Military Security Tightened Following Bin Laden's Death
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Security at military installations in Texas and across the nation has been tightened following Osama bin Laden's death.
Danny Defenbaugh, former special agent in charge of the Dallas FBI, said, at the very least, bin Laden's death serves as a reminder of the threat that remains.
"Even if you don't see higher security, you're going to see a higher awareness of those individuals," he said. "You're going to see more training of things to look for."
At Dallas County's Homeland Security Department, director Lisa Chambers said they're in close contact with federal authorities.
But so far, she said there have been no directives issued to local governments.
"They're at a heightened state of alert at U.S. diplomatic facilities overseas, no credible threat information right now in the domestic U.S.," she said.
Now, experts say the main threat may come from lone wolves who sympathize with bin Laden and al Qaeda. Two recent examples lived in North Texas.
Jordanian national Hosam Smadi, 19, is serving 24 years in prison after he admitted to trying to blow up Fountain Place in downtown Dallas
And Saudi national Khalid Aldawsari, 20, of Lubbock, is accused of plotting to blow up former President George W. Bush's Dallas home and numerous other targets nationwide.
While Defenbaugh credits the FBI with arresting both men before they could hurt or kill anyone, he said these types of lone wolves can be quite difficult to track down.
"The problem with the lone wolf is you don't know what you need to know," Defenbaugh said.
He added that the best defense against suspected terrorists like Smadi and Aldawsari is for people to report strange activity when they see it.
