FBI Won’t Say Whether It Found Arts Fest Spies

More than two months after the FBI issued an unusual appeal asking San Diegans to watch for spies during the Soviet arts festival, officials remain mum about whether they found any.

The Navy, however, uncovered no signs of espionage during the festival, said Michael Bourke, spokesman for the Naval Investigative Service.

Since 1988, all Navy personnel have been required to report “intentional or unintentional” contact with anyone from a list of designated countries, which includes the Soviet Union, China and Iran. Such reports are given to the NIS.

About 600,000 people attended the 22-day festival, which San Diego Mayor Maureen O’Connor touts as one of the crown jewels of her administration. Of those attending, about 300 were Soviets.

The hoopla surrounding the festival created tremendous publicity for San Diego; the city received more than 200 inquiries from media around the world. But, just before the Oct. 21 opening, the FBI held a press conference to air concerns about spies who might be prowling the city and using the event to veil their activities. It was an announcement that made some city officials cringe.

“In retrospect, the timing may not have been the best, but it fortunately really didn’t dampen the spirits of participants or the public,” said Paul Downey, the mayor’s spokesman. “Any feelings about the incident were directed at the federal government and the FBI rather than the city of San Diego. It was ironic because the State Department went out of its way to help with the festival.”

Downey said he was unaware of any espionage being reported to authorities during the festival.

FBI officials, however, will not discuss the alleged spy threat. The agency received several calls reporting suspicious activity, and “not from kooks,” said FBI spokesman Ron Orrantia. He and others declined to elaborate on the calls.

“We were seeking to get the word out that there is a threat,” said Tom Kuker, FBI assistant special agent in charge. “We don’t talk about those investigations. It’s a story with no ending.”

In October, FBI officials asked residents to watch Soviet visitors and report any suspicious activity that “appears to be outside the normal tourist activity.”

“Every San Diego citizen should be a good host to visitors but should also be alert,” officials warned in a statement.

“Increased contact between San Diego residents and Soviet citizens is both good and bad,” the statement said. “There is, however, the possibility that these contacts will be used by skilled intelligence officers for other purposes. Experience shows such has occurred in the past, and wisdom suggests it will happen in the future.”