STATE OF ALASKA
DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT 03-356 (as of 11:00 AM December 22, 2003) Homeland Security Advisory System – National Level: Orange-High U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Homeland Security Advisory System – Alaska Level: Orange-High Alaska Division of Homeland Security
State Emergency Coordination Center Preparedness Level: 2-Heightened Sense of Awareness Alaska Division of Emergency Services
Military installations in Alaska are at FPCON B.
Current Internet Threat Level: 1-Regular Vigilance Internet Security Systems
State Emergency Coordination Center (SECC) Operations: To reach the SECC dial (907) 428-7100 or 1-888-462-7100, 24 hours per day. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has a web site available for information on emergency topics at http://www.ak-prepared.com and Homeland Security information at http://www.ak-prepared.com/homelandsecurity/. For further information: Countries: U.S. State Department Background Notes. Maps: United Nations Cartographic Section Terrorist Groups: Background Information on Foreign Terrorist Organizations Background Information on Other Terrorist Groups. State of Alaska Situation · Governor Frank Murkowski today raised Alaska’s Homeland Security Threat Level to Orange-High to coincide with the National Level. The U.S. Intelligence Community has received a substantial increase in the volume of threat related intelligence reports. ~These credible sources suggest the possibility of attacks against the United States to include Alaska around the holiday season and beyond. Threats include attacks against commercial aviation and nationally recognized critical infrastructure in the chemical and energy production sectors. · The FBI is looking for information about an individual who chartered a flight from Fairbanks to Allakaket. The individual, Noreem ZAMAN, was a possible match with a known alias, Zaman MUHAMMAD. According to the Fairbanks FBI, the known alias, Zaman MUHAMMAD, had raised suspicions due to a recent request to charter an aircraft from Fairbanks to Allakaket.~ The flight to Allakaket passes near the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.~ Zaman MUHAMMAD and his travel companion did not show for the chartered flight.~ The charter company alerted the Fairbanks FBI of the irregularity.~ Other charter services and air carriers have been notified of the two individuals. ~Anyone with information about Noreem ZAMAN can notify the FBI Anchorage office at 907-276-4441. Heavy Snow Warning The National Weaqther Service has issued a heavy snow warning for tonight for the Northeast Prince William Sound including Valdez and Thompson Pass. Total snowfall for tonight will be 8-12 inches at the port and 30 to 40 inches for higher elevations including Thompson Pass. National Situation · The Transportation Security Administration said today the nation's airports have increased vehicle inspections, parking restrictions and bomb-sniffing canine patrols in response to the higher threat level. Airport screeners are working overtime and their managers are helping staff security checkpoints. Local law enforcement agencies are helping with airport security by patrolling terminals inside and out, as well as around runways. More... International Situation · Colombian Marxist rebels today released four Israeli hikers and a British backpacker they kidnapped 100 days ago, handing them over to a church-led humanitarian commission. Israelis Benny Daniel, Ido Guy, Erez Altawil and Orpaz Ohayon and Briton Mark Henderson appeared in good health as they boarded helicopters in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains. The released hostages were being taken to Bogotá, where relatives were waiting. More... · An Indonesian court has sentenced a Muslim militant to 18 years in jail for his role in the bombing of a McDonald's restaurant last year that killed three people and injured more than a dozen others. Prosecutors had previously demanded the court sentence Arman, alias Galaxi bin Abdul Somad, to 20 years for his role in the bombing in the eastern city of Makassar, capital of South Sulawesi province, 875 miles east of Jakarta. The panel of judges agreed with the prosecution that Arman transported and hid the lethal device before passing it on to the actual bombers ahead of the December 2002 blast. They also said the defendant helped survey the scene beforehand. More... · Australia is willing to extradite two brothers convicted by a Lebanese military court of participating in attacks on American and British businesses. The two men, Bilal and Maher Khazal, were convicted in absentia Saturday in Lebanon but remain free at their homes in Sydney because they have not been charged with crimes in Australia. They were among 32 people convicted Saturday by the military court in Beirut for the attacks. The brothers were each sentenced to 10 years in prison. More... Significant Dates Dec 22, 1920 Burma: National Day; National Day of the Union of Burma commemorates a boycott launched against the Rangoon University Act of the British, which allowed only the rich and a handful of anglophiles to receive higher education. Considered to be the beginning of the National Education Movement.
Dec 23, 1956 Egypt: Victory Day; Celebrates the withdrawal of British, French and Israeli forces from Port Said and the Suez Canal Zone. Dec 23, 1975 Greece: U.S. Embassy Official Killed; U.S. embassy official Richard Welch was killed outside of his home in Athens. The Greek terrorist organization "November 17" subsequently took credit for his assassination. Dec 25, 1979 Afghanistan, Russia: Invasion by Soviet Troops Dec 25, 1982 Senegal: Casamance Movement Founded; MFDC, the Casamance Separatist Movement, was founded. Armed attacks by the group have occurred on this date, to mark the anniversary of the founding of the MFDC. Dec 26, 1893 China (People's Republic of): Birthday of Mao Ze Dong The birthday of Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong has been marked by the Sendero Luminoso (SL) guerrilla organization by terrorist attacks.
Dec 26, 1968 Philippines: Founding of the CPP; Founding of the Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) by Jose Maria Sison. The next Situation Report will be published as of 11:00 AM, December 23, 2003. If there is significant change in the situation or the threat level, a report will be published when the change occurs. Direct questions regarding this report to Jerry J. Koenig at 907-428-7049 or jerry_koenig@ak-prepared.com. |