Police Closing Down Northbound I-95 At Fort McHenry Tunnel -- More Details

[CC]

No more on link yet but the local news is saying the Harbor tunnel is also shut down. Based on info learned from DC. Info had been developing for a couple days. Looking for a truck(?). Would affect I-95, and 895.
http://www.thewbalchannel.com/index.html Saying some type od security operation. (Typing as the news talks.) This is in Baltimore, btw.

Number 15 for KO?

edited to add direct link to an article.
http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/5116434/detail.html

[QuettaKid]

1. KARL ROVE on the lam....nt.

:P :P :P

[DBoon]

9. Is there a white bronco being tracked?

headed for the Canadian border?

[Kolesar]

2. Launch all Distractions !! !!

Indictments spotted on the radar, 48 hours out.

[lumberjack_jeff]

33. Countermeasures away n/t

[MADem]

3. TERRA TERRA TERRA TERRA TERRA

All the cables have it--an "abundance of caution???" is how they are spinning it right now, based on a "POSSIBLE" terrorist threat.

Jeebus, do you suppose they got wind of a possible news conference by Fitzgerald, or something along those lines??? How long can they drag this out???

Shut down 95--that isn't like closing Primrose Lane.

[Lancer]

4. Terralert #15 = imminent indictments? n/t

[snappyturtle]

5. Is your...

website address correct? I couldn't pull the article up. Thanks.

[McKenzie]

7. install Flash from the pop up box n/t

[CC]

18. When I posted there

was only the banner. Now you can get the video on the site. But at the time there was no article to link directly to. It was just live on the local news then.

[BR_Parkway]

6. It's to keep Fitzgerald from entering the city - see this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1856390

Oct 17, 2005 — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The prosecutor investigating the outing of a covert CIA operative has yet to say whether he will bring charges but he has decided to announce decisions in the case in Washington rather than Chicago, where he is based, his spokesman said on Monday.

[QuettaKid]

8. sounds like a bad ben affleck movie...nt.

k

[omshanti]

10. Uncertain how long will go on... "may or may not" search for specific veh.

These self-serving evil bastards will stop at NOTHING, will they?

From the article:

Police have also closed many ramps leading to the interstates around the tunnels.

It is uncertain how long this operation will go on.

Federal officials told WBAL-TV 11 News reporter David Collins that they may or may not be searching for a specific vehicle.

[Kablooie]

11. Betcha this one will go on for a long time.

As long as it takes to take the news away from Fitzgerald and that will be awhile.

[onenote]

41. and you'd lose that bet

Over in two hours. Folks who think this has anything to do with Fitz should loosen their tin foil a notch.

onenote

[Swede Atlanta]

12. Yes...one vehicle containing Fitzgerald

They are trying to find Fitzgerald to keep him from performing his duties. They have me so scared now.....Terra, Terra, Terra. It would be funny if it wasn't such a travesty of our democracy.

[OzarkDem]

23. That would be a stretch

They would have to close all the airports and highways into DC to keep him out.

These tunnels they're mentioning aren't on the highway to DC. But then anything is possible.

[onenote]

42. why would fitz need to use the Baltimore tunnel

You think he's driving from Chicago to DC, and going by way of Baltimore? You think a two hour tunnel closure, when there are any number of alternate routes (and, in fact,a lot of us who do travel between Baltimore and DC actually choose not to use that tunnel to avoid congestion) would keep Fitz from getting to DC? You think if Fitz is a couple of hours late getting to DC everything falls apart.

Interesting thoughts.

onenote

[Lochloosa]

13. Here is an interesting statement on msnbc

No details were immediately available on the nature of the information, but a federal official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told NBC News that authorities received it several days ago and that the searches in the tunnel were part of the continuing investigation.

Other officials, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said there were questions about the credibility of the information, and compared it to the supposed threat against the New York subway system that authorities learned of several weeks ago.


"received it several days ago" Indictments coming soon! Someone got a phone call

[omshanti]

14. Send info to Keith Olbermann!

Anyone? Since he compiled the list of "coincidences", he may be interested in this.
We need to get the word out.

[lonestarnot]

16. Just so someone received a phone call! I don't give a fuck what

they shut down!

[omshanti]

15. Link to MSNBC: ‘Terror information’ shuts Baltimore tunnel

From the article:

No details were immediately available on the nature of the information, but a federal official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told NBC News that authorities received it several days ago and that the searches in the tunnel were part of the continuing investigation.

Other officials, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said there were questions about the credibility of the information, and compared it to the supposed threat against the New York subway system that authorities learned of several weeks ago.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9740174/

[Roland99]

17. In unison: "Bullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit!"

[CC]

25. I figure it is BS and since our

Gov.Whiner is a baby bushbot wannabe he would jump before asking how high from the WH.

