LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Las Vegas is gearing up to become the center of entertainment, sports and conventions.
As we move from one major event to another, these events are planned from every angle, including the safety of our city.
The FBI tells FOX5 they are well prepared because they have set up a command post in their building so that a team can be deployed at any time to handle major events in our city.
They had their command post operational on election day.
Since the eyes were the ones that would lead our nation next, the FBI had their eyes on something else.
“A couple of things that came up were a white powder letter that we had that came from another field office that was working that event,” said Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge.
Although that white powder letter was received by a different FBI office, Schwartz tells FOX5 that their Washington DC headquarters can give them a heads up if they think a similar letter is on its way to Las Vegas.
“We’re quickly reaching out to our local partners, like the United States Postal Service, alerting them to what’s going on and setting up our own unit with our own entities. Those familiar with weapons of mass destruction may be there. I received that letter,” Schwartz said.
It was all hands on deck in their command post on election day and it will be a similar plan for Formula 1, but with the help of local partners in their Fusion Center.
Schwartz said their headquarters will also monitor any potential threats, address them and then send them to Schwartz and his team.
Schwartz said last year, when there was a manhole that put the race on hold, it led to online threats worldwide.
“If we have a command post like that and can quickly identify the source, where they’re coming from and whether or not they have the resources to carry out the attacks,” Schwartz said.
In addition to their command post and the Fusion Center, the FBI will also have bomb technicians near the race tracks and undercover agents among the crowds.
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