Calif. Governor Says Bridges Threatened

(Michael James - Transport Topics) The famous Golden Gate Bridge spans the San Francisco Bay. California Gov. Gray Davis has put the state on notice that some of its bridges may be the target of terrorist attacks.

Citing “credible” terrorist threats, California Gov. Gray Davis ordered security increased around four major bridges in his state, including the national landmark Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

The FBI issued a similar warning after Davis’ announcement, but was more skeptical about the veracity of the threats, saying that they had not been corroborated yet.

It is the first time since Sept. 11 that a specific structure has been named as a possible terrorist target by any government official, Reuters reported. If the attack were to take place, it would be the first serious incident on the West Coast. The East Coast and Midwest have been embroiled in suspected terrorism since the attacks --from the attacks themselves to the ongoing anthrax scare.

The bridges in question were the Golden Gate and Bay bridges in the San Francisco area, the Vincent Thomas Bridge near Los Angeles and the Coronado Bridge in San Diego. All but the Coronado are suspension bridges, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Many officials believe that Davis jumped the gun and issued a warning before all the evidence was in, the Chronicle said. Davis defended himself on CNN’s Larry King Live Thursday night.

“If I didn’t make that statement and, God forbid, something happened, I’d be kicking himself,” Davis said.

Neither Oregon nor Washington issued warnings for their prominent bridges, the Chronicle added.

The original information came from U.S. Customs officials, who heard an informant in New York say that no one should go the West Coast beginning Nov. 2 because the bridges are going to be blown up, according to Alameda County Sheriff Charles Plummer.

Plummer is one of the law enforcement officials who believes all Davis has done is create an unnecessary panic and scare, according to the Chronicle.

The two bridges in the Bay Area were the most talked about as potential terrorist targets, news services reported.

The 4,200-foot-long Golden Gate Bridge spans the Golden Gate Strait at the mouth of the San Francisco Bay and is one of the most recognizable structures in the United States. The 4 1/2-mile San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge carries 270,000 vehicles each day, according to the Associated Press.

The Golden Gate carries less than half the traffic of the Bay Bridge. The Bay Bridge is perhaps most famous for the partial collapse of its top level during the 1989 earthquake during the World Series.

The beefed up security involves members of the National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard and the California Highway Patrol, the AP said.

8101