[sabra]

19. ABC LBN: Baltimore Reportedly Target of Latest Terror Threat

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=1226201&page=1

Baltimore Reportedly Target of Latest Terror ThreatCity Officials Close Tunnels as Security Precaution

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2005 — The government has received a general threat regarding a possible terrorist attack involving tunnels along the I-95 corridor in the Baltimore area, ABC News has learned.

The security threat prompted Maryland Transportation Authority police to close and divert traffic away from Baltimore's McHenry and Harbor tunnels.

Information about a potential attack, ABC News has learned, came from a previously reliable source two or three days ago. The city of Baltimore is in the process of taking some additional security precautions, while the federal government is analyzing the credibility of the threat.

The Department of Homeland Security, as well as Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, may provide statements later today.

note: update info

[CottonBear]

20. * poll #s down = Terra, terra, terra. Yawn. n/t

[i miss america]

21. Another terra alert -- right on schedule

[saltpoint]

22. Granted I don't know the details here but with Fitzgerald's

report due this week, I'm getting suspicious of both the Bush administration's timing of "terror threats" and the craven media for bending over for them.

[Marie26]

28. I'm not sure if they have much choice

If the Feds scared the Baltimore police enough to shut down a main tunnel, the local media has to report that to commuters. If there is word of a major shut-down & threat from the local media, the national media feels like it should also report this (especially from the DC/Baltimore area). I think it's a good sign that the media is at least now asking about whether the threat is "credible" or not - like how MSNBC put the alleged "terror threat" in quotations. But even if this is a Bush plot - why bother? The NY subway threat certainly didn't help Bush's poll numbers, or stop the investigation. Why should this?

Update: MSNBC has now removed the quote marks from it's headline -"Terror Threat" Closes Tunnels. This means the threat has been verified & we should all now run for our lives - or that a boss made them change it.

[omshanti]

24. oh man, don't mess with my chocolate supply!

from the ABC article:

According to the informant, six Egyptian terrorists were going to receive bomb materials that would arrive by ship to Baltimore's harbor in a container marked "Cocoa."

[daleo]

34. Don't worry, I heard chocolate rations were going up

Once this war with Eastasia is over and Immanuel Goldstein is captured.

[omshanti]

37. I thought we have always been at war with Eurasia ;-) n/t

[Voltaire99]

44. "Latest terror threat" -- er...

Has there been one single credible "terror threat" since 9/11?

And if so, how would one know? Neither the lying government nor its media servants, surely, is to be trusted.

[truthisfreedom]

26. welcome to terrah week, ladies and gentlemen. make lots of extra popcorn.

it's going to be a bumpy ride.

[auburngrad82]

40. Funny, I thought the same thing about the HBO movie financed by Durbin

and several other senators. It's about terrorists stealing a nuke and exploding it in the US. The timing struck me as funny since it comes when the support for Iraq is at a record low, support for Bus is at a record low, and most people think the country is on the wrong track.

So now we scare the bejesus out of everyone!

[Marie26]

27. Dumb question deleted.

Oh, nevermind....:dunce:

[CC]

29. Well there is actually two sets

of tunnels shut down, Ft. McHenry through Baltimore on 95 and the Harbor Tunnel through Baltimore on 895. That leaves the Key bridge open as far as I know and the Beltway around the city. Both tunnels run under industrial areas and shutting down one, no less both will tie up traffic everywhere around Baltimore and bleed into DC. Baltimore is a blue area with Mayor O'Malley who has been very critical of the * admin. He has also been in the forefront on confronting the admin on money for first responders. The have let some traffic through 1 lane of each tunnel. That will keep traffic from being backed up to the DE line maybe. So if you want to distract from other news (Indictments etc.) and make a trouble maker suffer is a great place to pick to distract and get even.
Have I mentioned how much I hate this admin and their cabal. :grr: Downside for the * admin, O'Malley wants to be governor and if it ends up being nothing he won't keep his mouth shut.

[AuntiBush]

46. Tons of DRILLS in the last Several Weeks.

Sirens all night long, every 2 minutes for hours. 1 day it started very early, ending way past midnight. Seeing a lot of strange vehicles, very military w/numberless green tags.* Everyone feels the strangeness and no one trusts this adm.

And yes, all tunnels "do" lead to D.C. Shots of the old Ft. McHenry tunnel were aired on local TV late today as closed. At one time, it was the only main route into DC, besides "MANY" others.

After hearing it was known for 2 weeks, it explained (above)*.

Cars were passing, but no "White" trucks. Later, the local news played it down.

