Threat to Mississippi Bridge - The FBI has informed local authorities about an 'anonymous' and 'unsubstantiated' threat to the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge, which carries I-55 over the Mississippi River.
Reuters quotes FBI spokesman Chris Allen explaining that the agency passed the information onto local authorities out of an "abundance of caution" as there are no specific details regarding the impending attack.
According to the FBI warning about the threat to the Mississippi Bridge, which was obtained by FOX13 News, the impending attack this month by an ISIS member, who is presumably a US citizen, would activate ISIS terror cells in the country.
Local authorities are reportedly investigating the threat to the Mississippi Bridge and have beefed up security around the crucial overpass. The public have also been cautioned to be on high alert and report and suspicious activity. The threat to the Mississippi Bridge is the latest terrorist-related incursion authorities have warned about in recent months - since the US began waging war on ISIS.
An FBI agent in Memphis told the press that there is no actionable intelligence in the FBI warning concerning the threat to the Mississippi Bridge. Nonetheless, he noted that the threat would be taken seriously.
The Memphis-Arkansas Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in the south designed to carry vehicles. It was completed in 1949. In 2001, the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Experts say an attack on this bridge, which reportedly carries more than 50,000 cars and trucks daily, would not only affect the American economy, but would also be a major blow to the south, where this iconic bridge has served as a backbone and facilitated interconnection between people for many years.
The Islamic State, which boasts of many western nationals in its ranks, controls large parts of Syria and northern Iraq. US-led airstrikes have curtailed the ability of the terrorists to spread at the rapid pace they did initially. Reports indicate that up to 1,000 terrorists have been killed by the air raids. But critics say the terrorists must be usurped from their stronghold for the victory to be complete.
