|
|
| |
| Fri, Dec. 5, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| |
Officials say information sharing, training key since terrorist attacks Friday, Sep 8, 2006 By Betsy Turner Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Since the terrorist attacks five years ago, Arkansas law enforcement agencies have changed their focus to preventing terrorist attacks with improved communications boosting their efforts, state officials said Thursday. Bud Cummins, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Bill Temple, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Little Rock, spoke Thursday about the efforts during a press conference held at the Little Rock Hilton, where local and state law enforcement were taking anti-terrorism training courses. Calling the last five years a success, Cummins said creation of a Joint Terrorism Task Force and Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council has allowed all levels of law enforcement in the state to coordinate training and share information for investigations. Cummins said although no terror cells have been identified in the state, law enforcement in Arkansas has targeted activities in support of terrorist organizations through illegal fundraising, recruitment and money laundering. "We are trying to stop crime before it starts," Cummins said. Cummins praised renewal of the Patriot Act by Congress, which he said gave law enforcement invaluable tools for investigating potential terrorist activity. He said specifically, the intelligence community has begun sharing information that allows law enforcement to investigate activities unknown before the communications. Temple said the FBI uses the public and local law enforcement to meet its highest priority of preventing terror attacks. He cited a case in Los Angeles where several men planning terror attacks on numerous targets were captured through a local law enforcement investigation into a rash of robberies. Temple said the biggest threat facing the nation today is complacency. "The message I would like to send to the general public out there is be aware, be vigilant and call us if you see anything that you think may be suspicious," Temple said. "That is the only way we are going to be able to investigate cases if the public helps us." |
