Reacting to recent warnings given by federal officials, Centre County law enforcement is taking the necessary precautions to protect against a terrorist attack.

On Monday, FBI Director Robert Mueller and Attorney General John Ashcroft alerted Americans that a new terrorist strike might be imminent. Based on information received from a reliable but unidentified source, American law enforcement was asked to be on its highest alert this week, according to an Associated Press story.

Centre County Administrator Jon Eich said the Centre County Emergency Management Agency has notified police about the threats.

"We have passed word to local law enforcement officers," Eich said. "(Officers) are going to add areas that are potential targets to their patrols."

Eich would not specify the areas in Centre County that are potential targets.

"There is no public benefit to releasing that information," he said.

The State College Police Department is taking the warnings seriously, while being careful not to overreact, Sgt. John Wilson said.

"We are certainly receptive to any information or directions that they give us," Wilson said. "If people think that we have any detailed information as to what's going on, we don't."

The warnings did not specify a target or method, Mueller said, adding that the source of the information was not revealed but referred to only as "credible."

While the warning of terrorist activity was released to 18,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide, Penn State Police Services said that so far, they have not received any official details. Officers have not changed anything they are doing, police said.

Eich said the Centre County Terrorism Task Force is looking at the list of potential targets and helping county officials determine which preventative measures should be taken.

The task force will deal mainly with coordinating mitigation, preparation, response and recovery in relation to possible terrorist attacks, Eich said. It will make recommendations such as what type of training law enforcement officials need in the event of an attack and the amount of equipment needed on hand should one occur in Centre County, he said.

Saturday's homecoming football game, which will draw more than 100,000 people to Beaver Stadium, will be secured as previous games have been since the Sept. 11 attacks, Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said.

While some security measures put in place since the attacks have been very public, others have been very private, Mahon said. Security procedures have been looked at and assessed before each game since Sept. 11, he said, and this week's game will be no different.

"We're doing what everyone else is doing — trying to make smart decisions," Mahon said.