Guard shot by man photographing plant

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-01-24 08:30pm

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mp ... y2/2369570

Guard shot by man photographing plant

Associated Press

FREEPORT -- U.S. and Texas law enforcement agencies are investigating the shooting of a security guard outside an ammonia terminal on the Texas Gulf Coast, a law enforcement official said today.

A security guard at the BASF Corp. ammonia terminal in Freeport, 60 miles south of Houston, was shot late Friday by a man in a pickup truck parked outside the terminal's fence and within sight of a multistory ammonia tank, said Henrietta Gonzalez, chief of the Freeport Police Department.

The guard was listed in good condition today at an area hospital where he was recovering from a gunshot wound to the shoulder, said BASF spokesman Tim Fitzpatrick.

Agents from the FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Coast Guard were in Freeport investigating the shooting, Gonzalez said.

Chemical plants and refineries have tightened security since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks for fear they may be targets in a future attack.

An FBI spokesman was not immediately available to comment.

The guard spotted the pickup truck while making his rounds outside the terminal's grounds. When confronted, the truck driver, whom the guard described as having a heavy accent, said he was taking pictures of the lights of the ammonia terminal and adjacent port, Gonzalez said.

The guard said he turned away to make a radio call and then looked back to see the driver pointing a handgun at him. He was shot as he moved to run away and the driver sped off.

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Ohhhshit.

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2004-01-25 11:42am

This can't be good.

Time to increase security around there

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2004-01-25 11:46am

Its time to put the national guards around critical installation

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-01-25 02:08pm

Jesu Christo!

Time to up security indeed. Why would someone shoot the guard if they weren't planning on making an immediate move, though.

Does anyone have a personal motive to kill the guard? It doesn't have to be related to his job.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2004-01-25 02:16pm

Acutal if this was part of an acutal plan I would note that you don't photograph things the day or even week before, and if your busted you give it a few months for things to calm down agian

If this is acutal terriost related rather than crazy lone-nut related I would say they were just scouting.... though why carry a gun if your just scouting?

Bob McDob · Post by **Bob McDob** » 2004-01-25 03:13pm

Wow, I thought this would be about a greenhouse or something :\ At least they got a heads-up.

Exonerate · Post by **Exonerate** » 2004-01-25 05:01pm

Mr Bean wrote:If this is acutal terriost related rather than crazy lone-nut related I would say they were just scouting.... though why carry a gun if your just scouting?

Because they don't read Tom Clancy?

How dangerous is ammonia? I know it's often used in home-made bombs, but how volatile is this stuff?

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-01-25 05:22pm

By itself? I don't know about that, I've never tried to blow it up without compounding it. But it is highly toxic.

KrauserKrauser · Post by **KrauserKrauser** » 2004-01-25 07:57pm

It's turns you into soap.

Well after a fashion at least.

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2004-01-26 12:56am

Great. Now this shit is happening in my backyard.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-01-26 01:20am

Mr Bean wrote:Acutal if this was part of an acutal plan I would note that you don't photograph things the day or even week before, and if your busted you give it a few months for things to calm down agian

If this is acutal terriost related rather than crazy lone-nut related I would say they were just scouting.... though why carry a gun if your just scouting?

And why would terrorists pick a chemical plant as a target ?

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2004-01-26 09:54am

evilcat4000 wrote:
And why would terrorists pick a chemical plant as a target ?

Rupture a large tank of ammonia, and everything down wind for about twenty miles is dead.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-01-26 11:49pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:
evilcat4000 wrote:
And why would terrorists pick a chemical plant as a target ?
Rupture a large tank of ammonia, and everything down wind for about twenty miles is dead.

So if amonia is so dangerous maybe the US goverment should consider increasing security at all chemical plants that produce ammonia.

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2004-01-27 12:54am

evilcat4000 wrote: ...
And why would terrorists pick a chemical plant as a target ?

Look back in history for any accidents or disasters about chem plants. they can become *real* big infernos/bombs in addition to the chemical pollutants that can be released.