FBI says suspicious package found at Florida Air Force base contained ‘possible energetic materials’
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A suspicious package was found outside a door, the FBI said Wednesday. MacDill Air Force Earlier this week, the base in Tampa contained “possible energetic materials.”
Analysis of the material has not been completed, FBI Tampa he said in a statement posted on social media Wednesday afternoon. The FBI said the investigation is ongoing and did not provide further details.
Energetic materials store large amounts of chemical energy and may contain explosives, fuel or propellants. The FBI did not respond to an email seeking clarification on what type of material was contained in the package found Monday outside the MacDill Air Force Base Visitor Center.
Early Wednesday, the base issued a shelter-in-place order following a threat received.
“We take all threats seriously and take appropriate action to prioritize the security of our facility. As a matter of policy, we will not disclose details about what security measures are in place,” MacDill officials said in a statement posted on social media.
The order was lifted about two hours later, but the base was still on high alert, officials said.
On Tuesday, the base began operating under Force Protection Charlie, referred to as “FPCON CHARLIE.” This is the second-highest level of military security and allows authorities to “proactively implement deliberate security measures.”
The advisor said all personnel at the base “must remain alert, follow the instructions of security forces and immediately report any suspicious activity.”
US Central Commandor CENTCOM, based in MacDill, is responsible for U.S. military operations in the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia.
MacDill is one of the US bases that has been put on high alert since the start of the war in Iran.
last week all Six crew members of the KC-135 refueling plane died He had an accident while supporting operations against Iran. Three of the crew members were attached to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill, officials said.
