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FBI Mysteriously Closes New Mexico Observatory (popularmechanics.com)
Alien conspiracy theories are swirling after an observatory in New Mexico has been unexpectedly closed due to an unnamed "security issue," prompting evacuations and a visit from the FBI. "The Sunspot Observatory is now currently closed to both staff and the public, with no word on why or when it will be open again," reports Popular Mechanics. From the report: "We have decided to vacate the facility at this time as precautionary measure," said spokesperson Shari Lifson to the Alomogordo Daily News. "The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy who manages the facility is addressing a security issue at this time." Lifson said that the facility was first evacuated on September 6 and has remained closed since then. According to Lifson, the observatory has no date for reopening yet.
As part of the investigation into the security issue, the observatory has contacted the FBI, which has been reported on the scene with multiple agents and a Blackhawk helicopter. According to local sheriff Benny House, the agency has been working with local law enforcement but refuses to share any details. The sheriff speculated that the evacuation could be due to some kind of threat made against the facility or its staff, but expressed confusion as to why local police would be left out of the loop. "If that's the case, why didn't they call us and let us deal with it?" he said. "I don't know why the FBI would get involved so quick and not tell us anything."
UPDATE (9/22/18): A warrant application filed in the case suggests the closure involved an FBI investigation into child pornography.
As part of the investigation into the security issue, the observatory has contacted the FBI, which has been reported on the scene with multiple agents and a Blackhawk helicopter. According to local sheriff Benny House, the agency has been working with local law enforcement but refuses to share any details. The sheriff speculated that the evacuation could be due to some kind of threat made against the facility or its staff, but expressed confusion as to why local police would be left out of the loop. "If that's the case, why didn't they call us and let us deal with it?" he said. "I don't know why the FBI would get involved so quick and not tell us anything."
UPDATE (9/22/18): A warrant application filed in the case suggests the closure involved an FBI investigation into child pornography.
Or it's because the observatory lies on federal land, a national forest.
The FBI does this quite often, according to a former FBI agent friend of mine. A national forest will have a police force from the US Forest Service but if it's more than they can handle for some reason then they call in for help from the FBI. On some federal properties the FBI is the primary law enforcement. As this observatory, and the land it sits on, is managed by multiple federal government agencies I'm guessing that there are FBI agents there regularly.
I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
The function of the observatory has nothing to do with it, but it does have a large tower that overlooks the White Sands missile range and a couple of airbases used for testing new aviation tech. Besides the benefit of greater altitude and a clear line of sight, the tower also potentially offers a much better place to try and stash some electronic surveillance equipment in the hope that might get overlooked amidst all the legit gear mounted on it compared to trying to figure out a way to locate it in any of the other surrounding viewpoints that also overlook the area.
UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
When a train car full of chemicals spills does the FBI show up? No the DEP and EPA handle that. The FBI isn't trained to contain mercury spills and a facility that uses mercury should be able to handle it anyhow.
Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard