A U.S. Air Force base in southwestern Germany was on high alert Tuesday after a telephone bomb threat prior to the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The call was received Monday night at Spangdahlem Air Base by a man speaking German with a Russian or Turkish accent, said Iris Reiff, a spokeswoman with the base's public affairs office.

The man claimed to have four accomplices in the call made to a publicly listed base number, the BBC said.

Base spokesman Capt. Kevin Koffman said security was stepped up and vehicles entering the base were being lengthier searches.

"We've sort of diverted traffic around the main gate area so each of the security forces can get a complete look at the vehicles from the front and side," Koffman said.

Apart from coming hours before the anniversary of the attacks on the United States, the threat follows the arrest of three men in Germany last week for allegedly building bombs to attack U.S. bases and the Frankfurt International Airport. // Copyright 2007 by United Press International


Publication date: 11 September 2007   

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