A threat of "dirty bombs" is dismissed

A Web threat promising the detonation of "dirty bombs" at seven NFL football stadiums on Sunday — including Qwest Field — has been deemed not credible by federal law enforcement and the Seattle Police Department.

Seattle police say they won't alter any of their normal security measures for Sunday's Seahawks-Minnesota Vikings game.

The anonymous threat appeared on a Web site called "The Friend Society," which links to various online forums and off-color cartoons. It was posted Oct. 12, said Kirk Whitworth, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security. Part of an ongoing Internet conversation titled "New Attack on America Be Afraid," the warning also mentioned stadiums in New York, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Oakland and Cleveland, which also will be hosting games Sunday.

The Associated Press reported that the FBI today interviewed a Milwaukee resident who officials believe was involved in posting the threats, and that the threats appeared to be phony.

The person, described only as a young adult, did not appear to have any ties to terrorist groups, according to a Washington law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.

In Milwaukee, FBI spokesman Richard K. Ruminski said the "individual has come forward and provided information about the posting of the threat against the NFL stadiums. The U.S. government still believes this threat is non-credible."

"As this is an ongoing matter, we will not provide any additional information at this time," Ruminski said in a statement.

The threats about radioactive bombs, posted on a Web site a week ago, were not backed up by intelligence indicating such an attack might be imminent, according to the FBI and the Homeland Security Department.

The timing of the threat coincided with the final day in Mecca of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month.

After hearing the report, federal law enforcement notified security staff at the seven stadiums as well as police in each city "out of an abundance of caution," Whitworth said. Officials at the NCAA, which oversees college athletics, said they had also been notified.

"We have no credible intelligence indicating such attacks," Whitworth said. "We've been monitoring these reports of overseas attacks on the U.S."

The nation's alert level remains at yellow, signaling an elevated risk of an attack. The threat level for airline flights is at orange, a higher level, where it has been since a foiled plot to bomb U.S.-bound commercial jets was revealed Aug. 10.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said stadiums around the country "are very well protected through the comprehensive security procedures we have in place, including secure facility perimeters, pat-downs and bag searches."

The bombs, according to the Internet posting, would be delivered to the stadiums in trucks. All but one of the stadiums — Atlanta — are open-air arenas, the posting noted, adding: "Due to the open air, the radiological fallout will destroy those not killed in the initial explosion."

A "dirty bomb" uses a conventional explosive to spew radioactive material.

"The death toll will approach 100,000 from the initial blasts and countless other fatalities will later occur as result from radioactive fallout," according to a copy of the posting that was obtained by The Associated Press.

Explosions would be nearly simultaneous, the posting said, with the cities specifically chosen in different time zones. The posting also said that al-Qaida would automatically be blamed for the attacks and predicted, "Later, through al-Jazeera, Osama bin Laden will issue a video message claiming responsibility for what he dubbed 'America's Hiroshima.' "

Whitworth, who didn't know where the message was sent from, categorized the threat as terrorist "propaganda."

He said the Department of Homeland Security reviews more than 1,200 terrorist threats each year. Whitworth said there is no plan to dispatch a large team of Department of Homeland Security officers from across the country to the Seattle game.

"We want to encourage people to go about their daily lives and to enjoy such gatherings as football games," Whitworth said.

Seahawks officials had no comment on the threat, other than to refer questions about security procedures to the NFL.

The NFL has a game-day security protocol that teams are required to follow. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said league policy is to not comment on either the number of security personnel at a stadium or the details of the security procedures.

The league has been acting on a high level of security since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"We will take all appropriate steps necessary this weekend to afford proper protection to our fans at our stadiums," McCarthy said.

The players were aware of the threat at Seahawks practice Wednesday.

"Obviously with what has been going on the last couple years in our country, it is in the back of all of our minds," said receiver Nate Burleson. "We wake up just praying that we're going to be safe, and I think we're doing a good job of protecting the people in the stadium, and obviously as players we feel protected and we're going to hope for the best."

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com. Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com. The Associated Press and Seattle Times reporter José Miguel Romero also contributed to this report.