New York, NY … More than 500 representatives of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies were briefed on extremist and terrorist threats during a daylong conference co-sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The May 31 program, held at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA, was an outgrowth of ADL's longtime involvement in providing information and training to law enforcement on threats posed by extremists. The conference, "Extremist and Terrorist Threats: Protecting America After 9/11" included presentations from ADL, FBI and other nationally recognized experts on extremist groups, investigative techniques, counterterrorism strategies, domestic security and threat assessment.

"Now more than ever, law enforcement must have the resources and know-how to prevent future acts of terrorism," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "In order to assess threats against the United States, law enforcement must have credible information about domestic and foreign extremists whose rhetoric promotes violence. Through our network of regional offices and our experts in the field, ADL is uniquely suited to aid in the war against terrorism. This conference was an opportunity for law enforcement and extremism watchdogs to compare notes and forge alliances."

The conference brought together representatives of federal, state and local law enforcement from every region of the U.S., and included participants in the FBI National Academy, ADL regional directors, area counsels and investigative researchers.

The program featured opening remarks from Mr. Foxman and Dr. Kathleen L. McChesney, the FBI's Executive Assistant Director for Law Enforcement Services. The plenary session, "Right and Left, Domestic and Foreign: An Overview of Extremist and Terrorist Movements and Groups," featured presentations from Dr. Bruce Hoffman, Director of the Washington office of The Rand Corporation; Greg Comcowich, Intelligence Research Specialist in the FBI's Counterterrorism Division; and Mark Pitcavage, ADL Director of Fact Finding.

James T. Caruso, the FBI's Deputy Executive Assistant Director for Counterterrorism and Counterintelligence, delivered the keynote address.

Five concurrent workshops focused on Threat Assessment on the State and Local Level; Strategies for Police-Community Cooperation to Combat Extremism and Terrorism; The Changing Role of Law Enforcement: Policy, People and Technology; Inside the Minds of Terrorists and Extremists; and New Partnerships: Law Enforcement, the Military and Non-Governmental Organizations. Among the presenters were police chiefs from Arlington, VA, Irvine, CA, and Spokane, WA; and officials from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command; the U.S. Army War College, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and ADL and FBI professionals.

David Friedman, Director of ADL's Washington, D.C. Regional Office, and Louis Quijas, Assistant Director for the FBI's Office of Law Enforcement Coordination, delivered closing remarks.

EDITORS NOTE: Additional information on extremist groups and ideologies, and the League's partnerships with law enforcement agencies across the country, is available at ADL's online Law Enforcement Agency Resource Network, at www.adl.org/LEARN.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.