San Francisco Mayor received 'early warning'

The mayor of San Francisco says he received a warning of a possible terrorist strike eight hours before flying to New York yesterday.

Willie Brown says he got a call from what he could only describe as his "airport security" before the attacks and decided not to go.

The caller said Americans should be cautious about their air travel.

The mayor would not identify his precise source.

Mr Brown told the San Francisco Gate News, the call "didn't come in any alarming fashion, which is why I'm hesitant to make an alarming statement".

He added: "It was not an abnormal call. I'm always concerned if my flight is going to be on time, and they always alert me when I ought to be careful."

Mike McCarron, assistant deputy director at San Francisco International Airport, claims the Federal Aviation Administration "routinely" issues security notices about possible threats.

He says only two or three such notices have been received in the past couple of months and none in recent days.

Story filed: 12:49 Wednesday 12th September 2001

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_396658.html?menu=

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 12, 2001

Answers

I find it odd that the mayor would cancel a trip all the way to New York based on a telephone call from someone he won't positively identify. Obviously, the mayor can identify this "person", and the "person" carries a great deal of weight.

So why did the "person" know?

-- Ken (n4wind@sonic.net), September 12, 2001.

Wasn't one of the convicted 1993 WTC bombers to be sentenced today?? The security risk assessment might have been based on a possible reaction to that.... and what a reaction, I am still numb and in a fog... seems so unreal.... God Bless NYC

-- Rob (celtic64@mindspring.com), September 12, 2001.

If Willie Brown, the mayor of San Francisco, received an eight hour advance warning, why didn't he share this information with the proper authorities? He is supposed to be a responsible government official.

-- LillyLP (lillyLP@aol.com), September 12, 2001.