Purported ISIS Threat To Attack BVI And USVI May Not Be Credible; VITEMA Says

ST. CROIX — Local and federal authorities moved swiftly today to address reports spreading throughout the territory about a possible terrorist threat in the U.S. or British Virgin Islands, said VITEMA Director Mona Barnes via press release on Thursday. The Consortium learned early Thursday about a purported ISIS threat to attack the BVI, prompting the islands’ government to review security measures and hold urgent meetings.

According to yesterday’s release, US Coast Guard officials reported to VITEMA that at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the US Coast Guard Command Center at San Juan received a telephone call from an unknown individual who stated that a terrorist threat was made against the British Virgin Islands’ Beef Island Airport and against the US Virgin Islands in general.

As a matter of protocol, the incident was provided as situational awareness to port and facility security personnel in the territory. Since then, the situational awareness report has been circulated and recirculated and has emerged in social media networks as factual information. Numerous residents have also called into VITEMA to inquire about the status of flights into the USVI and whether there is an elevated threat level currently in effect.

“VITEMA is working in close collaboration with local and federal authorities including the US Department of Homeland Security, US Coast Guard, FBI and the VI Police Department, to verify whether this threat is credible and whether elevated security measures are necessary,” Ms. Barnes said.

She added: “Presently, we have no specific, credible intelligence of any plot to attack the British or US Virgin Islands. This threat is considered unconfirmed. At present, our ports continue to operate at the normal level of security with no changes in scheduled flights into and out of the territory. However, if the level of port security changes, VITEMA will update the public as soon as new information becomes available.”

Ms. Barnes added that VITEMA is the official source of information for any threat to the territory.

“I want to also assure the community that VITEMA, working with local and federal partners, remains fully engaged in the effort to identify and disrupt terrorist activity in the US Virgin Islands,” she said.

Governor Kenneth Mapp and his staff were apprised of the threat on Wednesday and have been closely monitoring the incident.

“It is important to always remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings,” Mr. Mapp said. “Public awareness and vigilance are vital to our homeland security efforts, and have in fact, prevented terrorist or criminal acts in the past. I thank all those responders who are working to investigate and address any threat to our community.”