Government: Washington refinery may be on terrorists’ hit list

The Associated Press

The Department of Homeland Security says one of Washington’s five oil refineries may have come under surveillance by terrorists, a newspaper reported July 1. While the suspicious activity could be part of preparation for an attack, the agency said there was no specific information suggesting energy facilities were being targeted.

Word on the possible surveillance was in a department bulletin sent to industry, state and local law enforcement officials, The News Tribune of Tacoma reported.

A person in a kayak “was observed videotaping a Northwestern U.S. company’s refinery,” it said. The company’s security staff also reported a “suspicious encounter” with a diver last year in the same general area.

The bulletin noted that a key ring containing about 50 keys was stolen from a field truck owned by a company with a Northwest refinery. The keys represent “potential access” to the company’s U.S. facilities, the agency said, noting that locks at the local operation were being changed.

Washington’s other refineries are Shell and Tesoro operations in Anacortes, a ConocoPhillips refinery in Ferndale and a U.S. Oil refinery in Tacoma.

The Homeland Security bulletin noted there have been a series of terrorist attacks on energy-related targets overseas, particularly in the Persian Gulf.