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Armory Break-In, Stolen Military Weapons Linked to Terrorists?
Tuesday, November 17, 2015 07:09 AM
By: Clyde Hughes
Without saying why it's so sure, the FBI claims there is no terrorism link to high-caliber military weapons stolen in a break-in at an armory in Massachusetts, including assault rifles and handguns, but Gov. Charlie Baker and the Boston special agent-in-charge don't seem so certain.
The governor was immediately informed of the Saturday arms theft and additional police have been stationed around Worcester, where the looted armory is located, until further notice.
"There is no indication that these missing weapons are connected to any kind of terrorism threat whatsoever," claimed FBI spokeswoman Kristen Setera in a statement obtained by the Boston Globe. "Nevertheless, every effort will be made to recover these weapons immediately."
Massachusetts State Police and Worcester Police are working with the FBI in an effort to get the weapons back, said the Globe. The stolen weapons have already been placed in an online database that law enforcement agencies use to track dangerous arms.
Military officials said the break-in was the first of its kind at the Army's 5,000 stand-alone armories.
The weapons were stolen over a five-hour period starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday by at least one man who got in through the roof of the Lincoln Stoddard Army Reserve Center in Worchester, authorities told WBZ-TV. A hole was then cut in the top of the arms vault.
The alarm system at the armory was disabled, reportedly because of construction, said WBZ-TV, but a surveillance camera showed the man taking six assault rifles and 10 9-mm handguns from an arms cache.
Worcester city manager Edward Augustus said additional police will be stationed in various parts of the city until further notice.
Baker discussed the break-in on Sunday at the statehouse, said Boston special agent-in-charge Harold H. Shaw, per the Boston Herald.
"We were advised of the matter," said Shaw. "We're currently looking into it. We have some evidence response resources on scene. There's nothing at this point in time that would tie this to any specific threat or anything else. We're really looking into it as a new investigation."
Baker said he was worried about such military-grade weapons being on the streets there, according to WCVB-TV.
"I'm especially concerned about it," said Baker. "Separate and apart from anything that has to do with terrorism, I'm concerned about the fact that some really high caliber weapons were stolen from a military facility in the first place."
The Lincoln Stoddard Army Reserve Center was built in 1953 and houses a recruiting office and a meeting place for the Worcester Cadet Squadron, according to the Globe.
