Gulf area petrochemical complex alerted through FBI

The Associated Press

A reported al-Qaida threat to blow up Texas oil refineries and pipelines in advance of the presidential election prompted the heightened security alert in late March along the Gulf coast’s massive petrochemical complex, the FBI says.

Plant officials in the Houston region, home to four of the nation’s 10 largest refining facilities, said March 25 they are taking appropriate measures in response to the FBI advisory that oil refineries in Texas may be targeted for terrorist attacks.

“The FBI has received uncorroborated information that al-Qaida plans to blow up oil pipelines and refineries in Texas in an effort to affect the outcome of the presidential election,” said Rick Hagar, a spokesman for the East Harris County Manufacturers Association, a group that represents 125 area petrochemical facilities near the Houston Ship Channel. It is the world’s sixth largest port.

Bob Doguim, an FBI Houston office spokesman, told The Baytown Sun that the alleged threat came from a single source and it could take place sometime between now and the election.