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| Fences
block streets near the Capitol as security is tightened for
Fourth of July celebrations on the nearby Mall
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WASHINGTON,
July 4 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The White House on
Wednesday, July 3, urged Americans to “leave the worrying to us”
and celebrate the July 4 U.S. Independence Day holiday knowing their
government has “beefed up” security nationwide.
“A
variety of actions are being taken on the ground in terms of greater
resources, greater surveillance, greater protection, greater
prevention,” said spokesman Ari Fleischer, Agence France-Presse
(AFP) reported.
Fleischer
said “nothing specific” prompted the precautions apart from the
concern, fueled by the September 11 terrorist attacks, that “when
the American people gather in large numbers it can become something of
a target.”
“A
variety of actions are being taken on the ground in terms of greater
resources, greater surveillance, greater protection, greater
prevention as well as an immediate operations setup in Washington to
handle eventualities if they arise,” he said.
As
the
United States
fetes one of the year’s most important holidays with the traditional
barbecues and park outings, as well as the annual fireworks display,
authorities will be out in force to thwart would-be attackers.
Although
there is still nothing specific or corroborated, news agencies
reported that two senior U.S. officials, speaking on condition of
anonymity, said intelligence is picking up more talk about an attack
on or about July 4.
The
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) advised law enforcement
agencies that the State Department was reporting heightened traffic
between possible terrorist operatives abroad as July 4 approached.
The
advisory was sent Wednesday but cautioned there was still no evidence
of a specific threat against a target in the United States. It,
however, encouraged police departments to “be vigilant and report
any suspicious activity to the FBI.”
Until
recently, however, saying most of the information pointed to other
dates, U.S. intelligence had been doubtful about the prospects for an
attack during the holiday, pointing out that increased intelligence
could easily be a result of more media attention or natural
speculation as July 4 approaches.
U.S.
President George W. Bush’s Homeland Security Council will monitor
more than 2,000 medium-to-large events or gatherings throughout the
country, staying in touch with officials on the ground, said
Fleischer.
“There
will be enhanced local police and FBI presence throughout the
country,” as well as aerial military patrols over a number of U.S.
cities, he said. Included will be patrols over the skies of New York
and Washington.
Round-the-clock
military patrols were initiated over Washington and New York
immediately after Sept. 11. But they were ended in April, in favor of
occasional flyovers, reports news agencies.
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| The National
Mall in Washington has been fenced off as an added security
measure in preparation for July 4 holiday celebrations
|
In
Washington specifically, security officials will have 2,000 uniformed
officers monitoring the capital's 300-acre (121 hectare) National Mall
as a precaution, which has been fenced off, where visitors will be
screened for prohibited items, including firearms, fireworks, alcohol
or glass containers, at 24 checkpoints.
They
are also urging the hundreds of thousands of people expected to
descend on the Mall for the festivities to be on the alert.
“Be
our eyes and ears, when you come here and if you see something that
looks out of place, let one of us know,” said U.S. Park Police Chief
Teresa Chambers.
This
is in addition to a Fleischer promise: “There will be a substantial
series of beefed-up actions across the country to help make sure that
the American people are safe.”
Fleischer,
reiterating that federal officials know of no specific threat,
announced that a special coordination center will roughly double its
staffing in order to monitor Independence Day events “that can
become something of a target for people who want to do us harm,”
reports news agencies.
However,
“The president’s message to America is to celebrate, to enjoy the
holiday, said Fleischer. "Leave the worrying to us.”
