Inauguration peaceful despite potential threat

Authorities say they received information 'of limited specificity and uncertain credibility' about Somalia-based militants planning an attack.

The swearing-in of Barack Obama came off without a security-related hitch Tuesday, but underneath the calm veneer, federal authorities were intensively investigating a report that a group of Somalia-based militants wanted to launch some kind of inauguration-related attack.Secret Service officials anxiously oversaw what was by far the largest-ever security operation for a presidential inauguration, marshaling the forces of several dozen federal, state and local law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Their biggest white-knuckle moment: when the new president and First Lady Michelle Obama exited their heavily fortified limousine and walked along long stretches of Pennsylvania Avenue on their way from the Capitol to the White House.As they strolled, government counter-snipers patrolled rooftops and hyper-alert Secret Service agents fanned out around the couple, scouring parade viewers often more than a dozen deep for the glint of a handgun or some other kind of weapon.The biggest concern was whether the crowds would get unruly.
"The crowd has been well-behaved. No problems," said Sgt. Ernesto Celaya of the San Antonio Police Department as he and 60 of his brown-uniformed men and women faced the crowd along one portion of the parade route. ertain credibility' about Somalia-based militants planning an attack..more..http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-inaug-security21-2009jan21,0,6723862.story