Coast Guard searching harbor for Turkish nationals

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NEW HAVEN (AP) -- State homeland security and U.S. Coast Guard officials were searching the waterfront Friday for two Turkish men who jumped off a ship docked in New Haven harbor.

"We are looking at it as a security incident," Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Alan Blume said.

Two crew members were discovered missing early Friday morning from a Turkish ship bringing steel into the harbor, Blume said. They apparently made off with two life vests, which were discovered on shore Tuesday, he said.

Connecticut Homeland Security Director John Buturla said it is not uncommon for foreign nationals to attempt to enter the country in such a way. While the matter was being treated as a security situation, he said there is no evidence of a homeland security threat or plot against the harbor.

Blume said Coast Guard officials were searching the ship and interviewing crew members Friday afternoon. The vessel was legally in the harbor and had filed all appropriate paperwork, he said. New Haven police Sgt. Ariel Melendez said city police are on the lookout for the men.

Trooper One, the state's police helicopter, was also called to assist the search. New Haven harbor is home to the region's strategic home heating oil reserve, an estimated 850,000 barrels of oil.

Buturla, who was briefing state lawmakers on the state's security situation when the search began, said he was receiving regularly updates from officers at the scene.
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