WASHINGTON - The FBI and local law enforcement say they have found no indication that the recent shootings at a suburban Denver movie theater were anything but the acts of a lone wolf without any apparent political or terrorist ties.
But that doesn't mean the July 20 rampage that killed 12 and injured dozens more during a midnight screening of the new Batman film, "The Dark Knight Rises," is a scenario foreign to terrorists.
The relative ease of carrying out an attack in a packed, darkened theater, where security is all but nonexistent, is something U.S. anti-terrorism authorities already had worried about. Such a venue could accomplish two of the goals of al-Qaida and affiliated terror groups: A high body count and an economic blow.
In fact, two months before the killings in Aurora, Colo., allegedly carried out by former doctoral student James Holmes, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent out a warning to police, fire, emergency-management and security personnel nationwide that theaters were a potentially attractive target for terrorists.
"Although we have no specific or credible information indicating that terrorists plan to attack theaters in the United States, terrorists may seek to emulate overseas attacks on theaters here in the United States because they have the potential to inflict mass casualties and cause local economic damage," the unclassified May 17 memo said.
It highlighted an April 4 bombing at a theater in Somalia, and, described a chilling entreaty three days later from an "al-Qaida-linked violent extremist" calling on his fellow travelers to emulate a 2002 terror attack on a Moscow theater.
Authorities said the April attack at Somalia's national theater in Mogadishu was carried out by a female suicide bomber affiliated with al-Shabab, a militant Islamic group fighting for control of Somalia. The blast detonated as Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali was at the podium to deliver a speech. He was unharmed, but at least 10 died, including the country's Olympics committee chief.
The 2002 Moscow attack was carried out by Chechen terrorists, who seized the Dubrovka Theater and held more than 800 people captive for three days. At least 129 hostages died.
The "violent extremist" cited in the May Homeland Security warning urged others to seize crowded facilities in the United States, including movie theaters, take hostages and demand the release of captured al-Qaida-linked or -inspired violent extremists.
The May warning was prepared by the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Cyber, Infrastructure and Science Division of the DHS, in cooperation with the FBI and other agencies.
"Mass gatherings such as those associated with theaters likely remain attractive terrorist targets," the warning said. "We encourage facility owners and operators, security personnel and first responders to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities."
After the Aurora theater attack last week, movie theaters across the country said they were increasing security at showings of "The Dark Knight Rises."
Contact Lisa Hoffman at hoffmanl@shns.com.
gilbertwatchdog posted at 4:54 pm on Sat, Jul 28, 2012.
First, any warning of a possible terrorist attack on any target with as many locations as theaters is virtually meaningless. Now if you could narrow that threat down to theaters within a particular city or town during a particular time you might have a chance of stopping an attack.
Second, there's a major difference in stopping a terrorist attack vs. finding out what's inside the mind of a total stranger (that's unknown to law enforcement) in time to stop his (or her) planned suicide attack within a crowded area.
It's time the majority of the public start to realize that police departments can't always stop every single bad thing that some nut wack-job has planned for days or weeks. That only happens on TV, or sadly, in the movies.
What drives these nut jobs is the publicity they know they'll get. A few quick hangings when these folks are caught might be just the thing to convince them that the act they have planned just isn't worth it, as dead men can't brag in prison.
Arizona Willie posted at 7:43 am on Sun, Jul 29, 2012.
I notice the article says that theater owners are increasing security for showings of the " Dark Knight Rises " -- but nothing about other movies ... duh.
And, knowing how American business owners operate, the will hire ONE (1) guard for 2 weeks and then lay him off and consider the whole thing done and over with.
ChillbertAZ posted at 1:39 pm on Sun, Jul 29, 2012.
Wow, you really think that these shootings have terrorist ties? Did it ever occur to you that this FBI warning might implicate them somehow? Someone gave this kid 20k worth of military equipment.
Does the fact that the villain's name is Bain, it was done in "Aurora", on the anniv. of Apollo 11, right before the illegal treasonist UN Arms Treaty is about to be signed mean anything to you?
First the kid was dropping out of school, on unemployment, and broke. Then he was still in school, and collecting $2,600/mo in grant checks every month.
What about the fact that James Holmes' father, Robert Holmes, is set to testify in the the Libor & other banking scandals in front of the Senate next week, which could potentially bring down many big-wig global banking criminals?
Have you seen the Lil Wayne Video that predicts with detail this event?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u1Vx6y5OEQ
The fact that tear gas was never mentioned until we started talking about how armed citizens could have stopped him?
Why would he booby trap his apartment, then tell authorities about it in the parking lot of the theater?
And why have all the photos been photo shopped?
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/555143_10150949038836884_1616159929_n.jpg
I don't know what all this means...Coincidence? Possibly, if they hadn't photo shopped images and changed their story over and over again. Worth mentioning? Definitely.