9/11 attacks spurred task force, surveillance in Las Vegas area

Several of the 9/11 hijackers spent time in Las Vegas before committing the deadliest act of terrorism in the nation’s history.

But in its 2004 report, the 9/11 Commission wrote, "Beyond Las Vegas’ reputation for welcoming tourists, we have seen no credible evidence explaining why, on this occasion and others, the operatives flew to or met in Las Vegas."

Former Clark County Sheriff Jerry Keller told the Las Vegas Review- Journal in 2006 that he thought the hijackers were eyeing Las Vegas for a possible future attack involving other al-Qaida members.

"We had to be a collateral target or they wouldn’t have been here," Keller said.

With crowd-drawers such as the Strip, Hoover Dam, the Fremont Street Experience and Nellis Air Force Base, what are the chances that the Las Vegas Valley could suffer a terrorist attack?

And how prepared are we in a city that saw more than 37 million visitors last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority?

During the 18th annual International Tourism Safety Conference in May, Capt. Brett Primas of the Metropolitan Police Department’s counterterrorism bureau said Las Vegas ranks as the ninth most likely target for a terrorist attack in the country because of visitor volume and iconic landmarks that represent personal freedom.

The city has more surveillance than most, though.

Hotels, sports arenas and theaters are potential targets. So, the police department produced a series of videos that guide hotel and casino employees regarding what to look for on the job and help them decide on how and when to report to authorities.

The intent is not to spy but to create an enhanced neighborhood watch, officials said.

The Las Vegas Joint Terrorism Task Force, an FBI-based collaborative effort of 43 representatives from federal, state and local agencies, runs down all terrorism leads, develops and investigates cases, provides support for special events and proactively identifies threats that might impact the area.

The group was formed shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. According to the FBI’s website, the local task force worked alongside the state AttorneyGeneral’s office to create the Nevada Emergency Operations and Notification Network website. The online resource "facilitates the flow of information between public and private sector entities, law enforcement agencies and (the task force)."

In Clark County, the Local Emergency Planning Committee monitors and informs the public about the use of hazardous chemicals and helps facilitate all hazardous emergency preparations.

Last year, the Obama administration canceled a mock "dirty bomb" terrorist exercise on the Strip. In a 2009 letter to Janet Napolitano, then-Secretary of Homeland Security, Sen. Harry Reid requested the faux radioactive nuke exercise be stopped, fearing economic recovery "would be stymied or reversed entirely."

The city’s emergency management office is responsible for planning, conducting and coordinating disaster preparedness exercises for city personnel and other agencies, serves as a Federal Emergency Management Agency liaison and manages the city’s emergency operations center.

The office disseminates information through the Emergency Alert System, TV broadcasts on KCLV channel 2, recorded messages on 38ALERT (382-5378) and press releases sent to media outlets.

More information about forming a disaster plan and packing a kit with food, water and medication can be found at lvalert.com.

Contact Paradise/Downtown and North Las Vegas View reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@viewnews.com or 383-0492.