Disneyland, Police See No Threat in Video From Terror Suspect

Disneyland, Anaheim police and federal officials Wednesday downplayed any potential security risks stemming from the arrest of a terror suspect in Spain and the seized videos that contain footage of U.S. landmarks, including the Anaheim amusement park and the Golden Gate Bridge.

A Disneyland spokesman said that the park quickly determined there was no credible threat, and that even if there had been, the park and police have been on high alert since Sept. 11.

“We work daily with the FBI and Anaheim Police Department,” Disneyland spokesman Ray Gomez said. “Those are the law enforcement agencies we rely on. We take our cues from them. If they tell us to step up security, we will do it.”

On Tuesday, there was some confusion after Gov. Gray Davis’ chief security advisor, George Vinson, and officials from the California Highway Patrol issued statements that they were doubling security at the Golden Gate Bridge and quickly mobilizing local law enforcement.

Anaheim police spokesman Sgt. Rick Martinez said the department was not notified until late that afternoon--hours after they started fielding media calls and began making their own inquiries about the arrest of the suspected terrorist and the videotape seized from him.

Martinez said police officials were curious about the delay in notification and had to backtrack for information, but that they soon realized there was no cause for alarm.

Since Sept. 11, Disneyland has checked all bags at entry gates, restricted vehicle access to some areas in the resort, increased security patrols and continued frequent communication with local and federal law enforcement.

On Wednesday, for example, police and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad were called to Disneyland after the park’s own bomb-sniffing dog detected a suspicious odor from a truck. Police closed nearby Ball Road for a while, but the truck ultimately was cleared to enter.

“What that tells you is that the security system we have in place really does work,” Gomez said. “We detained a suspicious vehicle. It was proved not to be a threat. Our security system is working and it’s at high alert.”