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COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE

Minnesota:  Fighting terror on the homefront
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By Susanne Nadeau, Herald Staff Writer

   November 21, 2004
   Grand Forks Herald
   http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/10236373.htm

The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in Minneapolis has started
publicizing monthly counterterrorism tips, designed to get community
assistance in the war on terrorism.

People in the Grand Forks area can make a difference in the fight
against terror.

So says FBI Special Agent Paul McCabe. People just need to be aware
of their surroundings and willing to report any suspicious behavior to
authorities, he said.

That's why the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in Minneapolis has started
publicizing monthly counterterrorism tips, designed to get community
assistance in the war on terrorism.

"We want to make sure that the citizens are engaged in the war on
terror," said McCabe. "They are our eyes and ears out there, and we need
their help."

The Joint Terrorism Task Force, with its main office in Minneapolis,
is a joint effort involving local law enforcement agencies in Minnesota,
North Dakota and South Dakota. It was formed in 1999 to detect and
neutralize terrorist attacks and to investigate terrorist activities.

The task force is ahead of the game, nationally, McCabe said.

"We have developed strong partnerships, which include law enforcement in
Grand Forks and Fargo, so that we can share classified information with
them regarding counterterror and counterintelligence."

The task force is offering tips about suspicious behavior so local
residents can help watch the thousands of miles of border the agency
covers between the three states.

"There are a lot of people who live in the rural areas that can be our
ears and eyes," McCabe said.

McCabe isn't trying to scare people; the terror alert level in North
Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota hasn't changed lately. But the
terrorist threat is real, he said.

"It is just as serious in this region as it is on the West or East
Coast," he said. "We know that al Qaida wants to strike: They want to
impact economy; they want to cause mass casualties; they want to strike
something that is an icon in America.

"We need help to prevent a future terrorist attack. Our law enforcement
cannot do it alone."



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