Police Commissioner Calls Coverage Of Alleged Papal Threat "Overblown"
By Walt Hunter
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey called media reports about the FBI arrest of a 15-year-old South Jersey boy, allegedly for attempting to plan an attack on the Pope during his upcoming visit, "overblown".
"I do think it's overblown," Ramsey told CBS 3's Walt Hunter.
"This is not something to be alarmed about."
Ramsey says he was alerted by the FBI last month they had arrested the teenager. Sources confirm to CBS 3 that he had allegedly gone online and, according to CBS News, was being urged to attack a visiting diplomat or the Pope. Soon after allegedly starting his online research he was arrested.
"The FBI acted quickly, got to the bottom of it, and that's it."
The Commissioner emphasized that local and federal agencies are constantly monitoring social media as part of the tight security net surrounding the Pope. And while this teenager's alleged actions online were illegal, there is no indication of what he termed any "credible threat" to the Pope.
"My definition of what would be credible is something that could be operational, something that is about to take place, that sort of thing," the Commissioner explained.
"I don't see this as having that level of significance to where people should be concerned about it."
Both the FBI and Commissioner Ramsey declined specific comment on the allegations against the teenage suspect.
