Seattle refineries on terror alert

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Seattle, WA, Jul. 2 (UPI) -- Refineries along Puget Sound were on alert Friday due to concerns about possible terrorism.

KOMO-TV, Seattle, said Friday three suspicious incidents possibly indicating refineries were under surveillance or targeted for a break-in prompted the Department of Homeland Security to pass the word to police and refinery security officials.

KOMO said no specific threat had been received, however, security has been noticeably tighter in the area where gasoline for nearly the entire Pacific Northwest is produced.

The higher state of vigilance was due to the theft of a set of gate keys from a refinery vehicle as well as two incidents in which suspicious characters were seen snooping around. KOMO said guards at one plant reported seeing a diver in the water as well as a person in a kayak who may have been videotaping the facility.