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Small towns
susceptible to terrorism
By Marty Roney
Montgomery Advertiser
The following topics were discussed during Tuesday's
homeland security training session held in Prattville. The training was
conducted by the Center for Domestic Preparedness, a federal homeland
security agency:
Alabama's capital city may seem like a tempting target for a terrorist
attack, but a prosecutor believes smaller, outlying cities would be put in
the crosshairs first.
"Personally, I don't think Montgomery itself is a big target because it
has such a strong law enforcement presence," 19th Judicial Circuit
District Attorney Randall Houston said Tuesday during a homeland security
seminar in Prattville.
"Terrorists want to spread fear, to show they can strike anywhere,"
Houston said. "I feel the rural and outlying areas are more susceptible to
attacks. That's why we need to work closely with Sheriff (Bill) Franklin
in Elmore County and Chief (Alfred) Wadsworth here in Prattville."
Lt. Willie Scott of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department agrees with
Houston, up to a point.
"I think we have to be watchful everywhere," he said during a break. "My
biggest fear is some sort of attack on a Saturday college football game or
Friday night high school game. That kind of thing keeps me up at night."
About 30 people from more than a dozen federal, state, local and military
law enforcement agencies received instructions at the seminar on what to
watch for that could forewarn of possible terrorist activities.
The purpose of the "intense" one-day session is to "train the trainers,"
said Houston, whose judicial circuit includes Autauga, Chilton and Elmore
counties. The DA's office co-sponsored the seminar with the U.S. attorney
of the Middle District of Alabama.
"These are our first responders, they will be on the scene of any
terrorist attack," Houston said. "What we hope is these officers go back
to their departments and train others on what to look out for, and how to
handle any information they come up with related to homeland security. Of
course, our fervent prayer is we never have to face a terrorist attack in
our area. But you have to be prepared, it's all part of the state of the
world we live in today."
After the Sept. 11 attacks, each U.S. attorney's office received a
full-time intelligence officer.
"In the event of a terrorist attack, the agencies represented here will be
working together in response to that activity," said Leura Canary, U.S.
attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.
And while the central Alabama region may seem far removed from New York
City, Los Angeles or Washington, D.C., that doesn't mean the area isn't of
interest to terrorists, Houston said. He listed the state and military
complex in Montgomery, electric power switching stations, local water
supplies and retail centers as prime targets. |
