Amid record crowds and heightened security at Los Angeles International Airport for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, law enforcement officials Saturday were forced to deal with a social media threat against LAX from a pro-ISIS posting.
While authorities downplayed the threat, saying they do not believe it to be credible, the message had to increase fears following the deadly airport attack in Turkey.
Threats were posted on a pro-ISIS twitter account naming LAX, New York’s John F. Kennedy and London’s Heathrow as possible targets over the July 4 weekend.
Enhanced security was already in place at the airport in advance of one of its busiest travel weekends and in light of this week’s deadly suicide attack on an airport in Turkey, an airport police spokesman said.
Law enforcement officials are aware of the threat, which was subsequently deleted from the Twitter feed, according to Rob Pedregon, public information officer for the Los Angeles Airport Police.
The threat warned of attacks on planes flying from Heathrow to the U.S. and stated a device would be placed at one of the three airports, according to a published report.
With a record 1.207 million people expected to pass through LAX over the Fourth of July weekend, enhanced security was planned even before Tuesday’s terrorist attack in Istanbul that killed 44 people and wounded dozens more.
Travelers at LAX on Friday reported a heavy, and welcome, law enforcement presence.
Airport officials urged travelers to allow themselves plenty of time to reach the terminals, get through security and make it to their gate. The normal average of 90,000 vehicles a day moving through the Central Terminal Area is expected to increase to 100,000 Saturday and Monday.
Passengers were urged to take public transportation, including FlyAway buses available from Hollywood, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Union Station, Van Nuys and Westwood.
— From Staff and Wire Reports