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November 17,1999
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Law enforcement agencies brace for Y2K-related terrorism
A ssociated P ress
While companies scramble to ensure their
computer systems are KZAT-compliant, police
departments across the country and the FBI
are preparing for potential violence on the
part o f religious extremists and other groups
hoping the world ends on Jan. 1,2000.
Dominic Venturi, the supervisory agent in
charge o f the FBI field office in Boise, said a
special command post will be staffed around
the clock from Dec. 29 through Jan. 5 in
Idaho as well as other states.
“W e’re prepared to respond whether an
incident is urban or rural,” Venturi said.
Opinions vary on how much o fa threat fringe
groups pose, but a 34-page report from the
FB I’s dom estic-terrorism unit warns o f
militias and racist groups acquiring weapons
and surveying targets.
“ Several relig io u sly m otivated groups
envision a quick, fiery ending in an apocalyptic
battle,” the report said. “Armed with the
urgency o f the millennium as a motivating
fa c to r, new c la n d e stin e g ro u p s m ay
conceivably form to engage in violence toward
the U.S. Government or its citizens.”
And while FBI officials view large cities as
more likely to be terrorist targets, they are not
ruling out other locations.
But Venturi, and officials with the Boise
Police Department, are tightlipped when it
comes to security specifics.
Lt. Larry Jones said officers have received
additional training to deal with potential
violence on New Y ear’s Eve and there will be
more o f them on the streets.
The department also has worked to protect
potential targets. “We are aware o f certain
areas that are o f a high visibility and high
value as targets, and w e’re working with the
security personnel from those areas to
coordinate security efforts,” Jones said.
Meridian Police Chief Bill Gordon, prompted
by concerns over rioting, asked for $ 18,000
from the City Council to buy rifles, helmets,
sh ie ld s, am m unition, clubs and o ther
equipment. He later withdrew the special
request amid skepticism.
“Everybody wants to be ready for anything
that could take place,” Gordon said. “Our
main concern is the availability o f the officer.
W e’re not going to run more shifts, but
everyone will be available like years past on
New Year’s Eve.”
While academics who study extremist groups
are doubtful there will be violence, they are
well-aware the groups can be unpredictable.
James Richardson, a professor o f Sociology
and Judicial Studies at the University o f
Nevada, Reno, said irrational beliefs, coupled
with an approaching millennium, can be a
lethal combination.
“There may be some people who think not
only is the world going to come to an end, but
they are a chosen instrument that is supposed
to help it along,” Richardson said. “All it
takes is som ebody w ith a little plastic
explosive in a backpack and they can do a lot
o f damage.” And Richardson, who advises
the FBI on dealing with extremists, said
organized groups sometimes are not the
culprits in terrorist acts.
“ O ne n o te w o rth y th in g a b o u t th is
phenomenon is that it’s often not groups but
loners who think they’re doing the Lord’s
w ill or th ey ’re doing the right thing,
Richardson said.
Some o f the advice he gives to the FBI is to
develop a thorough understanding o f fringe
groups.
“I ’ve been working to convince them they
really need to understand the mind set and
worldview o f these groups,” Richardson said.
“If you do that, you may figure out openings
and ways to get some leverage on them. It
doesn’t do any good to denigrate those
people.”
The FBI said one o f those groups. Concerned
C hristians, has tried to initiate violent
c o n fro n ta tio n s in an e ffo rt to sta rt
Armageddon. Monte Kim Miller, the group s
leader, claims to be one o f the two witnesses
or prophets described in the B ook of
Revelation who will die on the streets o f
Jerusalem prior to the second coming of
Christ. Members o f the group traveled to
Israel in 1998 to prepare for next month.
Fourteen have since been deported by the
Israeli government.
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