FBI Warns Of Possible ISIS Terror Plot To Blow Up Memphis-Arkansas Bridge

[big_dog]

Source: NY Daily News

The FBI is warning of a possible ISIS terror plot to blow up the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge after receiving an "anonymous threat," FOX13 reports. Nearly 60,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day, the station reported. The bridge connects Tennessee and Arkansas.

"According to an anonymous complainant, as of December 2014, ISIS instructed an ISIS member, a presumed USPER (U.S. person) in Memphis, with a direct order to blow up the Memphis-Arkansas bridge on an unknown date, activating ISIS terror cells in the United States," the warning obtained by FOX13 reads.

However, an FBI agent in Memphis told the station that "there is no actionable intelligence regarding an attack on the bridge.
There is reportedly an 'anonymous threat' to blow up the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge. There is reportedly an 'anonymous threat' to blow up the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge.

"We take every threat seriously and whenever we receive a threat like this we take steps to inform all of our law enforcement partners," Supervisory Special Agent Joel Siskovic said. Memphis cops have been patrolling the area looking for unusual activity, the station reported. Surveillance cameras watch over the bridge 24 hours a day.




Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/fbi-warning-isis-plot-blow-memphis-bridge-article-1.2054507

[alp227]

1. FBI asks agencies, citizens to watch Memphis bridges

More reliable source, Memphis Commercial Appeal

[project_bluebook]

2. Here we go again

Guess they need to break out the color warning codes again. ISIS or Isol or what ever don't even know what hemisphere that bridge is in. They are a legend in their own minds.

[Fred Sanders]

7. So now they just go to a couple of bridges over....this seems a strange thing for the FBI to do...

as strange as their fingering N.K. government with flimsly evidence.

[candelista]

32. Aw, give the FBI a break, will ya?

They're just trying to make a buck, like everyone else.

[jtuck004]

3. So a bunch of ISIS strategists are sitting around in their cave or bombed out building, and they

decided that the way to bring the infidels to their knees in America was to bomb a bridge in Arkansas.

This reminds me of the story in Alice's Restaurant where the police pulled out all the stops to discover who was behind dumping the garbage at the bottom of the hill.

[Fred Sanders]

8. "Yes, Abdullah, let us go to the middle of nowhere and blow up a bridge to teach the infidels"...

Seems plausible to me.

[bemildred]

28. +1. "Paradise awaits in Peoria."

The terrists seemed to know who they wanted to kill quite well on 9/11/2001, and it wasn't anywhere near the midwest. It was New York and DC. Have you ever thought about whom it was the terrists are addressing when they perform their public atrocities? It's not some guy in the Midwest, it's those guys in New York and DC they are saying "You're next" to. They want revenge, and they won't forget. It is dick-waving in it's most unfiltered form.

[Sparhawk60]

43. Actually

An attack on a Midwest target in and of it self, would have relatively limited effect. But the second and third order of effects would be immense.

1) Cost to defend. Large cities already have fairly robust systems in place to defend infrastructure from attack. Blowing up a dam or power plant in Hicksville USA would require us to put the same systems in place in every two bit town and county in the country. That would cost a huge amount of money…and where would that money come from?

2) A target in the Midwest would be hit due to psychological reasons. As in ‘if we can pull off a terror attack in Heartland USA, we can do it any where.” As much as people in large cities like to think themselves as the center of the universe, they are not. There is a huge chunk of the population that lives outside of cities. Right now, fear of a terror attack is mostly a big city problem. Blow up Bucksnort Missouri, and you strike fear in small to medium sized cities all over the country.


Bottom line, while an attack on a small/medium sized target is not as glamorous, it could be very cost effective for the terrorist and cost us a huge amount.

[bemildred]

44. Terror is a propaganda weapon, it wants to be big and splashy.

I like small towns and cities precisely because it's safe.

[Sparhawk60]

46. Bingo!

And where will you feel safe if a small town is attacked?

[bemildred]

47. Logic isn't your strong point is it?

The point is that one is much less likely to be attacked in Podunk because:

a.) It's not as effective as propaganda, and the perp would not be doing it if he could just invade. Terror is not about conquering America, it's about making us do stupid things in response, and about revenge. And especially for revenge you want a big splash.

b.) You average terrorist has no idea that Podunk exists, whereas he is well aware of New York and DC and knows where they are too. Even if he were to choose some unimportant target, there are so many that the odds of it affecting you are like winning the Lotto.

[Sparhawk60]

48. One Last Time

Ok, let me try one last time for you, in small steps.

