Pope Francis is making his first visit to the United States on Thursday, and as expected, security is going to be increased for the papal visit.
NBC News obtained a document that shows that law enforcement officials are worried terrorists might impersonate police officers, firefighters, and EMTs in order to launch an attack within the United States.
The Pennsylvania State Police’s Criminal Intelligence Center distributed a memo to law enforcement officers warning that imposters pretending to be first responders could use false identification to enter secure areas and wreak havoc before slipping away undetected.
The memo, which was titled “First Responder Impersonators: The New Terrorist Threat,” said, “The impersonators’ main goals are to further their attack plan and do harm to unsuspecting citizens as well as members of the emergency services community.”
Although the memo does not mention the papal visit, it was issued a few days before the event. It also cited instances, both in the United States and overseas, where suspects donned police uniforms in order to carry out an attack.
The memo was partially based on reports by the FBI and Homeland Security.
U.S. authorities derailed plans of Army National Guard soldier Hasan Edmonds and his cousin to kill dozens at a U.S. military installation in Illinois using Edmonds’s uniforms.
Authorities said that the two men wanted to fight for ISIS, and they have been charged with conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
In France, officials arrested Sid Ahmed Ghlam, an ISIS sympathizer. The arrest foiled his alleged plot to attack a church in Southern France. At the time of his arrest, Ghlam was in possession of weapons, bullet-proof vests, notes detailing possible targets, as well as police armbands.
In Belgium, authorities discovered a weapons cache, police uniforms, and fake IDs after a January firefight with suspected terrorists. They believed the suspects planned to launch an attack dressed as law enforcement officials.
The memo warned that the U.S. is vulnerable because terrorists can gain access to uniforms by shopping at “numerous businesses that cater to the needs of first responder personnel.”
The memo said, “A wide variety of products such as clothing, weapons, and tactical gear can be purchased on the Internet by any consumer, regardless of a confirmed affiliation to emergency services, government or law enforcement agency.”
The memo also warned police officers to be on the lookout for stolen credentials, emergency vehicles in poor condition or loaded beyond capacity, and vehicles parked in unapproved areas.
