Suspicious man photographed Denver office buildings
Justin Coons, Rocky Mountain News
Published July 27, 2007 at midnight
Three suspicious incidents in downtown Denver this summer have triggered a notice to law enforcement officials stating someone in the area may be conducting surveillance activity.
According to an internal document obtained by the Rocky Mountain News today, a man was seen about 6:30 p.m. on July 11, standing on Tremont Street between 16th and 17th streets.
He was outside one of the buildings there, videotaping the security desk through a window. The man, described as "believed to be of Middle Eastern descent," then walked to 16th and Tremont, where he filmed more of the outside of the building.
When a security guard tried to approach the man, he "started running down 16th Street and was lost in the crowd," according to the bulletin.
As of yet, investigators have not determined any motive for the man’s actions, and it is not certain how significant the incident is, said Lance Clem, a spokesman for the Colorado Information Analysis Center, a branch of the state’s Homeland Security Agency.
Similar reports arise on average about once a month, he said.
"It’s not unusual — put it that way," he said.
Clem confirmed the contents of the bulletin, but refused to comment on any details. He did say reports to the CIAC may vary in severity, some spotty like this bulletin, but all are treated the same.
"We don’t always know why some people do things like this (suspicious surveillance of buildings)," he said. "But whenever we get reports, they’re taken seriously and they’re handled seriously.
"We don’t want to discourage people from filing reports. Anytime they see anything that’s out of place, they should let us know."
The incident prompted the CIAC to send alerts to federal offices.
According to 9NEWS television, a separate bulletin warning of "suspicious surveillance activity" was sent from the U.S. Department of Interior's National Business Center in Lakewood to its employees.
The National Business Center was not one of the buildings photographed, 9NEWS reported.
Because little is known about the man and his motive at this point, Clem stressed there is no reason for alarm.
"Everybody should be vigilant, but not panic," he said.
The internal bulletin also lists two other incidents that may have involved the same man or may have been related.
In June, a man was seen at the light-rail station at 16th and California.
A witness, unnamed in the bulletin, said the man was standing on the
H-Train platform, watching people entering the train.
The witness also said he may have been distributing literature.
On July 11, the same witness saw the same man riding the train. He looked to be counting the number of occupants, counting again when the train filled up.
The man was wearing a gray sweatsuit, tennis shoes and a black wool stocking cap.
As the witness exited the train, she bumped into the man, who "was mumbling; the words ‘Al-Aqsa’ were heard," according to the bulletin.
The bulletin mentions the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a Palestinian militant organization.
Loosely translated into English, "Al-Aqsa" also means "the farthest," so there is a possibility he was caught speaking Arabic mid-sentence, and the terrorist organization is not related.
RTD spokesman Scott Reed said it’s also not uncommon to see individuals counting people in trains. RTD hires plain-clothes employees to count the number on trains, he said.
"Plus I know there are people who are very interested in public transit who count them," he said.
It is unsure whether the man who videotaped the building downtown is the same man involved in the train incidents.
If it involved different men, it is also unsure if the incidents are
related, the bulletin states.
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Suggest removal
Galactica1 writes:
This bothers me, I understand that we live in dangerous times; however I am a strong believer in the Constitution of the United States, and the fact that all people are innocent until proven guilty.
You have to wonder, will touritst be apprehended if they try and take photos of say D and F tower, or the Cashregister building?
How far will this paranoia be allowed to go, amatuer photographers have always been able to take photos of buildings in any city, so does this change that?
Makes one wonder
Tamirisc