WASHINGTON -- A Web site claims that seven NFL football stadiums will be hit with radiological dirty bombs this weekend, but the government expressed doubts about the threat Wednesday.\nThe warning, posted Oct. 12, was part of an ongoing Internet conversation titled "New Attack on America. Be Afraid." It mentioned NFL stadiums in New York, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Oakland and Cleveland, where games are scheduled this weekend.\nThe Homeland Security Department alerted authorities and stadium owners in those cities, as well as the NFL, of the Web message but said the threat was being viewed "with strong skepticism." Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said there was no intelligence that indicated such an attack was imminent, and he said the alert was "out of an abundance of caution."\n"The department strongly encourages the public to continue to go about their plans, including attending events that involve large public gatherings such as football games," Knocke said.\nThe FBI also expressed doubt about the threat.\nThe nation's alert level remains at yellow, signaling an elevated risk of attack. The threat level for airline flights is at orange, a higher level, where it has been since a foiled plot to bomb U.S.-bound commercial jets was revealed Aug. 10.\nNFL spokesman Greg Aiello said stadiums around the country "are very well protected through the comprehensive security procedures we have in place, including secure facility perimeters, pat-downs and bag searches."
Officials were made aware of the Web posting Oct. 16. The threat was timed to be carried out Oct. 22, marking the final day of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month.\n"The death toll will approach 100,000 from the initial blasts and countless other fatalities will later occur as result from radioactive fallout," according to a copy of the posting that was obtained by The Associated Press.\nThe bombs, according to the posting, would be delivered to the stadiums in trucks. All but one of the stadiums -- Atlanta -- are open-air arenas, the posting noted, adding: "Due to the open air, the radiological fallout will destroy those not killed in the initial explosion."\nExplosions would be nearly simultaneous, the posting said, with the cities specifically chosen in different time zones.\nThe posting said that al-Qaida would automatically be blamed for the attacks and predicted, "Later, through al-Jazeera, Osama bin Laden will issue a video message claiming responsibility for what he dubbed 'America's Hiroshima.'"\nTony Wyllie, the vice president of communications for the Houston Texans, said the team had been in contact with the NFL regarding what security precautions should be taken for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.\nNo mention was made of Kansas City, Mo., where the Chiefs host San Diego on Sunday. Chiefs spokesman Bob Moore said the team had not received any warnings but noted that security around the NFL has been high since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.\n"Security measures that may go unnoticed by the general public are in effect everywhere, every week," Moore said.