1) You feel safe in a small town.
2) Why? Because the terrorist would never hit a small town.
3) Terrorist hit a small town, not YOUR small town, but a small town never the less.
4) You no longer feel safe in ANY small town.
5) The terrorist win.

The idea is to cause wide spread panic/fear. Attack Broadway in NYC, and people are afraid to go to Broadway plays. Use the same resources to attack ten wal-marts in small to medium sized cities all over America, and you make people afraid every time they go grocery shopping. Making no place in America safe.


/fear is the mind killer

[bemildred]

50. Oh I got it, it's just a bad argument.

By that argument, you can just bomb anywhere and you win. And yet we've had lots of bombings, but only one 9/11, because that one hit the WTC, the Pentagon, and tried to hit Congress. Who do you think they want to kill? It's not me. They don't know me from Adam.

[Fred Sanders]

53. You are being too kind, not just a bad argument, totally illogical. Terrorist hit symbols.

Why do they not bomb an open field, then the message is they could hit you anywhere!

Hit one bridge to nowhere, which is the topic, means zilch propaganda value...some people just like to be afraid, I am afraid.

I hate bad logic, leads to this kind of thinking.

[bemildred]

54. As long as they stay more or less civil and candid, that's what they get back. nt

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

51. I have actually thought for a long time that hitting small town america could have

tremendous effect on the brains of small town folk, especially those susceptible to being xenophobic.

Lots of small towns in America, it would result in lots of terror

[JonLP24]

19. What is likely

there may be a local to the Memphis area who is sympathetic to ISIS-cause who may be in contact with them--ISIS has a very sophisticated social media marketing campaign, they even have their own app available for Android. Those who download it gives ISIS access to user accounts to send the propaganda, they have their fan club as well as ISIS fighters posting about their experience. It gives them an opportunity to connect to Westerners.

They are relatively successful at recruiting & appealing to westerners. A Memphis area person sympathetic to their cause which ISIS would use to encourage him/her to plan something local. They already do this--they have a propaganda video out (their videos have high production values) aimed at British & French sympathizers encouraging them to poison the countries' food & water supply.

[jtuck004]

21. More likely is that they risk more danger from their local Teabaggers and racists than ISIS. n/t

[JonLP24]

26. Maybe so

but ironically they support the policies and politicians which increase the risk of Wahhabi Terrorism which a permanent "war on terror" is beneficial to private defense contractors. Also the racists who direct their hate toward Muslims indirectly contribute to recruiting for groups like ISIS . Their marketing campaign separates them from the rest who tailor their pitch to westerners, which wouldn't be as effective without commonplace bigotry, especially for those in a Southeastern state.

[SummerSnow]

4. ok, rinse and repeat the rhetoric

[PeoViejo]

5. I call BS.

Ain't gonna happen.

Anyone versed in the Black Arts would know what a monumental task this would be. It's all I'm going to say on the matter.

Be afraid.

[riversedge]

6. Has the US ever gotten an ISIS threat like this on our homehand before??...

I do not recall any.

[Fred Sanders]

9. Fox News Bullshit Alert.....link is to a Fox affiliate.....arrest the lot.

"According to an anonymous complainant, as of December 2014, ISIS instructed an ISIS member, a presumed USPER (U.S. person) in Memphis, with a direct order to blow up the Memphis-Arkansas bridge on an unknown date, activating ISIS terror cells in the United States," the warning obtained by FOX13 reads.


However, an FBI agent in Memphis told the station that "there is no actionable intelligence regarding an attack on the bridge.

The warning obtained by FOX13 reads...where the fuck did they get this "warning"?

[oberliner]

22. CBS affiliate got the same statement

The warning was sent by the local FBI office in Memphis.

[Fred Sanders]

25. You mean the "hoax"

[MynameisBlarney]

35. Where did the get the warning?

Roger Ailes?

[Fred Sanders]

36. Exactly my point...someone send an email from the Fox News Terror Bunker?

[defacto7]

10. Warnings obtained by FOX13 news

must be true. The FBI trusts them with reliable information.

[oberliner]

23. They sent it to other stations as well

Pretty much all the local Memphis news stations.

[Fred Sanders]

24. Who are "they"? It was not the FBI..a clear hoax Fox ran with even after the FBI denied it....some

folk, like me, like to see the evidence....do not leap in terror on command.

[oberliner]

27. The FBI

There was no hoax.

The agency's Memphis office alerted local police as a matter of routine.

[Fred Sanders]

30. Did you read the link...I did...you are wrong...

"However, an FBI agent in Memphis told the station that "there is no actionable intelligence regarding an attack on the bridge."

