DAILY BRIEFING
D.C. Buildings on Terrorist Alert
Potential terrorist threats against several federal buildings in the Washington area have led to the cancellation of public tours of some facilities, federal officials told the Associated Press Thursday.
The Pentagon went on "heightened alert status" after the FBI warned Wednesday evening of "possible terrorist activity aimed at installations in the national capital region," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said, according to AP.
Pentagon tours have been canceled for Thursday and Friday, Whitman said.
When a "heightened alert status" goes into effect at the Pentagon, security personnel screen building passes more closely and are authorized to conduct random searches of packages and briefcases. Access to the buildings could also be restricted, Whitman said.
Unscheduled, informal tours of other buildings in the Washington area have been halted as well, Justice Department spokesman Bert Brandenburg told AP. He declined to provide specifics on which buildings are involved.
No threats to either the Capitol or adjacent congressional office buildings had been reported, said Sgt. Dan Nichols, a spokesman for the Capitol Hill police.
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