[Infowarrior] - Aaah! They're Coming! (FBI: Extremists seek school bus work)

[Richard Forno]

Okay, folks --- I guess next week is going to be a bad news week, so it's
time to trot out the FEAR card to scare the populace again and drown out any
embarassing news that might break!     -rf


FBI: Extremists seek school bus work

By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer

Fri Mar 16, 7:07 PM ET

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070316/ap_on_re_us/school_bus_extremists&printe
r=1;_ylt=Atwtg5rdYXw_lusn3ea17Q5H2ocA

Suspected members of extremist groups have signed up as school bus drivers
in the United States, counterterror officials said Friday, in a cautionary
bulletin to police. An FBI spokesman said, "Parents and children have
nothing to fear."

Asked about the alert notice, the FBI's Rich Kolko said, "There are no
threats, no plots and no history leading us to believe there is any reason
for concern," although law enforcement agencies around the country were
asked to watch out for kids' safety.

The bulletin, parts of which were read to The Associated Press, did not say
how often foreign extremists have sought to acquire licenses to drive school
buses, or where. It was sent Friday as part of what officials said was a
routine FBI and Homeland Security Department advisory to local law
enforcement.

It noted "recent suspicious activity" by foreigners who either drive school
buses or are licensed to drive them, according to a counterterror official.

Foreigners under recent investigation include "some with ties to extremist
groups" who have been able to "purchase buses and acquire licenses," the
bulletin says.

But Homeland Security and the FBI "have no information indicating these
individuals are involved in a terrorist plot against the homeland," it says.
The memo also notes: "Most attempts by foreign nationals in the United
States to acquire school bus licenses to drive them are legitimate."

Kolko said the bulletin was sent merely as an educational tool to help local
police identify and respond to any suspicious activity.

One counterterror official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of
the sensitivity of the issue, said the government felt it was likely that
the foreigners investigated were merely employed as bus drivers, and did not
intend to use them as part of any terror plot.

A second official said the government felt it prudent that the backgrounds
of all those who come in contact with school children be checked.

Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said the government has no credible
information to suggest terrorists are "involved in buying school buses or
seeking licenses to drive them." He said there was no indication of any
immediate threat to the country.

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