Tuesday
6 Nov 2007
Terror Suspect Sighted at Nantucket Island Airport (Years Ago)
By Annie Jacobsen in category The Al-Qaeda Threat
UPDATE (11.7.07): Airport Security Director Bob Tallman returned my call to say this is an "old story." He did not have an exact date. "The FBI investigiated and the story was dropped," Tallman explained. The article in Inquirer and Mirror runs with the current date.
The island of Nantucket, Massachusetts — best known for its preppy patrons and whale-and-spear flag — is now on alert for a terror suspect, "a man who appears to be of Arabic descent, with dark hair, and full beard and glasses." Inquirer and Mirror's Jason Graziadei has the exclusive story:
"Town and airport officials confirmed yesterday evening that there had been multiple sightings reported of at least one person on the terrorist watch-list at Nantucket Memorial Airport earlier in the day. There were conflicting statements as to whether the person or persons were coming to or leaving the airport."
Nantucket Memorial Airport employees have been shown a photograph of the man, although Graziadei reports that it's not clear by whom. TSA spokesperson Ann Davis confirms that the FBI is investigating. The suspect is allegedly on the terror watch-list and may be accompanied by a terror watch-list friend.
"One airport official said it was reported that a woman who was listed on the terrorist-watch list had purchased a plane ticket and received a boarding pass for a Cape Air flight, but did not get on the plane and did not check any baggage."
Questions remain. The Nantucket Memorial Airport is not a federalized airport; there is no Federal Security Director and no immigration presence — at least not according to my conversation just now with the only airport official on duty, Cathy. The airport does, however, have a TSA presence. Cathy tells me there is no airport office for FBI. At the time of my call (4:30 PST) there was no police officer on duty. So who spotted the suspicious character(s) in the first place? Did FBI track them to the island? Did an alert crew member notice an odd-acting person and report it? Did John or Jane Doe speak up?
But the most pressing question, as Graziadei reports, is why not release the photograph of the suspect to the press?
"The photo was not released to the press. It was not clear what authority had distributed the photo. The employees, however, said that they had been told to keep a look-out for anyone who appeared similar to the picture."
(Thanks to Victoria)