-----Original Message----- From: NIPC Watch To: daily Sent: 10/10/01 8:42 AM Subject: NIPC Daily Report 10 October 2001 NIPC Daily Report 10 October 2001 NOTE: Please understand that this is for informational purposes only and does not constitute any verification of the information contained in the report nor does this constitute endorsement by the NIPC or the FBI. Significant Changes and Assessment - No significant changes. Government - On 9 October, President Bush established new offices for cybersecurity and counterterrorism, appointing the National Security Council's (NSC), Richard Clarke in charge of cyberspace. Clarke, currently NSC's coordinator for security, infrastructure protection and counterterrorism will become special adviser to the president for cyberspace security, coordinating interagency and private-sector efforts to secure information systems and directing the restoration of critical systems in the event of disruption. Retired Army Gen. Wayne Downing will become the national director and deputy national security adviser for combating terrorism. Both men will report to the assistant to the president for national security affairs and to former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, head of the new Office of Homeland Security. (Source: Government Computer News, 9 October) The Executive Order establishing the Office of Homeland Security can be found at the following url: www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/10/20011008-2.html International - Japan will set up an inter-ministerial team to prevent ''cyber-terrorism'' and protect its planned ''cyber-government'' from such terrorism, government officials said today. The decision was made at a meeting of a security task force of the government's panel on information technology strategy, they said. The team will be set up in fiscal 2002, beginning 1 April, 2002, so that it can be ready before the launch of the cyber-government in fiscal 2003 that would allow people to receive various public services through online networks, the officials said. The task force also adopted an action plan with goals and deadlines for each ministry and agency to pursue, the officials said. (Source: Associated Press, 10 October) In the Czech Republic, the Internet news server Ceske noviny was again attacked by hackers from the Czech-Slovak Binary division group, which replaced the front page by its logo with slogans on "media tyranny of the USA." Binary Division, which ranks among the most active hackers, has recently attacked large and well-secured web servers, including the pages of the Slovak opposition Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) of ex-Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar and the Czech Interior Ministry. Immediately after the attack on Ceske noviny the information about it appeared on the server www.underground.cz, which in the past was suspected of having connection with hackers. The Ceske noviny links today's attack with the large number of information it publishes on the current US air raid on terrorist bases in Afghanistan. (Source: Czech News Agency CTK, 9 October) Military- NTR Private Sector - NTR U.S. SECTOR INFORMATION: Transportation - A Metro subway station just outside Washington, D.C., was closed 9 October after an armed man sprayed a substance into the air from a pump-action bottle as he scuffled with police. Authorities apprehended the man and said they did not believe it was a terrorist act. "It appears at this point to be an isolated incident," said Prince Georges County Police Chief John Farrell. Tests on the scene "do not indicate these are any biological agents at all," he said, although Farrell and other authorities cautioned that testing was still under way. Fire department hazardous-material teams in protective rubber suits responded after several people reported being sick. Authorities said some 35 passengers and employees of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority were isolated at the site with symptoms of nausea, headache and dry throat. All were being decontaminated there, authorities said. (Source: Associated Press, 9 August) The US freight rail industry has been on a self-imposed red alert, since the US and the UK attacks in Afghanistan on 7 October, to restrict the transport of a number of hazardous chemicals. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) said 8 October it developed the plan to go into effect immediately after any US military action. Despite rumors that the order came down from the US Department of Transportation (DOT), a spokeswoman for the AAR said the industry group is working with the DOT, however no governmental restriction has been issued. The decision was made by the AAR's board, which consists of rail company executives. While the list of material restricted could not be disclosed, the AAR has been working with the US DOT and members of the White House staff issuing updates throughout each business day. The updates are released to its members on a broad-based or case-by-case basis to ensure supplies and transport stay as balanced as possible without opening up opportunities for cargoes of hazardous material to be vulnerable to acts of terrorism. (Source: www.platts.com, 9 October) Water Supply - Water Technology Online reports that an associate of two men, who were indicted in Detroit in the terrorist investigation, conducted research on water systems and animal-born diseases. A report by the Associated Press (AP) on 9 October, cited the Akron Beacon Journal that the man, who had identified himself at the Stark County District Library last summer as an Egyptian, asked for detailed maps of the Canton, OH, city water system and books on parasites and diseases that can be passed from animals to people. The librarian called the FBI after the 11 September terrorist attacks amid heightened concerns about public safety, the AP said. According to the newspaper report, the man told the librarian he worked at a Winesburg chicken farm where Karim Koubriti, 23, and Ahmed Hannan, 33, also worked before moving to Detroit in March. They were indicted last week in Detroit and have pleaded innocent to fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents, the AP said. (Source: Water Technology Online, 9 October) The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, which serves 160 million people, recommended that Congress take the measures to boost security for the nation's water supplies. Worried about the potential for terror attacks, the nation's water system operators are seeking up to $5 billion from Congress to upgrade drinking water and wastewater facilities, plus $155 million, a 62-fold increase in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) security-planning funds. The request will be made 10 October, before the House Transportation and Infrastructure water resources and environment subcommittee meeting. On 9 October, a bipartisan group of 11 Senators on the Environment and Public Works Committee sent Senate leaders a letter also proposing the $5 billion among other billions of dollars in spending to boost US security and to help revive the ailing economy further weakened by the four hijackings in September. (Source: Associated Press, 10 October) Gas and Oil Storage Distribution - On 9 October, House members passed a measure, 409 to 3 urging the Bush administration to pump more oil into the Strategic Oil Reserve. Republicans Edward Royce of California and Ron Paul of Texas and Democrat Marcy Kaptur of Ohio voted against the bill. The Senate has not taken up the measure. The resolution, which is not legally binding, urges that the emergency stockpile be expanded to its full capacity of 1 billion barrels. The reserve currently contains about 545 million barrels in salt caverns on the Gulf coast along the Louisiana, Texas border. The United States uses about 19 million barrels of oil a day, about 10 million barrels of which are imported. Congress long ago authorized the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to contain as much as 1 billion barrels, but it has never come close to holding that much oil. The facility can hold no more than 700 million barrels. Any additional expansion would require new construction. (Source: Associated Press, 10 October) Electrical Power - NTR Government Services - NTR Banking and Finance - NTR Emergency Services - NTR Telecommunications - NTR
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