Officials: Local schools safe from terrorist threat

Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001 | 10:22 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

The possibility of a terrorist threat to Nevada's schools was denied by local, state and federal officials Wednesday.

A joint statement released by Gov. Kenny Guinn, Grant Ashley, special agent in charge of the Las Vegas office of the FBI, and Sheriff Jerry Keller stated that "there is no identifiable threat or risk to the people of Southern Nevada."

Earlier Wednesday Texas Gov. Rick Perry warned of a vague threat made against his state's schools in retaliation for U.S. bombing in Afghanistan. Texas officials said they received a threat regarding two people possibly attacking an unnamed school, and said that Nevada received similar threats.

Special Agent Gayle Jacobs, spokeswoman for the Las Vegas FBI office, said that rumors of a threat had been analyzed and evaluated, and that no law enforcement action was deemed necessary.

"There's nothing substantiated," Jacobs said. "There are no specific threats or targets."

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said he received a call from Ashley Wednesday evening, and was told the rumors were unfounded.

"People should not be concerned about this," Goodman said.

Frank Siracusa, head of Nevada's Emergency Management Division, said that he has been in contact with the FBI, but has heard nothing about a credible threat.

"We haven't heard a word, so right now no news is good news," Siracusa said.

Siracusa said that in the event of a threat his office and Guinn would be notified by the FBI or homeland security officials.