SMPD — Local police are taking extra measures within the city in response to the national alert level being raised to orange, signifying America is at high risk for a terrorist attack.
The Office of Homeland Security announced on Sunday that the national alert level was raised from yellow — or elevated risk — to orange. Officials said the risk of a terrorist attack is as severe as it has been since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
“We wants residents, business people and visitors to be alert and contact the police if they see something suspicious.” — — LT. FRANK FABREGA SMPD spokesman
The Santa Monica Police Department will continue taking additional steps to increase checks of various locations throughout Santa Monica, police said.
“On Sept. 11 we identified certain areas within Santa Monica to provide additional checks and now that we’ve moved into orange alert, the Santa Monica Police Department has begun daily, periodic checks, 24 hours a day,” SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega said.
Fabrega declined to say where those areas are. However, security officials in the past have said high traffic places like the pier and landmark structures like the
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 23, 2003. Read the original PDF.