| Security at the Scuzzy airport remains unchanged... |
Authorities discreetly stepped up security at the Nice international airport Saturday after receiving a letter threatening a toxic gas attack that they dismissed as a probable hoax, a ranking official said. A long-delayed readiness exercise to counter nuclear, chemical and biological attacks was planned for Sunday, when the letter said the attack would occur, said Francoise Souliman, top aide at the Alpes-Maritime prefecture, or regional government. "We received a threatening letter. But after analysis by specialized services, it appears rather fanciful," she told The Associated Press.
The letter, written in crayon German and signed by a shadowy group decrying globalization, was received Friday by officials of the Nice-Cote d'Azur airport. It said Zyklon B gas was hidden in a travel bag and would be released by a long-distance trigger if planes depart or land between 9 a.m. and noon Sunday. The letter said the gas was part of a stock seized by Allies when Auschwitz was liberated. "Threats are regularly received. They all are verified and measures are taken in line with their credibility," Souliman said. |