Police Checking Suspicious Big-Rig Near Burbank Airport; Had Gotten Tip on Possible Terrorism

June 23, 2003

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) - Authorities early Monday investigated a big-rig truck parked near the Burbank airport, after having gotten a tip that a truck driver was headed to town, possibly with terrorism in mind.

The truck was on a road on the city border with Los Angeles near the northwest section of the airport. It was parked next to a so-called fuel farm where tens of thousands of gallons of aircraft fuel is stored.

"We are investigating possible explosives on a parked tractor-trailer near the Burbank airport," said a Los Angeles police officer who said he was too busy to give his name. Television news helicopters showed officers walking closely to the truck. No driver was visible and the officers were not wearing protective gear.

Authorities had been on alert for a big rig since the California Highway Patrol in Barstow received an anonymous telephone call Sunday afternoon, CHP Officer Brian Joy said Sunday. The man told authorities that a big rig towing a 50-foot green trailer was on its way to the Burbank airport and would probably arrive sometime Monday.

The caller was in an unknown location in Texas. He said that he used to work with the driver of the truck and that the driver's motive "had to do with the war on terrorism," CHP Commissioner Spike Helmick said Sunday.

The Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport's north-south runway was closed, with air traffic was diverted to the east-west runway instead. Passenger trains were prohibited from stopping at the airport.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA4IN5IAHD.html