U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge on Friday warned top executives of major American sports organizations that al Qaeda may strike soon -- possibly at large sports events. In a seminar for commissioners and other top officials of professional and amateur sports organizations, Ridge and other Homeland Security officials asked for help in ensuring safety at and around major sporting events. He repeated a warning that the government fears al Qaeda might try to stage another large-scale attack in the United States, though he said he had no details on the time, place or method. "You are here because you know that mass public gatherings -- such as the large sports events you will be hosting in the coming year -- are potential targets," he said. "And you know that the way to protect your venues from attack is to be prepared."
"As commissioners and security directors for large, high profile events, you play a very significant role in keeping our citizens safe," Ridge told the group, representing 18 sports organizations. The group included National Football League commissioner Paul Tagliabue, National Basketball Association deputy commissioner Russ Granik and other top officials from Major League Baseball, NASCAR and the U.S. Olympic Committee. At the meeting, held at the Transportation Security Administration's Operation Center near Dulles International Airport, the executives were given briefings on the current security threat. An official from the Secret Service -- the agency that coordinates all "national special security events" like the Super Bowl and the Olympics -- gave a briefing on various tactical considerations to be taken into account at large sporting events. The FBI gave an explanation of federal efforts to protect against weapons of mass destruction, and another Secret Service official spoke about how to provide protection for athletes, the executives and fans. "The threat we face is real," said Ridge. "But we can mitigate it by working together and planning proactively. We would like to ... involve the sports fans in our collective effort to keep our events secure." |