The federal government is asking paramedics and firefighters to be on the lookout for “extremists” as part of a program that aims to uncover “suspicious activity.”
A bulletin released in March 2014 by the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the National Counterterrorism Center, obtained this week by Public Intelligence, contains details of a program entitled “Emergency Medical Treatment Presents Opportunity for Discovery of Violent Extremist Activities.”
The bulletin, which was sent out to firefighters, emergency medical service personnel and other first responders nationwide, encourages these groups to watch for “indicators of violent extremist activities” during their line of work.
First responders are asked to “evaluate whether an injury is a genuine accident or related to violent extremist activity,” by noting “hastily or expediently treated injuries” which “may be signs of suspicious activity.”
The thought of EMTs becoming distracted by a function which allows them to pretend they have a starring role in CSI Miami, instead of promptly treating someone who is seriously burned, will not fill potential victims of such accidents with much confidence.
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