Bases increase security as 9/11 approaches
By From Staff And Wire Reports
Published in News on September 8, 2011 1:46 PM
WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon said Wednesday it is raising the security level at military bases nationwide because of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The White House said that there have been no specific, credible threats of a terrorist attack tied to the anniversary and that the Obama administration will remain vigilant through the anniversary and beyond.
President Barack Obama held a meeting Tuesday in the White House Situation Room with senior members of his homeland security team to ensure that all necessary measures and precautions are being taken in advance of the 9/11 anniversary, said spokesman Jay Carney.
Pentagon spokesman George Little said Wednesday that the boost in the so-called "force protection" level at U.S. military bases also was not due to any specific or credible information about any threat or planned attack.
He said it was due, instead, to the fact that al-Qaida has previously focused on anniversaries. Little also noted that materials seized at the compound where Osama bin Laden was killed in May mentioned the 9/11 anniversary.
Officials from Seymour Johnson AFB have increased the Force Protection Condition level of the base to FPCON Bravo.
The heightened security measures apply to all members of Team Seymour to include Department of Defense military and civilian personnel and supporting base defense contractors as well as all people visiting any facilities at the base.
Regular visitors can expect delays at all entry gates, along with random vehicle checks by security forces personnel as the Force Protection Condition levels increase.
Anyone entering the base should be prepared for ID checks and the possibility of having to show a second form of ID if required. Traffic routes on base could be diverted so please allow extra time for base personnel trying to get to their station. Some service areas, such as the commissary and base exchange could see delays. Medical appointments and pharmacy hours could also be affected.