[newspeak]

30. I'm tired of the continuing fear BS!!!!

God, everything is timing---the Bin Laden video before the elections, terror alerts everytime they want a diversion---if another attack happens to this country, I am going to be even more suspicious than I already am. It seems two people are scratching each others backs, get my drift. Major US military out of Saudi Arabia, Bin Laden couldn't stand Saddam (he's gone)--recruiting for Al Quaida is up---hmmmmmm-Bush gets his war after 9-11, using terrorism as an excuse has escalated the war machine and bullied in his rich friend's agendas, all in the name of 9-11. If another attack comes, I will blame this administration!!!!!!!!

[darkism]

31. Yawn.

Terra! Bird flu! Run for your lives and pay no attention to the fact that your leaders are crooks!

[bluestateguy]

32. It's probably nothing

just like it usually is.

[struggle4progress]

45. UPDATE 6-Baltimore tunnel scare ends, nerves rattled

(Updates with information from law enforcement official, details, quotes from news conference)
By Bryan Sears

BALTIMORE, Oct 18 (Reuters) - A security scare closed two major Baltimore highway tunnels for about two hours on Tuesday, in the latest incident to unnerve the U.S. public and force officials to defend their actions as necessary precaution.

The closure of the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel and the Fort McHenry Tunnel, clogging traffic on a major East Coast thoroughfare, was based on information from an "ongoing investigation" by the FBI, state and local authorities, Maryland Transportation Authority Police Chief Gary McLhinney said.

Searches of the tunnels and various vehicles turned up nothing suspicious, McLhinney said in announcing the resumption of traffic along the heavily traveled north-south Interstate 95 highway. <snip>

The informant said those involved planned to receive bomb materials in a container marked "cocoa" that would arrive by ship in the port of Baltimore, the official said. They then planned to assemble the materials and put the explosive devices in vehicles to bomb at least one of the tunnels, according to the informant's story. <snip>

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2005-10-18T223119Z_01_N18665231_RTRIDST_0_SECURITY-TUNNEL-UPDATE-6.XML

[RumpusCat]

35. Gosh, that's where my girlfriend is

I know that the Terra Alert isn't anything, but I hope she doesn't have to get stuck in endless traffic! I'm not sure if she has to use the tunnels to get to and from work, but I'm sure this will *#&$& up traffic all over the place.

Otherwise, YAWN! The real news is about an hour southeast of B'more--I wonder when Fitzgerald is traveling to make his announcment..? :evilgrin:

[ToolTex]

36. They still have the WMD they tried to plant in Iraq. Now maybe a tunnel

on I-95 will do even better to stifle idle anti-admin liberal chatter.

Watch the rooftop. Maybe Fitz will use smoke signals;
white smoke for "pure as the virginal driven snow"
black smoke for "treasonous criminals all"
red smoke for "end of civilization as we have known it."

Next number please!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

38. yes, it's perfect. Evacuate, plant, boom. Ah, Georgie, My Hero. n/t

[Laura PourMeADrink]

39. Does anyone remember that "suspicious package bomb" they

found in downtown Manhattan, just before the election. What was up with that? Suspicious, alright !

[HuffleClaw]

43. gee. a quiet-like TERRA threat? i guess they learned at least one thing

which is, of course, let OTHERS do yer work for ya. the chicken little act was getting tiresome so this time they let the media speculate about it, making it that much more mysterious and ominous?

[EuroObserver]

47. Hi there from Airstrip One! Terra defense Update:

Baltimore Sun 11:23 PM EDT: "Gridlock, but no bomb" http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/custom/attack/bal-tunnel1018,1,510663.story?coll=bal-home-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true

<snip>

The threat, described by federal officials as specific but unsubstantiated, claimed that an Egyptian man living in the Baltimore area was plotting to drive a bomb-laden vehicle into one of the tunnels and detonate the explosives.

At least six Egyptian terrorists planned to smuggle the explosives into the Port of Baltimore by ship, according to a tipster. Agents searched a Southeast Baltimore market and two pizza restaurants and detained four men -- three Egyptians and a Jordanian -- on immigration violations.

But that same informant had a "questionable" performance on a polygraph and his story has not been corroborated by others, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

<snip>

"We were obviously at some risk, some danger that the tunnel was part of this operation but not the sole part of this operation," Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. told CNN Tuesday after an afternoon news conference.

Federal law enforcement officials were more cautious in their assessments. The special agent in charge of Baltimore's FBI office, Kevin Perkins, described the tip as a "threat of undetermined credibility to an unspecified tunnel in the Baltimore area."

Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley and his police command staff expressed frustration that they had been included in every aspect of the investigation -- including locating of suspects in the city -- but that they were not told of the state's decision to close the tunnels.

The mayor said he and his staff learned of the shutdowns from news reports.

</snip>

Thanks for the heads up, brother. Stay cool.