Whidbey Island base security heightened

The security at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station has been heighten to "Force Protection Bravo" as part of a nationwide response to "homegrown extremist threats," according Lt. Cmdr. Grant Neeley with the U.S. Northern Command.

The security at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station has been heighten to “Force Protection Bravo” as part of a nationwide response to “homegrown extremist threats,” according Lt. Cmdr. Grant Neeley with the U.S. Northern Command.

Neeley said the upshift from “Alpha” military-wide is not in response to a specific threat but does demonstrate real concerns the U.S. has with recent terrorist activity in recent weeks. This includes a recent shooting at a Texas cartoon contest featuring drawings of the Prophet Mohammed, CNN is reporting.

The “Bravo” order, which went out last night, is defined by the Pentagon as an “increased and predictable threat of terrorism.” It is the third-highest threat level of five used by the Department of Defense. The military became alarmed when a jihadist tweeted the name and address of a U.S. military officer, according to CNN.