The head of the state Homeland Security Commission puts schools as the number one terrorist target to protect in the state. He follows that closely by the Las Vegas mega-casinos. The information came out of the state Homeland Security Commission meeting today.
It's a little surprising to hear that schools top the list. When you think of Las Vegas, the Strip is the first thing that comes to mind.
When you break it down, Doctor Dale Carrison says domestic terrorism is more likely to happen here than foreign terrorism. He says domestic terrorists would target schools.
"There has been more domestic terrorism than there has been foreign. 9/11 brought the foreign terrorism home," he said.
The fight against Al Qaeda has been more widely publicized, despite the fact it's been seven years since the U.S. was attacked. Dr. Carrison says the state needs to be prepared to fight the foreign threat too.
Nevada invested tens of millions of dollars in grant funding for fusion centers and computer programs to help police identify foreign terrorist threats.
The former commander of the U.S. Central Command John Abizaid spoke to the state commission. He's also a Nevada resident and says we need to be prepared.
"These types of groups, especially Al Qaeda, like to target entertainment capitals and entertainment industries. It's very clear that a place such as Las Vegas would be on their list," he said.
General Abizaid was in charge of overseeing the military action in 27 countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan.
The state views foreign terrorism as any attack by someone from another country and considers domestic terrorism as school shootings or other homegrown mass threats.
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