http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/War_Terr...17747-sun.html
Provincial officials say they’re taking seriously an al-Qaeda threat to attack Alberta’s petroleum infrastructure but have not raised any threat level.
A spokesman for the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) said today they were alerted last week of statements on an Arabian-peninsula-based terrorist website encouraging attacks on oil installations in Canada, Mexico and Venezuela to disrupt the U.S. economy.
Premier Ed Stelmach said he learned of the e-posting on Tuesday but added security agencies already had the issue well in hand.
And he downplayed the magnitude of the threat.
“It’s not one that has alarmed anybody in terms of a serious threat...there will be threats ongoing especially with what’s going on in the Middle East,” he said.
‘I feel very secure and so should all Albertans.”
Nonetheless, Stelmach urged Albertans to keep a close eye out for any suspicious activity.
“If something’s happening in their community that seems odd, please report it to the local police,” said the premier.
EUB spokesman Darin Barter echoed Stelmach’s call forvigilance but said no moves have been made to increase the threat level or alter long-standing security plans.
“It’s more of a heightened awareness and alert — it’s a heightened sensitivity to what’s going on,” he said.
Barter said security authorities are convinced the website statements are from genuine terrorists.
“We’re taking it as a threat made against Alberta.”
A thorough security strategy for the oilpatch has been in place since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, with companies playing a key role in the plan.
If pipelines are attacked and damaged, remote sensors will shut down the flow, said Barter.
What’s dubbed critical infrastructure, such as refineries and other structures, he said, are protected by police, intelligence and company security.
“They’re very well protected — the intelligence agency we have allows us to be very pro-active,” said Barter.
A year ago, an unsuccessful assault was launched against the world’s largest oil processing facility at Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia.
A statement on the al-Qaida Voice of Holy War e-magazine said “it is necessary to hit oil interests in all regions which serve the United States, not just in the Middle East.”
It also referred to the Abqaiq attack.