The Denver division of the FBI has issued an alert to law enforcement agencies in Colorado and Wyoming, reporting multiple complaints about “Middle Eastern men” keeping military families under surveillance, and in at least one case approaching a military wife for a direct confrontation.
“An alert has been issued by the FBI to all law enforcement agencies in Colorado and Wyoming involving U.S. military families and concerns about who may be watching them,” reports CBS News in Denver. “The alert says Middle Eastern men are approaching families of U.S. military members at their homes in Colorado and Wyoming. It mentions Greeley and Cheyenne, Wyoming as the specific areas.”
The instance of direct contact is described by CBS as follows:
In one case last May the wife of a military member was approached in front of her home by two Middle Eastern males. The men stated that she was the wife of a U.S. interrogator. When she denied their claims the men laughed. The two men left the area in a dark-colored, four-door sedan with two other Middle Eastern males in the vehicle.
“The woman had observed the vehicle in the neighborhood on previous occasions,” the alert states.
The report says “similar instances in Wyoming have been reported to the FBI throughout June 2015.”
The FBI alert describes “numerous occasions” of Middle Eastern men attempting to “gain personal information about military members and family members through intimidation,” apparently using family homes as the preferred venue for these confrontations. The family members “reported feeling scared” after the encounters.
The “Middle Eastern men” in question have not yet been identified, and the FBI is not certain if the same individuals are responsible for all of the reported confrontations.
“The alert says people in Colorado who are approached should contact the FBI Fort Collins Resident Agency at (970) 663-1028. In Wyoming contact the FBI Cheyenne Resident Agency at (307) 632-6224,” CBS News relates.
A disclaimer on the FBI report notes that it is “an information report, not finally evaluated intelligence,” and asks other law enforcement agencies to coordinate with the FBI before taking action. The alert is dated July 2.
The Weasel Zippers blog notes that a similar incident was reported by a Washington Air Guard member who was approached by a “Middle Eastern male” at a playground near their residence and asked “probing and concerning” questions about working for the military. The Air Guard member was out of uniform at the time. The alleged Middle Eastern male ended the conversation, without providing any specific information, when questions were asked of him in turn.
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