Oct. 8, 2001 — Security measures, which have been on the increase since Sept. 11 at V.I. government buildings and facilities, were intensified further Monday after a telephone message threatened to target the official residence of the governor on St. Thomas.
A senior administration official confirmed the telephoned threat, saying that police had searched the residence at Estate Catherineberg "but found nothing unusual." Gov. Charles W. Turnbull was reportedly advised of the threat while on St. Croix attending the funeral of prominent educator Elena Christian.
On St. Croix, Deputy Police Chief Novelle Francis said that since military action against Afghanistan began Sunday, local police have been placed on "heightened alert." Francis himself was on duty Monday, a government holiday.
With St. Croix home to Hovensa, the largest oil refinery in the Western Hemisphere, there are concerns that the island could be a potential target for terrorists. The refinery has its own internal security force; since the terrorist attacks on the mainland Sept. 11, it has been "supplemented by off-duty officers," Francis said.
He said police officials are to meet this week to continue security planning for areas of major concern.
"There may be limited traffic flow" in those as-yet-identified areas, he said. "Because of what is going on, the comfort level can’t be the same."
