FBI issues advisory on April 19 violence

http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/04/16/april.19/index.html

The Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City after it was bombed, top, and the Branch Davidian fire at Waco, Texas, bottom

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The FBI's counterterrorism office says it knows of "no specific, credible threat" of violence connected to Thursday's anniversary of the Branch Davidian fire at Waco, Texas, and the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

Nonetheless, the bureau has issued an advisory for law enforcement agencies across the country to be aware that April 19 marks not only those events, but also the anniversary of the 1775 battles between minutemen and British troops at Lexington and Concord, "which is meaningful to many of the self-styled 'patriots' in the current militia movement."

FBI officials emphasize the message, which was sent last Friday to state and local officials over the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications Systems, is a routine advisory similar to those sent to officials coast to coast as a precaution before anniversaries, trials, executions, or other events that could potentially provoke a violent response.

Counterterrorism officials openly worried about a domestic terrorism incident on April 19, 1996 -- one year after the Oklahoma City blast and three years after Waco. But each of the past five years the anniversary has come and gone without incident.

"The anxiety level has waned each year," acknowledged one FBI agent who asked not to be identified.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms did not send out any special notice to its field offices regarding precautions for the anniversary, but did note it in a calendar of events distributed to its offices around the country.

The ATF is particularly sensitive to the anniversary because four of its agents were killed in the deadly Waco shootout that started the siege that ended with the Branch Davidian fire on April 19, 1993.

"It remains a significant date in our history," said ATF chief spokesman Brian Burns. "But it wouldn't be prudent to talk about things like the security of our facilities. We wouldn't want anyone to think we're more concerned or less concerned on that date than any other."