station-prompts-heightened-security-across-l-a-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/news\/warning-about-plot-to-blow-up-universal-city-station-prompts-heightened-security-across-l-a-2.html","title":{"rendered":"Warning about plot to blow up Universal City station prompts heightened security across L.A."},"content":{"rendered":"

Warning about plot to blow up Universal City station prompts heightened security across L.A. <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Warning about plot to blow up Universal City station prompts heightened security across L.A. :-<\/strong> An overseas tip about an imminent bombing of the Metro Red Line\u2019s Universal City station has forced federal and local law enforcement in Los Angeles to swiftly ramp up security across its sprawling transit system, authorities said Monday.<\/span><\/p>\n

An anonymous man warned of a potential attack on Tuesday and provided the information on a tip line abroad, according to Deidre Fike, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s office in Los Angeles.<\/span><\/p>\n

The tip line was run by an unidentified foreign government, which relayed the information Monday morning to an FBI terrorism task force. Fike declined to specify from which country the tip originated but said it was delivered in English.<\/span><\/p>\n

At a hastily called news conference Monday night, the FBI as well as Los Angeles-area law enforcement leaders said the threat was considered specific and imminent, but investigators were still examining its credibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis could be real, it could be a hoax,\u201d said Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell. \u201cWe\u2019re asking the public to stay calm and vigilant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said that area law enforcement reviews threats \u201cconstantly\u201d but that this particular incident was \u201cvery specific\u201d and forced a rapid response.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have the time to vet this threat in the way we would like,\u201d Beck said. \u201cThis one we had to move quickly on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Riders were told to expect the increased presence of uniformed police and sheriff\u2019s deputies as well as K-9 units scouring the area for explosives.<\/span><\/p>\n

McDonnell, whose department oversees security for the Los Angeles County Metro rail and bus system, said undercover operations would be conducted throughout the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mayor Eric Garcetti asked the public to prepare for random bag searches, and said he would ride the Red Line on Tuesday morning from Universal City.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy advice is right now, everyone should go about their normal day tomorrow,\u201d Garcetti said. \u201cPeople may see a heightened security presence \u2026 but don\u2019t let those frighten you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nearly 150,000 daily boardings are recorded on the Red Line, which connects North Hollywood with central and downtown Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. That figure include ridership estimates for the Purple Line, which shares much of the Red Line\u2019s downtown L.A. route.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chief Scott Edson, who oversees counter-terrorism as head of the Sheriff\u2019s Department\u2019s Homeland Security Division, cautioned that the department often receives threats and that it\u2019s hard to determine the credibility. He said passengers should report any suspicious activity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year, a phone threat of violence at L.A. schools prompted the district to cancel classes for the day. Officials later determined the threat was not credible, and there was some debate about whether the district overreacted. <\/span><\/p>\n

Source:- http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/local\/lanow\/la-me-terror-threat-transit-20161205-story.html<\/span><\/p>\n

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