U.S. Tightens Security at All Military Bases

U.S. military installations around the world have stepped up security against possible terrorist attacks in response to the West German capture of a suspected hijacker of a TWA jetliner, the Pentagon said today.

The United States asked the Bonn government Tuesday to extradite Mohammed Ali Hamadi, 22, a Lebanese Palestinian, to stand trial on charges of murder in the hijacking of the TWA plane to Beirut in 1985 in which a U.S. Navy diver, Robert Dean Stethem of Waldorf, Md., was killed.

The Pentagon sent the alert advisory to all of its installations and armed forces personnel worldwide Saturday for “increased prudence in case they (terrorists) try something,” a Pentagon spokesman said.

Increased Risk Possible

“The Defense Intelligence Agency has disseminated a Defense Department-wide advisory that all personnel should be alert to a possible period of increased risk to U.S. personnel and that increased personal security and vigilance is in order,” said a statement read by Pentagon spokesman Robert Sims.

The directive went out in response to the West German capture of Hamadi on Jan. 13 and before the extradition request was made, said another spokesman, Col. Arnold Williams. No specific threat had been received by any U.S. military installation, he added.

In asking for Hamadi’s extradition, the United States agreed not to execute him if he were convicted. The 1978 German-American extradition treaty bars sending suspects to the United States if they face capital punishment, which is banned in West Germany.