The Department of Homeland Security and FBI are downplaying the validity of a threat posted on a website claiming that seven NFL stadiums would be attacked this weekend. Stadiums in New York, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Oakland and Cleveland are alleged targets of radiological "dirty" bombs, according to the statement.
Citing "an abundance of caution," DHS alerted authorities and stadium officials in the indicated cities of the message, despite regarding the claim's credibility with "strong skepticism." DHS said there is no intelligence corroborating the possibility of an attack. The agency said it encourages the public to proceed with life normally.
The NFL said it believes it takes the proper security measures at its stadiums.
The NCAA was also notified of the threat.
Sunday is the last day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. One extremist Islamic group instructed its followers to make the holy month a month of holy war, or jihad.
The New England Patriots are scheduled to play in Buffalo, not one of the alleged targets.
The likelihood that someone with knowledge of such a plan would forewarn of the attacks is slim, and perhaps even less probable that such an attack would succeed after the public threat. If there is an attack, it's more likely this threat is a ruse to draw attention away from the real plan. I'm sure the responsible parties have already considered this and set the proper wheels in motion.
We live in a different world then what we thought it was five years ago, and it behooves each of us to remain vigilant but not paranoid. It would be unwise to become complacent, but with so many "bad guys" tied up 7,000 miles away, it's hard to imagine they would have the resources to carry out such a plan with only a web posting as the most obvious warning. Our boys are doing a pretty good job over there.
That in mind: Enjoy the games.