The United States is advising airlines with direct flights serving Russia to be aware of the possibility of explosive materials concealed in toothpaste or cosmetic tubes. Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said the Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin to airlines flying to Russia warning of the potential threat. The bulletin said that officials believed that the explosives might be used during flights or smuggled into the city of Sochi, where the Winter Olympics begins this week.
An April attack on Silicon Valley’s phone lines and power grid was terrorism, according to former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Jon Wellinghoff said Wednesday. The FBI has released multiple statements that is has found no indications to support this claim, but Wellinghoff says he reached his conclusion after consulting with Defense Department experts about the attack, which involved snipping AT&T fiber-optic lines to knock out phone and 911 service, and firing shots into a PG&E substation, causing outages, an Associated Press article reports.
Kansas legislators are considering a bill to expand the definition of “furtherance of terrorism” and allow victims to seek civil penalties from those convicted of acts of terrorism. The bill would make it against the law to “provide material support” for those who commit acts of terrorism, “hinder the prosecution” of such crimes or “conceal or aid in the escape” of anyone who commits such a crime.
Two Austrian athletes have received kidnap threats if they should compete in the Sochi Winter Olympics, which heightens security concerns at the games and triggered an investigation by counter-terrorism experts.
New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico will be named the ASIS 2014 Person of the Year Award at a special luncheon at noon on Friday, March 14, in New York City. The annual awards luncheon is part of the 24th New York City Security Conference & Expo, hosted by the ASIS NYC Chapter.
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