Security Level Heightened at Fort Meade, Other U.S. Military Bases

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By Beth Dalbey and Deb Belt

U.S. military bases across the country, including those in Maryland, are on heightened after a threat against American military was tweeted by ISIS that it has soldiers trained in more than a dozen states and is ready to strike.

CNN reports that U.S. military bases are at “Force Protection Bravo,” which the Pentagon says is an “increased and predictable threat of terrorism.” It is the third-highest threat level on a five-tier scale used by the Department of Defense.

The heightened security comes days after ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack at an event in Texas featuring caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

Fort George Meade officials made no mention of the security issues on its website, and its Facebook page only reminds workers and residents to report all suspicious activities in communities, work areas, and leisure travels. Anyone who see suspicious activities in an area is instructed to call (301) 677-2619 or go to:https://iwatcharmy.org/index.html.

The National Security Agency makes no mention of the threat on its website.

Similarly, there is no indication of heightened security on the U.S. Naval Academy’s website or Facebook page.

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Last week, an online message signed by “Abu Ibrahim Al Ameriki” said the incident in Texas was “only the beginning of our efforts to establish a wiliyah (authority or governance) in the heart of our enemy.”

On Thursday, FBI Director James Comey told reporters there are thousands of ISIS, also known as ISIL, followers online in the United States, CNN is reporting.

“We have a general concern, obviously, that ISIL is focusing on the uniformed military and law enforcement,” he said.

“We have the same concern about the potential threat posed by violent homegrown extremists,” said Captain Jeff Davis, spokesman for the U.S. Northern Command, , which oversees all U.S. military installations in the continental U.S.

CNN has a database of Americans who are linked to ISIS.

The increased security also applies to all National Guard Stations, recruiting stations and ROTC detachments.

The threat level reached its highest level, Delta, after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. CNN said it had been raised to Bravo four times: on Feb. 9, 2003, in response to concerns al Qaeda was planning attacks on American targets; Dec. 21 2003, in response to concerns of attacks during the holidays; May 1, 2011, after the raid that killed Osama bin Laden; and on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

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Photo via Wikipedia / Creative Commons