PORT ANGELES — The North Olympic Peninsula’s busiest port of entry is as secure as ever, the region’s U.S. marshal said Wednesday.
Eric Robertson, who has jurisdiction over Western Washington, told about 75 Port Angeles Rotarians on the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks that additional homeland security measures are working.
“I’m here to tell you that there’s no credible threat to any person or place in Washington state — particularly this part of Western Washington,” Robertson said.
A former Washington State Patrol captain who was appointed marshal by President Bush in February, Robertson was reminded during a question-answer session that an Osama bin Laden operative brought explosives into Port Angeles in December 1999.
Ahmed Ressam, convicted last year of terrorism against the United States, was chased and captured by U.S. Customs inspectors when he ran away from the ferry landing inspection station.
“That proves the system worked,” Robertson said, lauding the training and instinct shown by the Customs inspectors.
“I felt comfortable then, and I feel comfortable now.”
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