FBI Warns of Iraqi Terror Groups; Gates Says L.A. Could Be a Target

FBI Director William S. Sessions said in Washington on Wednesday that elements of Iraqi terrorist groups are in the United States, and Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates warned that the city could become a target for terrorist strikes.

In addition, major airports throughout Southern California banned all non-passengers from boarding areas and took other security measures Wednesday. Military installations in the region went on a higher alert status, and immigration officials bolstered protection at the U.S.-Mexico border at San Diego.

The announcements from security officials, coming just after U.S. military planes began bombing Baghdad, signaled heightened concerns that Middle Eastern terrorists could retaliate.

To meet that danger, Gates said he had “sizably” increased his police anti-terrorism squad and “shifted personnel” throughout the city to monitor likely hot spots where terrorism might occur.

“I think it has been proven often that when conflicts arise internationally, they are played out here in the city of Los Angeles on occasion,” Gates said. “So I think you find that with international conflict, you might find conflict here in the city.”

Gates predicted, however, that if a terrorist attack is committed here, it probably would come from a lone assailant.

“Quite frankly, I’m more concerned about the independent kook out there who just has been sitting on the edge, waiting for something to happen and this triggers it, than I am about organized terrorist actions,” the chief said. “I think that’s quite likely.”

Shortly after the U.S. attack on Iraq, Sessions said the mission of terrorists in this country is uncertain. “There’s no way to tell what their intent or activity may be,” he said in an interview with CBS. “But, yes, there are elements of those terrorist groups that have been identified as being in the United States.”

He said the favorite form of terrorist activity around the world has been bombings.

“There are other capabilities obviously,” he said. “We have no certain idea of what type of activity there will be, but suspicion that it will be of that type.”

No violent incidents were reported Wednesday, but an Iraqi national wanted for possession of explosives was being sought by federal, state and local law enforcement officers after his sports car was believed seen at several Southland military bases.

Riverside County sheriff’s deputies said a black 1990 Mazda RX-7 belonging to a man identified as Duraid Sadio Azawi was seen about 10 p.m. Tuesday at the main gate of the Naval Warfare Assessment Center in Norco, which analyzes highly sensitive data from tests of naval weapons systems.

Earlier Tuesday, a black RX-7 was among a line of cars approaching the Moreno Valley gate at March Air Force Base, a Strategic Air Command facility near Riverside, base officials said.

Gates said citizen tips to the Los Angeles Police Department about possible terrorist acts have increased. “They are reports we are interested in, concerned about and spending our time checking out,” he said. “Some are very serious, with serious implications.”

He said his anti-terrorist unit has been bolstered to meet any threat. “We’ve assigned some new people there. We have the additional training of some people.”

Although he declined to identify them, he said his department is aware of some locations in the city where problems could arise. “We’re looking at locations that historically have been trouble and might again,” he said.

Police have created a special, 24-hour anti-terrorist hot line--(213) 485-2570--for the public to relay information. “We want the public to be partners in this with us,” he said. “We want them to be our eyes and our ears. But we don’t want them to panic or overreact.”

In a statement made in Hawaii, where he was attending a conference, Mayor Tom Bradley said heightened security measures had been set up at many city facilities, including the Department of Water and Power. City Council President John Ferraro, who is acting mayor in Bradley’s absence, said all city employees must carry identification badges at the Civic Center.

Officials at Los Angeles International, Burbank, Ontario, and San Diego airports, as well as John Wayne Airport in Orange County, imposed tough rules for the duration of the crisis.

Among the emergency procedures were an end to curbside baggage pickups, possibly meaning that passengers would have to arrive an extra hour early to wait in long lines rather than checking bags with porters. Officials also said they would tow away unattended vehicles in curbside areas and impound unattended baggage.

Authorities said they were imposing their new security measures at the direction of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Ontario airport announced that although it was taking most of the steps implemented at Los Angeles and Burbank, for the time being it did not plan to keep non-passengers out of boarding areas.

Stephen Yee, manager of L.A. International, said all baggage should carry personal identification both on the inside and outside, and he said passengers are encouraged to use scheduled buses or shuttle vans.

Times staff writers Eric Malnic, Patrick McDonnell, Michael Meyers, Ronald J. Ostrow, Nancy Wride and Nora Zamichow contributed to this report.