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Threat Issued to Texas Schools

Aired December 12, 2001 - 14:47   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: I want to tell you about a story now and we want to be very careful about how we characterize what we know at this hour.

Just a few minutes ago, the governor of Texas, Governor Rick Perry, has been holding a news conference in Austin, Texas, the capital of the state, to announce that there has been an alert by the FBI, an alert of schools throughout the state of Texas, because of -- I'm quoting here the Associated Press, a vague threat.

Federal officials are saying the threat has suggested that two people may retaliate against unknown Texas schools for the U.S. bombing in Afghanistan. Now, I'm reading from a very brief Associated Press report. The federal officials are working with a foreign government, they are reporting, to try to determine the reliability of the threat, which is not related to a specific school.

Now, the FBI just told the Texas homeland security task force in the last few days and late yesterday, the task force began to inform public school districts, private schools, colleges and universities. The alert meant security increased in and around schools across the state of Texas and just a few minutes ago Governor Rick Perry of Texas had this to say at a news conference.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. RICK PERRY (R), TEXAS: This report that we received is vague. It is unsubstantiated. It's not verified and it is nonspecific. The FBI considers it to be a low-level threat. Nonetheless, I believe it's important that school officials are notified and that parents, teachers administrators and law enforcement personnel are extra vigilant.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: Texas Governor Rick Perry with a little more information about this vague threat that the FBI has shared with school officials and government officials in the state of Texas. Again, saying that two people have -- the indications are -- two people may retaliate against unknown Texas schools because of the bombing of Afghanistan.

We heard the governor say it's not verified. The threat is not specific. The FBI considers it low level, but understandably, someone in the governor's position still felt it was important for the state to notify schools, parents and others who could possibly be affected by this.

Latest developments coming up after this.

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