That was the local Fox ststion, original,link now erased....the new link given is better, but still it is a clear hoax. Never any ISIS connection you are clesrly trying to push.

Anonymous tip, nothing to do with ISIS...why the screaming ISIS headlines....it is a hoax.

So......what is your interpretation of that?

Are you talking about the same Memphis?

[L0oniX]

40. Similar to the Fox edited "kill a cop"?

Fox affiliate apologizes to editing protesters' chants to say 'Kill a cop'

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/23/1353803/-Fox-affiliate-apologizes-to-editing-protesters-chants-to-say-Kill-a-cop?detail=facebook

[niyad]

11. yawnnnnnn

[onehandle]

12. Last time I drove that bridge Clinton and Gore signs hung from different directions.

Will Hillary's sign hang from Arkansas, Illinois, or New York, or all?

[oberliner]

34. Arkansas has gone deep red since the Clinton/Gore days

Romney won by over 20 percent. McCain similar in 2008. Bush by smaller margins in 2000 and 2004.

Hillary will have no problem with Illinois and New York.

[mindwalker_i]

13. I'm glad they're not threatening to blow up a crunchy television

That would be scary.

[Comrade Grumpy]

14. I'm scared.

[Maedhros]

15. Riiiigghhhhtttt. [n/t]

[lib87]

16. Meh

All of this sounds like familiar BS.

[Marrah_G]

17. seems like an odd place for foreign terrorists to choose

[oberliner]

31. Unless there is a local IS supporter or two living there

Could just be a potential terrorist act of opportunity.

Or maybe mis-direction because they are planning something elsewhere?

They would get big publicity for any major attack anywhere in the US>

[BumRushDaShow]

18. I've actually seen this bridge when in Memphis about 20-some years ago

It goes over the Mississippi. Was considering walking across but thought better of it.

[reflection]

42. They're actually building a walking path across it

that will connect Memphis' new bike/pedestrian-friendly Greenline to Arkansas. So if you're ever in this area again you may get to enjoy that walk you were unable to take 20 years ago.

[BumRushDaShow]

45. That's great!

I couldn't figure out how to get to it but I expect that now by installing a formal path, there would be signage to go along with it. I did get to see the riverfront park with the cool representation of the path of the Mississippi River.

[bemildred]

20. Why bother, our bridges fall down by themselves. nt

[Jesus Malverde]

29. .

[MynameisBlarney]

33. What? Without that handy color coded fear chart

I don't know how scared I'm supposed to be now.

[Fred Sanders]

37. The media wants you terrified 24/7, the better to get your eyeballs on their ads.

ISIS connection was purely made up and screamed into the headline, which truly shiukd read:

"Anonymous tip sent to a few local stations to blow up bridge: FBI denies any ISIS evidence connection"

[still_one]

38. I suspect everyday there is some anonymous threat to blow up something somewhere, sometime

The irony is for 9/11 there was actionable evidence, and it was not only identified in the PDB memo, but at various places, including the Hart/Rudman report commissioned by Bill Clinton, but entirely ignored by the bush administration

[L0oniX]

39. FOX13 ...is all I need to know.

[on point]

41. In other news, FBI warns repukes will destroy USA bridges through inaction....

[Odin2005]

49. Bullshit.

[KansDem]

52. Will the Saudis fly planes into them?

[kickysnana]

55. "Nobody goes to Tennessee through Arkansas"

I think Dad was avoiding a toll road but we were headed to Memphis from Minnesota and we were in Arkansas in 1963. When Dad stopped for gas he asked the attendant for a map of Tennessee. That is what Dad was told. We did get there and it was my first encounter with real segregation, signs and all.

Later I learned that Arkansas was notorious for speed traps. I cannot remember if we stopped at Mammoth Cave in Kentucky before or after Memphis. Might explain our route.

[LeftyMom]

56. Did somebody need an excuse to miss work?

Back when I was in high school and dinosaurs roamed the earth our school was plagued by bomb threats. Not coincidentally they always seemed to correspond to times when a few of the more troubled students were due for a test. Eventually the school started locking the pay phone during class periods.

The bomb threats stopped.

I'd guess that the chances of some local manufacturing a threat for some stupid reason are higher than anybody in Islamic State being able to point to the TN-AR border on a map by roughly infinity to one.

[Kennah]

57. This could work to our advantage

We feed intel to ISIS about our "most vulnerable bridges", but provide a list of the worst of our bridges.

[Ramses]

58. They ought to worry

about the crumbling infrastructure in this country and wall street criminals.