Anti-government group threatens crucial weather radars, NOAA warns

An anti-government group is making threats against weather equipment that it says is a “weather weapon” controlled by the military, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned employees.

In emails widely shared with National Weather Service staff this month and obtained by The Washington Post, the NOAA Office of Security warned of threats it said are being coordinated by Veterans on Patrol, an extremist group motivated by anti-government beliefs and conspiracy theories.

NOAA’s central office said in the emails that there were no specific or credible threats at this time, but it did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we are asking all regions to notify their field offices and radar technicians to maintain increased vigilance when at or near radar sites,” NOAA’s central office informed leadership across the country in a May 1 memo, which advised NWS staff to notify local law enforcement of any suspicious behavior.

Read more: Washington Post